The public will have its first opportunity to provide input on safety and congestion concerns on Interstate 81 during a series of meetings in June along the corridor through Virginia.

The Salem District meeting is June 14 from 4-7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Valley View, Roanoke. Presentations will be held at the beginning of the meeting at 4 p.m. and that will be followed by an open house through 7 p.m.

The public input meetings are part of a process to develop a plan for targeted improvements on the 325 miles of I-81 in Virginia and potential revenue sources that could be dedicated to those improvements.

The plan that evolves between now and the end of the year is the result of a Virginia Senate bill (SB) that requires the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation to develop the plan to study the entire length of the Interstate 81 in the state.

SB 971 was introduced by Sens. Mark Obenshain and Bill Carrico, and was supported by Del. Steve Landes with budget language in the House of Delegates budget bill.

Feedback provided by members of communities, industries and other stakeholders will be considered as the agency team members study the corridor throughout the summer and prepare a draft plan report in the fall, the announcement about the meetings said. The team and the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) plan to report findings to the General Assembly in December, prior to the opening of the January 2019 General Assembly session.

Other meetings are June 6 at the Southwest Higher Education Center One in Abingdon, June 12 a Strasburg High School in Strasburg, and June 13 at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave.

Public “recommendations development” meetings are expected in August and public meetings about a proposed recommended corridor plan are expected in September or October, according to documents about the study.

According to those documents, the study will evaluate the possibility of tolls on heavy commercial vehicles and the potential for high-occupancy toll lanes. Options that do not or have a minimum impact on local truck traffic and diversion are also required along with the economic impact tolls might have.

It will not evaluate tolling options that apply to all users.

The CTB may consider other funding and financing options, including regional fuels tax options.

The study is required to look at safety and incident management strategies, too.

The documents also suggest that if tolls are used, the funds would only benefit I-81, that the study should look at the feasibility of using tolls on “hot lanes” or heavy commercial vehicles, and the potential for additional truck parking along the corridor.

Comments will be accepted at the meeting or by contacting Ben Mannell, study manager, at VA81CorridorPlan@OIPI.Virginia.gov; by mail to 1401 E. Broad St., Richmond, Va. 23219, and by phone at 804-786-2971.

The first comment period will end July 31. Additional comment opportunities will be available throughout the study.

For more information about the study, or to view meeting materials, visit http://www.VA81Corridor.org. For additional information about the CTB, visit http://www.CTB.Virginia.gov/.