A new study gives the long and short term goals for the Richmond Road Corridor in Staunton. Road expansion, bike paths and lowering the speed limit are suggestions the city Planning Office offers for the corridor.

Jennifer Hibbert, the Staunton transportation manager, says, "This is something that says, 'Welcome to Staunton, Virginia.'"

Terry Short Jr., the Staunton District Planning Manager says, "Imagine what Staunton might have looked like, the gateway to Staunton, had people had this conversation 20 years ago."

Richmond Road, otherwise known as Route 250, is about to undergo some major changes in the next few years. Since it has now become the main corridor into Staunton, a study says it's time to spruce it up.

Hibbert says, "When tourists or people from other locations come into our locality and come here, they're probably going to end up, at some point, on Richmond Road."

Estimated show that about 19,000 people travel on Richmond Road daily. Tom Montgomery says his construction business is dependent on that amount of traffic and it has even helped him to sell houses in different states.

He says, "Any enhancement tends to draw people and I think, we have a lot of traffic but we can always stand some more."

Hibbert says the plan is about making to road safer as well as making it more pleasing to the eyes.

She says, "And so we're trying to bring some of that charm of Staunton out onto Richmond Road, so that it doesn't necessarily look like an anywhere USA Road."

The Central Shenandoah Planning Office will give its suggestions to the Augusta Board of Supervisors and the Staunton City Council Monday night, but Hibbert says the study won't be completed until later this year.