Gabe Cavallaro

Staunton News Leader

WAYNESBORO - The entryway to Waynesboro coming down Afton Mountain on U.S. 250 may soon look a little different.

The city council voted Monday to pursue state grant money for sidewalk and aesthetic upgrades to the East Main Street corridor, through which many visitors coming from the Blue Ridge Parkway or Charlottesville often see Waynesboro for the first time.

“It’s a key entrance corridor," director of planning Luke Juday said. “We want to make it more attractive because that’s the first thing you see when you come down the mountain."

More Waynesboro news:Waynesboro 'Tree Streets' residents object to greenway plan

Streetscape upgrades there have come up frequently during the ongoing discussions of the comprehensive plan update and with recent momentum from the openings of Basic City Beer Company and Blue Ridge Bucha on East Main, as well as the city's Sunset Park plans, "we think it's a good time to put some investment there," Juday said.

Some of the goals include:

Increased walkability along the road, with upgraded and new sidewalks and crosswalks

Aesthetic improvements and "traffic calming" from construction of a median and planting strips

Improved access for businesses with road dieting to add parallel parking spots from unused space

A key visual marker at the bottom of the mountain that lets people know they're entering Waynesboro

“It’s an opportunity to craft your identity there," Juday said.

Under its plan for the initial phase, the city will request $360,000 in Virginia Department of Transportation funds and the local match will be $90,000. Completing the project is estimated to cost as much as $1.5 million eventually.

More on Waynesboro planning:Waynesboro planning chief aims to fulfill city's vision

All designs for the corridor are subject to change at this point, nothing's set in stone, Juday said.