Left to Right: Gary Larrowe, Monica Backmon, Paula Melester, Angel Deem, Secretary Shep Miller
Paula Melester, Director of Transportation for the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission represented the CSPDC at the 2025 Virginia Governor’s Transportation Conference in Richmond. The conference, held October 16-17 under the theme “Looking Back Looking Forward,” brought together transportation leaders from across the Commonwealth to discuss the future of Virginia’s transportation system.
During the “Local Perspectives on Transportation” panel session, Paula joined Ms. Monica Backmon, CEO of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and Mr. Gary Larrowe, County Administrator for Botetourt County, to share insights on transportation planning, funding, and project prioritization from diverse jurisdictional perspectives. Moderated by Angel Deem, Chief of Policy for the Virginia Department of Transportation, the discussion highlighted the critical importance of collaboration in project planning and delivery. Panelists explored strategies that local and regional communities employ to prioritize projects when resources are limited and shared examples of successful initiatives in their regions, emphasizing the factors that contributed to those achievements. The session underscored the value of bringing together rural, regional, and metropolitan viewpoints to address Virginia’s transportation challenges.