Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport Master Plan

RS&H, Inc. was retained by the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission to prepare a Master Plan Update for the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA), a non-hub primary airport located in southwestern Virginia. The airport serves as the major air link between several cities, towns and communities located in Roanoke County and the New River Valley Region to the country and the world.

The purpose of the Master Plan was to establish a long-range development strategy to enable the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission to make informed decisions regarding short-, medium-, and long-term development plans for the Airport based on air traffic demand needs, compliance with safety and security requirements, improved airport service offerings, coordinated efforts with other city and regional development agencies and  sound business decisions.

The following focus areas were key elements addressed in the Master Plan, with each area of development tied to specific air traffic demand activity levels that justify the implementation of the proposed development plans:

• Provide airside and landside infrastructure development for air service to meet current and future demand
• Provide a higher level of service of general aviation facilities
• Create a land use plan that incorporates an integrated approach for economic development of the region
• Integrate sustainability initiatives included in the Virginia Airports Sustainability Management Plan in all levels of development
• Supplement long-term resource planning for local and regional bodies, particularly in the preparation of local plans and strategies
• Provide resilient development that readily adapts to changing technologies and trends
• Identify a location and provide guidance on the creation of a commerce or transportation center in the Airport’s vicinity