**News** 

I - 81 Corridor Coalition Seeking Executive Director

The full position description may be found at Virginia Tech.  From the link, select "Special Research Faculty" and the position will be displayed there.  Click on that position for full details.

Position Summary:
The Executive Director (ExD) will oversee the day-to-day operations of the I-81 Corridor Coalition with guidance from the Coalition's Steering Committee, in accordance with the organization's mission, vision, and goal statements. The ExD will report to the Steering Committee, and as a Virginia Tech employee report to the Director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in a day-to-day capacity.

The ExD will be the primary point of contact for the I-81 Corridor Coalition. The individual will be responsible for the sustainability of the organization by identifying and pursuing relevant and useful opportunities, including, but not limited to: leveraging core funding from the Coalition's membership to achieve the group's objectives, partnering with the steering committee to develop and implement the Coalition's Strategic Plan, developing and implementing an annual work plan, ensuring subcommittees and work groups work plans and action items are aligned with the Coalition's overall work plan and strategic plan. The individual will manage projects, write grants, maintain constant communication among Coalition member jurisdictions, committee and subcommittee members.

As funding streams are secured, supervises the planning, development, coordination, and direction of projects with many complex features. Includes the following areas and other duties as assigned by or established by the Steering Committee:

Duties and responsibilities:
-Program Management: Identify problems and concerns and offer solutions in the key areas of safety, freight movement efficiency, and environmental sustainability and stewardship. Solutions to corridor problems and concerns are offered to the steering committee as potential modifications to the strategic plan / work plans where practicable, implement projects and programs to solve the problems and concerns. Oversight and coordination of I-81 Corridor Coalition-sponsored projects, research, and studies. Oversight and coordination of consultant contracts where appropriate. Preparation of position papers on new programs proposed by senior levels of government that have an impact on the I-81 Corridor Coalition. Support the programmatic and logistical needs of any functional committee approved by the Coalition's Steering Committee. Liaise with key industry, government, economic development and professional associations along the I-81 corridor, building strong partnerships with stakeholders and securing participation in approved initiatives.

-Administration: Develop and track annual budgets. Research and recommend sustainable funding opportunities. Prepare grant applications as part of sustainable funding opportunities. Coordinate arrangements, preparations, logistics, and materials for all meetings and conferences.

-External Relations: Maintain relationships with affiliated organizations, businesses and government entities at all levels with interest in the programs, projects, and other activities of the Coalition. Focus on the Coalition providing value to its stakeholders (motoring public, businesses, industry, government agencies etc.). Disseminate information to members, other interested parties and the media as appropriate. Establish programs to build public awareness and ensure program initiatives are effectively communicated. Represent the I-81 Corridor Coalition at meetings and functions of regional, national and international organizations concerning transportation issues as directed by the Steering Committee

03/01/12 - I-81 Corridor Coalition Inaugural Newsletter (Winter)

Click here to open a PDF of the Coalition's inaugural newsletter.

02/29/12 - Rockingham County, VA joins the I-81 Corridor Coalition

HARRISONBURG - Rockingham County has joined a group that represents the interests of communities and organizations along the I-81 corridor. Click here for the full article (PDF).  

The Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition

What is the Interstate 81 Corridor Coalition?

The coalition is partnership comprised of local, regional, and state organizations that are all interested in sound transportation planning. The Coalition includes local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and state transportation departments, as well as private sector and non-profit organizations. These partners are from each of the six states that the corridor runs through.

Vision of the I-81 Corridor Coalition

The I-81 Corridor Transportation Network, supporting both freight and passenger movement will be safe, efficient, environmentally sensitive, seamless and intermodal. The network will support economic development and encourage coordinated land use policy.

Mission of the I-81 Corridor Coalition

We will work together in the I-81 Corridor to improve freight and passenger movement through the corridor. This will be accomplished through the sharing of information and coordinated decision making, management and operations.

Interstate 81

Interstate 81, 855 miles in length and traversing six states, is part of the Eisenhower National System of Interstate Highways. Given its proximity to the highly urbanized and densely populated northeastern United States, the highway is one of the nation's leading conduits for goods movement and truck traffic. As such there are significant issues of congestion, safety, economic development, land use, and environment. Historical trends, increasing population, and greater development along the corridor strongly indicate a worsening of these complex transportation problems and thus urgently suggest a highly coordinated planning and management effort for Interstate 81.

Special Features

"Fear, Facts, and Future":  A Roanoke Times Special Feature

Behind each of the 266 fatal crashes on I-81 between 1998 and 2008 is a story of human lives. Families. Commuters. Vacationers. Truckers. Many begin like any other trip on the road, then something happens. A tire blows. The road gets icy. Someone falls asleep. Click on the points below to read about the many lives upon whom I-81 has left an indelible mark.

Special Feature 

I-81: Troubled Highway: A Multi-Newspaper Special Feature 

A joint feature of the Public Opinion, Chambersburg; The Sentinel, Carlisle; and the Lebanon Daily News, along with a journalism class at Shippensburg University taught by Dr. Michael Drager.

 The four-part series, published simultaneously by the three newspapers in print and online Jan. 16-19, examines the ways Interstate 81 has re-shaped the smaller communities along its path, including Chambersburg, Carlisle and Lebanon. It has been both an economic lifeline and a challenge to public safety, while its continued viability is increasingly at risk due to little funding or public commitment to its future.

  View article