Can Rural Areas Integrate Walkability?

A small rural community in Virginia is generating public momentum towards implementing a plan to make the town more walkable, going back to its heritage as a self-contained village.

1 minute read

September 15, 2006, 11:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

Residents in Augusta County, Virginia, are taking cues from a consulting group that is suggesting integrating walkability into the county's comprehensive plan. Many residents on the comprehensive plan steering committee agree that creating a walkable community is the ideal path, but are unsure how to regain the small village feel the communities originally had when created. Now widely spread rural farming communities, the county's towns are hesitant to try to revision their existence.

"The 20 or so people in attendance formed a consensus of opinion: Cluster development, a buzz-word that signals an alternative to sprawl, might preserve the county's unique agricultural heritage while creating lowered infrastructure costs, less traffic and healthier lifestyles."

"While walkable communities might improve urban and suburban scapes, their role in rural areas was far from clear."

FULL STORY: Foot traffic steers county planning

Thursday, September 14, 2006 in The News Leader

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