Michael Sutphin

Economy Revitalizing downtown through streetscape improvements and the creation of a retail incubator space. Infrastructure / Transportation Improving pedestrian safety along Prices Fork, Clay Street, Harding Avenue, and elsewhere. Infrastructure / Transportation Enhancing public transportation options through expanded Blacksburg Transit service. Infrastructure / Transportation Renovating the existing Community Center and making progress toward a new Recreation Center. Environment / Energy Completing the transition of the Blacksburg Transit fleet to all-electric vehicles. Environment / Energy Promoting energy-efficient building practices, such as passive solar design and green roofs. Infrastructure / Transportation Upgrading the town’s aging water and sewer lines to ensure reliable service for years to come. Housing Encouraging residential infill development and linking housing, transportation, and employment when making land use decisions. Economy Backing economic development efforts that remove barriers and provide resources for small businesses, such as the Retail Strategies initiative. Education Building on our strengths in education, technology, arts and culture, and the outdoors for recruiting and retaining people and businesses. Environment / Energy Making it easier to access residential solar energy. Infrastructure / Transportation Expanding and improving Blacksburg’s trail system and outdoor recreation amenities, including upgrades to the Brush Mountain trail system and the expansion of the Huckleberry Trail. Environment / Energy Using a “smart growth” approach to land use that encourages mixed-use development, public and alternative transportation, and the preservation of green and open spaces. Housing Implementing land use policies that create more housing types for residents of all income levels, such as small lot residential development, and creating resources for small, locally based developers to build the types of housing we need in Blacksburg.