East Main Downtown Plan

The City has applied for an Appalachian Regional Commission grant, anticipated announcement date of June 2022. The proposed project will create many anticipated connections between East Main Downtown, America’s oldest river, and the history of rail and its distinct contributions to the community. The East Main River and Rail Downtown Connector Trail, involves the development of a new multipurpose trail, reimagined and activated community spaces, passive recreational areas, and modernized streetscapes.

Once complete, Radford will be able to connect its natural and cultural assets that residents and visitors can utilize while encouraging increased economic opportunities for businesses and positioning the area as a destination for restaurants, shopping, and living.

The City is also allocating local, state and federal funding resources to make parking lot improvements and pedestrian connection corridors along Third Avenue; building façade improvements along East Main Street and construction of a connecting trail from downtown to the New River via Bissett Park. The Radford Economic Development Authority also has plans to fund and expand a façade improvement program to assist local property owners with making needed building enhancements.

The Plan recognized the corridor’s valuable assets such as the well-established community fabric, historic buildings, proximity to the natural landscape and its immediately adjacent to Radford University. Planning policies, modification of regulations, guidelines and different types of physical improvement were suggested to work toward desired impact categories and areas. Furthermore, the Plan provided a vision and framework to attract new businesses, encourage downtown living, harness economic opportunities and influence the overall aesthetics. Examples of such improvements are well-designed streetscapes elements to encourage pedestrian use, narrower travel lanes to slow traffic, lighting fixtures, enhanced wayfinding and high-quality renovations of public parking lots. The Plan was completed in 2021.