FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the role of the County Administrator?
• To whom does the County Administrator report?
• What are the County Administrator's primary responsibilities?

• Where can I find a list and descriptions of the County's boards and commissions?
• How can I volunteer to serve on a board or commission?
• What are the requirements to serve on a board/commission?
• What are some of the functions of the boards/commissions?

If you live in Blacksburg, please contact the Town of Blacksburg.

If you live in Christiansburg, please contact the Town of Christiansburg.

If you live in the County, please continue to the questions below.

• How can I get my road paved/widened?
• How can I get the speed limit lowered on my road?
• How can my road become State-maintained?
• How can I get a Watch for Children sign in my neighborhood?
• What is the Rural Rustic Road program?
• What is the Revenue Sharing program?

County Adminstration

What is the role of the County Administrator?

The County Administrator guides and directs the day-to-day operations of county government under the authority of the Board of Supervisors and has ultimate responsibility for all phases of local government. The County Administrator is responsible for recommending policies and implementing programs for the Board of Supervisors, and for ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws.

To whom does the County Administrator report?

The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and reports directly to the Board. The Board of Supervisors deals with the County Administrator on all matters relating to county government administration.

What are the County Administrator's primary responsibilities?

The County Administrator appoints all department heads/directors, and the employees of these departments are responsible to the County Administrator. The County Administrator submits the annual proposed county budget to the Board of Supervisors; makes recommendations to the Board regarding actions and policy decisions.

Boards and Commissions

Where can I find a list and descriptions of the County's boards and commissions?

The Boards, Commissions, and Committees page lists and describes each board/committee/commission/authority.

How can I volunteer to serve on a board or commission?

When a vacancy comes up on a board or commission, a press release is sent to the newspapers and posted to What's New and Forms and Publications. The press release announces which board/commission has a vacancy, a short description of the board/commission's function, how to apply, and the deadline for applying. Applications will not be accepted unless a vacancy has been announced. Please see the application procedures page for more information.

What are the requirements to serve on a board/commission?

In most cases, the only requirements are to be a registered voter with no delinquent taxes. Some boards/commissions, such as the Community College Board, the Industrial Development Authority, the Juvenile Detention Commission, ask for specific areas of expertise. Please see the application procedures page for more information.

What are some of the functions of the boards/commissions?

Of the nearly 50 volunteer boards/committees/commissions/authorities in the County, the functions vary. For example, the Planning Commission makes recommendations on land use issues such as rezoning, special use permits, and the County's Comprehensive Land Use Plan. A description of each board/committee/commission/authority is listed in the Boards, Commissions, and Committees page.

Roads

How can I get my road paved/widened?

Each year in the fall, the Board of Supervisors and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) hold a joint public hearing to provide citizens the opportunity to ask that their roads be included on the priority list. This priority list, combined with the secondary construction budget, comprises the Six-Year Secondary Road Improvement Plan for Montgomery County.

Requirements to have a road widened and/or paved by VDoT:

1. Your road must be in Virginia's Secondary System of Highways. (These state-maintained roads are given route numbers of 600 and above.)
2. Your road must carry traffic of 50 or more vehicles per day. (VDoT takes traffic counts on unpaved roads every two years.)
3. Right-of-way to widen and pave your road must be made available. Property owners along an unpaved road normally donate property to provide a 50-foot right-of-way to widen and straighten the road. Right-of-way is available only when deeds from all property owners along the road are recorded in the clerk's office of the county circuit court. Lack of donated right-of-way from even one property owner can stop the entire project.
4. Funding to widen and pave your road must be reserved in Montgomery County's Six-Year Road Improvement Plan. Which roads are included in the plan is a decision made jointly by the Board of Supervisors and VDoT's Resident Engineer. The process of revising the plan includes a public hearing to provide all citizens an opportunity to ask that their roads be included in the plan. It is recommended that you and your neighbors attend this public hearing and request that your road be paved. However, as funding is limited, not every request can be granted.

If all the above requirements are met, your road will be widened and paved when funding reserved in the plan becomes available for spending. If your road is added into the last year of a six-year plan, it will likely be under construction in six or seven years.

Getting your road paved may take a lot of work and patience on your part. The key to having your road paved is to work with your neighbors to obtain the donation of all the required right-of-way, and work with the Board of Supervisors and VDoT's Resident Engineer to have the funds reserved.

VDoT's Rural Rustic Roads program may also be able to help.

How can I get the speed limit lowered on my road?

The County Administrator must receive a petition containing the signatures of at least 50% of the residences along a specified length of roadway. The County Administrator will then request the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) to conduct a speed study on the specified length of roadway requested in the petition to determine the feasibility of lowering the speed limit. Petition forms may be obtained from the County Administrator's office (click here for contact info).

How can my road become state-maintained?

To be eligible for state maintenance, your road:

• Must have been built and in public use prior to July 1, 1992
• Must be available for the public to use 24 hours a day
• The right-of-way must be dedicated to public use, be wide enough, usually 40', to minimum safety standards and to permit future maintenance, and be unencumbered by utility placements
• Must serve at least three occupied homes
• Must be designed to safely handle the traffic volume
• Must connect to other roads already maintained by VDoT

If your road meets the above requirements:

1. The landowners submit a signed petition to the County Administrator or a Supervisor will submit a road to be reviewed by the Road Viewers.
2. The Road Viewers (Board of Supervisors) set a date to review the roads under consideration.
3. After the roads have been reviewed, the Planning Department staff and Virginia Department of Transportation staff estimate the cost of each project.
4. The Road Viewers hold a meeting to determine if the roads viewed are to be added to the Rural Addition Priority List. All roads on the list are then prioritized.
5. The Board of Supervisors approves by resolution the Road Viewers' recommendations at a Board meeting.
6. When funds are available, the Planning Department staff obtains the needed right-of-way for the road at the top of the Rural Addition Priority List.
7. The Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution requesting that VDoT take the road into the secondary system.
8. When VDoT accepts the road into their system, maintenance will begin immediately, weather permitting.

About the Rural Addition Program

• A 50' unrestricted right-of-way must be established at no cost to Montgomery County or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Lesser right-of-way widths, though not less than 30', may be considered in special circumstances.
• Rural Addition funds are reserved for construction and engineering costs only. Additional costs, including those associated with the relocation of utilities, must be borne by the landowners.
• The minimum VDoT standards for new rural additions to the secondary system require that roads serving five or more residences have a hard surface and measure 24' in width.
• Rural Addition requests are also taken at the 6-yr. Secondary Road hearing.

How can I get a Watch for Children sign in my neighborhood?

1. Residents submit a petition requesting "Watch for Children" signage.
2. Staff reviews the request to ensure the following minimum threshold requirements have been met:
   • The road must have a daily traffic count of at least 200 vehicles
   • The road must be 300 feet or more in length
   • The road must be classified by the Virginia Department of Transportation as a minor collector or local road
3. If the threshold requirements are met, staff continues to review the request based on the following considerations:
   • The kind of traffic the road carries
   • The speed limit along the road
   • Land uses along the road
   • Demographic characteristics of the households along the road
   • Physical characteristics of the road that could prevent motorists from being able to stop or slow down in time to avoid contact with a child
4. Staff will submit a written recommendation for denial or approval of the request to the Board of Supervisors, along with a detailed explanation of the rationale behind the recommendation based on the above characteristics. In cases where approval is recommended, the number and location of signs will be included in the recommendation.
5. Upon receipt of recommendation from staff, the Board of Supervisors may request that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDoT) install and maintain this type of signage.
6. The request should be submitted by the County to the local VDoT resident engineer. All requests must be in the form of a resolution directed to the Transportation Commissioner.
7. The resolution shall include the source of funding for the installation of signs: (i) out of the secondary system construction allocation to Montgomery County; (ii) from direct contributions or grants made for such purpose to Montgomery County; or (iii) from such other source as may be provided by the county. In all cases, the costs of maintaining such signs shall be paid out of the secondary system maintenance allocation to the county.
8. The resolution shall also include the location(s) where the signs are desired. However, VDoT reserves the right to review all signing plans and make the final determination as to the exact number and location of signs.
9. Upon receipt of the resolution from the county, the resident engineer, with assistance from the district traffic engineer as necessary, shall review the request and conduct a field review to ensure the proposed signs will be effectively located and will not be in conflict with any other traffic control devices. VDoT will make the final determination regarding the exact number and location of signs.
10. Generally, WATCH FOR CHILDREN signs shall be installed only on secondary routes within residential areas. Any requests to install such signs on primary routes shall be forwarded to the state traffic engineer for review.
11. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the resolution, a written response will be provided by VDoT to the Board of Supervisors granting or denying the request. If the request is granted, the response should include any recommended changes to the signage plan proposed by the county.

What is the Rural Rustic Road program?

In accordance with §33.1-70.1 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, the following guidelines apply to the Rural Rustic Road program:

1. Must be an unpaved road already within the State Secondary System
   
2. Must carry at least 50, but no more than, 500 vehicles per day
   
3. Must be a priority (line item) in an approved Secondary Six-Year Plan, even if funding is not from Secondary allocations
   
4. Governing body of County, in consultation with VDoT's Resident Engineer or designee, must designate a road or road segment as a Rural Rustic Road
   
5. Road must be in area that is low-density, and should be evaluated for appropriate warning signs or posted speed limit that is consistent with topography and features of the road
   
6. Roadway or roadway section must be predominately for local traffic use
   
7. The local nature of the road means that most motorists using the road have traveled it before and are familiar with its features
   
8. County Board of Supervisors will endeavor to limit growth on roads improved under the Rural Rustic Road program and cooperate with the VDoT through its comprehensive planning process to develop lands consistent with rural rustic road concepts
   
9. Requires a special Resolution by County Board of Supervisors for each individual road

VDoT Review

• Consider the views of the governing body making the request and of the residents and owners of the adjacent property.
  
• Consider the historical and aesthetic significance of such road and its surroundings
  
• Leave trees, vegetation, side slopes, and open drainage abutting the roadway undisturbed to the maximum extent possible
  
• Improvements along Rural Rustic Roads may be less than minimum design standards
  
• Encouraged to look for evidence of site-specific safety problems and to focus safety expenditures on those sites where a site-specific safety problem exists
  
• Low volume local roads have very few crashes. Even when 5-10 year crash data are available, this data will often be so sparse that other indicators of safety problems should be considered as well
  
• Such other indicators may include field reviews to note skid marks or roadside damage, speed data (which may indicate whether speeds are substantially higher than the intended design speed), or concerns raised by police or local residents

Approval Process

• Resident Engineer shall be VDoT's designated representative in dealing with County Boards of Supervisors regarding Rural Rustic Roads
  
• The Board of Supervisors requests the Resident Engineer to evaluate a section of road as a candidate for the Rural Rustic Roads program
  
• Resident Engineer evaluates the request and agrees or disagrees with the approach
  
• Resident Engineer determines if improvements can be made according to Rural Rustic criteria
  
• Board of Supervisors designates road as Rural Rustic Road by resolution or determines if it should appeal the determination of the Resident Engineer
  
• If the Board of Supervisors does not agree with the Resident Engineer's position, it may request the District Administrator to review that position and may appeal the District Administrator's decision to the Chief Engineer for a final determination by the Commissioner.
  
• Resident Engineer requests assistance from other divisions, as needed
  
• Requires State Environmental Review Process
  
• Requires permit determination by Environmental staff of VDoT
  
• Requires scoping documentation (either LD-430 package or other documentation as established by Committee and approved by VDoT Management)

What is the Revenue Sharing Program?

The purpose of the revenue sharing program is to provide additional funding for the maintenance or improvement of the primary and secondary systems and eligible additions.

The program is administered by VDoT in cooperation with participating localities (§33.1-23.05 Code of Virginia). The Commonwealth Transportation Board annually appropriates funds for this program. Application for these funds must be made by resolution of the local governing body. Each locality may request up to $1 million in matching funds each year.

Process

1. VDoT’s Director of Local Assistance sends a letter inviting all qualifying local governments to participate in the Revenue Sharing Program for the coming fiscal year.
   
2. The Local Government (Board of Supervisors) determines its intent to participate in the program, and the amount of local funds to be provided. The Local Government and appropriate VDoT manager jointly prepare an application to recommend assignment of requested funds to eligible projects. This application should:
     - include a resolution from the governing body of the locality stating its intent to participate in the Revenue Sharing Program; the amount of local funds to be provided, not to exceed $1 million; the prioritized list of eligible projects with individual estimated project costs
     - list what is to be included for each project (example: length of road, width of road, estimated cost, etc.);
     - list projects in the locality’s priority order;
     - identify who will administer each phase of each project
   
3. In order to get a list of eligible projects, the Board of Supervisors must submit a list of road projects to the Residency Administrator, and the Residency Administrator will provide cost estimates for each road project.
   
4. The Board of Supervisors adopts a resolution listing the road projects the funds will be assigned to. The resolution is forwarded to the Residency Administrator. The Residency Administrator then reviews the request and forwards it, along with recommendations, to the State Local Assistance Engineer. The State Local Assistance Engineer then reviews and summarizes all applications and, making any necessary revisions, presents a draft resolution based upon the submitted applications to the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
   
   While there is no limit on the amount of funds the locality may contribute, the amount of funds eligible for State matching funds may not exceed the statutory limitation. Designation of funds forms should be used for the prioritized list and project details.
   
5. The appropriate VDoT manager submits the detailed application developed in Step 2 of the process with recommendations to the Local Assistance Division, with a copy to the appropriate District Administrator.
   
   The application must be received by the date specified in the invitation letter.
   
   
6. VDoT’s Local Assistance Division reviews the submitted applications and notifies the appropriate VDoT manager of the amount of state matching funds available for use on specified projects in their localities, subject to the approval of the CTB.

Use of Revenue Sharing Funds

Eligible work
The Revenue Sharing Program may be used to finance eligible work on highway systems within Montgomery County. The program is intended to provide funding for relatively small, immediately needed improvements or to supplement existing projects. Funds are normally expected to be used in the same fiscal year they are received. Types of work eligible for Revenue Sharing Program funds include:

• deficits on completed VDoT administered construction or improvement projects
• supplemental funding for projects listed in the adopted Six-Year Plan and ongoing projects
• construction improvements not included in the adopted Six-Year Plan
• improvements (incidental)
• improvements necessary for the acceptance of specific qualifying subdivision streets
• new hardsurfacing (paving) and new roadways