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==Transportation== ===Highways=== [[File:Route250 Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. Route 250 near Hightown]] Highland County does not possess within its borders any section of the [[Interstate Highway System]], though east–west [[Interstate 64]] and north–south [[Interstate 81]] are accessible in adjacent Augusta County near [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]]. Highland County has three [[List of primary state highways in Virginia|primary state highways]], which are [[Virginia State Route 84]] and two [[U.S. Routes]], [[U.S. Route 250]] and [[U.S. Route 220]].<ref name="transport county">{{cite web|title=Comprehensive Plan: Transportation|publisher=Highland County|url=http://www.highlandcova.org/Compplan/Tranverb.htm|access-date=December 28, 2013|archive-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316150352/http://www.highlandcova.org/Compplan/Tranverb.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="highland map">{{Google maps|title=Highland County, Virginia and surrounding area|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Highland+County,+Virginia&hl=en&ll=38.106467,-79.249878&spn=1.612227,3.482666&sll=38.003386,-79.420925&sspn=5.747159,12.23877&hnear=Highland,+Virginia&t=m&z=9|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> These primary routes have experienced increases in traffic volumes in recent years,<ref name="transport county"/> although the highest [[annual average daily traffic]] for any location in the county in 2008 was 1600 vehicles.<ref name="aadt map">{{cite web|title=County of Highland - Average Annual Daily Traffic (2008)|publisher=Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission|website=highlandcova.org|url=http://www.highlandcova.org/Compmaps/31%20-%20AADT%202008.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.highlandcova.org/Compmaps/31%20-%20AADT%202008.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|access-date=December 27, 2013|year=2010}}</ref> All primary routes and over {{convert|213|mi|km}} of secondary roads in the county are serviced and maintained by the [[Virginia Department of Transportation]].<ref name="transport county"/> ====U.S. Route 250==== [[File:Monterey, Virginia Street.jpg|thumb|right|U.S. 250 in Monterey]] U.S. 250 enters Highland County from the west on the Virginia-West Virginia border from [[Pocahontas County, West Virginia]] at an elevation of approximately {{convert|4280|ft|m}}. The road traverses {{convert|32.45|mi|km}} within the county.<ref name="aadt data">{{cite web|author=Traffic Engineering Division|title=Virginia Department of Transportation - Jurisdiction Report: Daily Traffic Volume Estimates Including Vehicle Classification Estimates: Highland County/Town of Monterey|publisher=Virginia Department of Transportation|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_045_Highland_2009.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/2009/AADT_045_Highland_2009.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|page=7|access-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref> Upon entering the county, U.S. 250 descends into the Back Creek valley, whereafter it crosses the long ridge of Lantz mountain. The route then reaches the village of [[Hightown, Virginia|Hightown]] where it intersects Virginia State Route 640.<ref name="national map">{{cite web|title=The National Map|url=http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/?p=default&b=base1&x=-8858688.058635866&y=4633869.271539937&l=11&v=|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=January 4, 2014}}</ref><ref name="250 map">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=US-250+S&daddr=US-250+E%2FHighland+Turnpike&hl=en&ll=38.343272,-79.535522&spn=0.363514,0.727158&sll=38.311222,-79.370127&sspn=0.04546,0.090895&geocode=FQwVSwId5uM_-w%3BFVeVSAIdXrBE-w&t=h&mra=pr&z=11|title=U.S. Route 250 in Highland County, Virginia|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> Hightown marks the division between the watersheds of the James and Potomac Rivers, for the headwaters of the Jackson River, a tributary of the James, and the South Branch Potomac River are located near the village.<ref name="hightown">{{cite book|last1=Winegar|first1=Deane|last2=Winegar|first2=Garvey|title=Highroad Guide to the Virginia Mountains|publisher=John F. Blair|year=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmVglm0QGSQC|page=181|isbn=9780895872777}}</ref> After leaving Hightown, U.S. 250 ascends Monterey Mountain before descending to the county's seat of Monterey. In Monterey, U.S. 250, the county's major east–west route, intersects the county's major north–south route, U.S. 220. Continuing eastward, U.S. 250 follows the flow of Crab Run through mountainous terrain towards McDowell. Here, the route crosses the Bullpasture River and winds its way towards the Cowpasture River, after which it enters the village of [[Head Waters, Virginia|Head Waters]]. From Head Waters, U.S. 250 ascends in elevation on a winding and mountainous path to enter Augusta County, Virginia over Shenandoah Mountain.<ref name="national map"/><ref name="250 map"/> Continuing on U.S. 250 east provides access to Interstate 64 and Interstate 81 near Staunton.<ref name="highland map"/> ====U.S. Route 220==== U.S. 220 is Highland County's major north–south route, entering Highland County from the north from Pendleton County, West Virginia. The road traverses {{convert|23.59|mi|km}} within the county.<ref name="aadt data"/> Approximately {{convert|3/4|mi|km}} after entering the county, U.S. 220 crosses the South Branch Potomac River at [[Forks of Waters, Virginia|Forks of Waters]]. Leaving Forks of Waters, U.S. 220 continues in a southwesterly direction on a roughly straight and level route passing the village of [[Possum Trot, Virginia|Possum Trot]] to the town of Monterey. Here, the route intersects U.S. Route 250.<ref name="national map"/><ref name="220 map">{{Google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Rte+220+S%2FUS-220+S&daddr=Rte+220+S%2FUS-220+S%2FJackson+River+Rd&hl=en&ll=38.355657,-79.652939&spn=0.363452,0.727158&sll=38.314185,-79.522476&sspn=0.36366,0.727158&geocode=FVJlSwIdXPNC-w%3BFQo3RwIdNsQ_-w&mra=dme&mrsp=1&sz=11&t=m&z=11|title=U.S. Route 220 in Highland County, Virginia|access-date=December 27, 2013}}</ref> South of Monterey, U.S. 220 passes by [[Trimble Knob]], a conical shaped hill that was an active [[volcano]] or [[diatreme]] 35 million years ago.<ref name="trimble">{{cite web |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/1264/html/trip4/index.html |title= Middle Eocene Igneous Rocks in the Valley and Ridge of Virginia and West Virginia |year=2004 |author1=Jonathan L. Tso |author2=Ronald R. McDowell |author3=Katharine Lee Avary |author4=David L. Matchen |author5=Gerald P. Wilkes |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|work=Circular 1264}}</ref> Continuing south, U.S. 220 follows creek and river valleys in between mountain ridges and passes through the villages of [[Vanderpool, Virginia|Vanderpool]] and [[Mustoe, Highland County, Virginia|Mustoe]]. Approximately {{convert|15|mi|km}} south of Monterey, U.S. 220 enters Bath County, Virginia near the village of [[Bolar, Virginia|Bolar]].<ref name="national map"/><ref name="220 map"/> Following U.S. 220 south through Bath County into [[Alleghany County, Virginia]] leads to a connection with Interstate 64 near [[Covington, Virginia]].<ref name="highland map"/> ====Virginia State Route 84==== [[File:HighlandCounty.wmg.jpg|right|thumb|A foggy summer morning viewed from State Route 84]] {{Main|Virginia State Route 84}} State Route 84 enters Highland County from Pocahontas County, West Virginia in the southwestern part of Highland. The route travels {{convert|14.94|mi|km}} in Highland through the villages of [[Mill Gap, Virginia|Mill Gap]] and [[Meadowdale, Virginia|Meadowdale]] before reaching U.S. 220 at Vanderpool.<ref name="national map"/><ref name="aadt data"/><ref name="84 map">{{google maps|url=https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=VA-84+E%2FMill+Gap+Rd&daddr=VA-84+E%2FMill+Gap+Rd&hl=en&sll=38.372616,-79.619637&sspn=0.105242,0.154324&geocode=FRhNSAIduk0--w%3BFWh5SQIddgJB-w&vpsrc=0&mra=ls&t=h&z=12|title=Virginia State Route 84|access-date=December 30, 2013}}</ref> ===Other transportation=== Highland County has no public airfields; however, there is a private airfield located within the county south of Monterey.<ref name="transport county"/> Commercial air transportation is available at the [[Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport]] in neighboring Augusta County, Virginia.<ref name="community profile10">''[[#profile|Community Profile: Highland County]]'', p. 10.</ref> Highland County also lacks any rail lines; the nearest railroad is a [[CSX Transportation]] line located in Augusta County, which also provides passenger rail service via [[Amtrak]] in [[Staunton (Amtrak station)|Staunton]].<ref name="transport county"/> Historically, no permanent rail lines ever existed within the county's borders, though several were proposed. In the 1870s, there were prospects of a railroad named the Washington, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Railroad entering the county. This line was proposed as a [[narrow gauge railroad]] to be built from [[Harrisonburg, Virginia]] to Monterey and then westward into West Virginia, eventually reaching western markets. The railroad, which has been described as being "so poorly conceived that its failure was inevitable", was never built.<ref name="hilton">{{Hilton Narrow Gauge|pages=84–87}}</ref> Another potential railroad to enter Highland County was chartered by the [[Virginia General Assembly]] on February 29, 1892, as the Augusta, Highland, and Alleghany Railroad. This railroad was to connect with either the [[Chesapeake and Ohio Railway]] or Valley Railroad in Augusta County and build a line towards Monterey.<ref name="rail charter">{{cite book|title=Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia|publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia|year=1892|pages=748–749|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iL5OAQAAIAAJ}}</ref><ref name="history141">[[#OrenHistory|Oren]], 1911, p. 141.</ref> The Augusta, Highland, and Alleghany Railroad appears to have never been organized or built, as documents from 1911 and 1922 state that no railroad existed in the county.<ref name="history233">[[#OrenHistory|Oren]], 1911, p. 233.</ref><ref name="handbook25">[[#OrenHandbook|Oren]], 1922, p. 25.</ref> The prospects of a railroad reaching Highland were limited due to the mountainous terrain and a general lack of sufficient traffic to make such an investment economically viable.<ref name="handbook25"/>
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