CHRISTIANSBURG (WSLS) - Montgomery County residents get the chance to speak up about a proposal for a new park and ride facility in Christiansburg.
The original facility was moved in August to a temporary location. This came after parents and community members expressed concern about the park and ride's proximity to Falling Branch Elementary School.
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VDOT unveiled its plan for the new and permanent spot Thursday. The project will cost around $5.2 million. The temporary lot where the park and ride is now cost about $300,000 to build.
At the plan's unveiling, people got a first look at where money for the new facility will be going.
Charles Tubman dropped in his thoughts on the proposed plan for Montgomery County's new park and ride, which will be located on this land in Christiansburg. Tubman uses buses every day to get to work in Roanoke, and his main concern for the new project is safety getting in and out.
"It can be very dangerous trying to exit from the present facility, especially at rush hour, and there's a lot more potential for automobile accidents than there were at the old one," Tubman explained.
That's one of the concerns VDOT says the new design seeks to address, with more exits and more parking.
VDOT's plan shows parking will double from 61 spaces to more than 200. There are also plans for bike racks, information kiosks and shelters.
VDOT spokesman Jason Bond said the expanded capacity can also make Interstate 81 a safer place for drivers.
Bond explained, "Anything that we can do to promote commuter lots and people using those other alternative forms of transportation is a good thing to help alleviate some of the traffic and the congestion that we do see on Interstate 81."
Bond said the moving process that began in early 2014 has not been an easy one, but for buses full of folks just like Tubman, it's a worthwhile investment.
"There's no pleasure in commuting on I-81. When I'm on the bus, I can read, I can get my computer out they've got internet on the bus, I can do a variety of things when i'm on the bus that i can't do when i'm driving," Tubman said.
Construction is scheduled to get underway by summer of 2015, and the facility is set to be finished in the fall of 2016.