Current Studies

The HRMPO Small Area Study (SAS) Program identifies regional transportation issues and develops fundable solutions to advance the goals of the MPO’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and local Comprehensive and Economic Development Plans. Short-Range planning activities for the HRMPO include maintenance of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and small area or corridor studies to advance projects to the project application and programming stage.

This task allows HRMPO staff or consultants to perform corridor, interchange, or intersection planning studies to prepare projects for advancement to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Six Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or towards construction funded by other means.

The studies often examine transportation issues related to vehicular traffic; however, active transportation modes and transit will also be incorporated into all studies. These studies also may include opportunities to examine the potential for economic development and show commitment to infrastructure improvements.

Current Study – Stone Spring and Ridgedale Master Plan Study 

The HRMPO, Rockingham County, and the City of Harrisonburg, is developing the Stone Spring Road and Ridgedale Road Transportation Master Plan. The study will create a coordinated vision for the roads that serve the Stone Spring Urban Development Area, one of the fastest-growing parts of Rockingham County. It will look at how Stone Spring Road, Ridgedale Road, and Ramblewood Road should function as the area grows, how driveways and intersections along Stone Spring Road should be managed, how bicyclists and pedestrians can travel safely through the area, and whether and where a Peach Grove Avenue extension could be built.

The team will study existing safety and traffic conditions, forecast future traffic through 2050 under different growth scenarios, and compare network options, including the cost of extending Peach Grove Avenue versus upgrading Ramblewood Road. The community will have chances to share input through an online interactive map survey, and property owners near proposed road alignments will be notified directly. The final plan will give County and City staff, elected officials, and developers a clear, shared guide for reviewing development proposals and prioritizing future transportation investments. Kimley-Horn is the consulting firm leading the technical work. The study began in September 2026 and is expected to be complete in spring 2027.