Spend $1000 to improve Hampton Roads
Unique survey lets residents budget virtual cash to tackle issues such as education, infrastructure, housing and environment
A regional planning organization is asking residents across Hampton Roads to weigh in on the area’s future through an online survey that remains open through the end of April. The effort by the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) aims to produce a comprehensive strategic plan to guide regional decision-making through 2050 and beyond. The survey is open to residents, businesses, and community members throughout the region. Organizers say that it takes less than five minutes to complete, and note that participants are entered for a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards upon finishing.
Rather than asking traditional multiple-choice questions, the Hampton Roads Strategic Plan survey (pdctpo.up.railway.app/strategicplan) uses a budgeting format developed by the Stanford Crowdsourced Democracy Team, a group focused on scaling up collaborative decision-making for large communities. Each participant receives an imaginary $1,000 budget, represented as ten $100 bills, to spend across 19 regional strategies. The format requires participants to prioritize their choices, since the total cost of selected strategies cannot exceed the available budget.
The 19 strategies span six categories: economy, infrastructure, housing and community development, natural environment, resident well-being, and visitor appeal. Economic options include growing the private sector or expanding support for entrepreneurship. Infrastructure choices range from improving public transit to expanding broadband access. Participants can also direct funds toward reducing flooding vulnerability, improving health outcomes, or enhancing public spaces, among other options.
The Hampton Roads Horizon plan is being developed in two phases. The first phase, currently underway, focuses on assessing regional conditions and setting priorities through data analysis and public engagement. The second phase will use that input to establish measurable goals and specific action plans.
State law plays a role in the effort as well. The Code of Virginia requires regional planning organizations to develop plans addressing key sectors such as transportation, housing, and environmental management. The Hampton Roads Horizon framework is designed to satisfy that requirement while reflecting priorities specific to the region.
The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), which represents 17 local governments across the region, launched the survey as part of an initiative called Hampton Roads Horizon. The HRPDC was formed in 1990 through a merger of two earlier planning commissions and is one of 21 such organizations across Virginia. Its board includes elected officials and administrators from each of its member localities. Williamsburg is represented by Mayor Douglas G. Pons and Interim City Manager Michele DeWitt. James City County’s representatives include Board of Supervisors member John McGlennon and County Administrator Scott Stevens. York County is represented by Board of Supervisors Chair Sheila S. Noll and County Administrator Mark L. Bellamy, Jr.
Commission officials have said the survey is intended to ensure the final plan reflects the diverse perspectives of people who live and work in the region, rather than being shaped solely by planners and policymakers.
The public survey remains open until April 30, 2026. Residents can participate through the HRPDC’s Hampton Roads Horizon initiative website.
The writer used AI tools and the following sources:
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