VTrans is the Commonwealth’s long-range transportation plan. The Virginia Multimodal Transportation Plan (VMTP) is the short-range component of the plan and details transportation needs and recommendations through 2025.  Virginia is developing statewide multimodal transportation recommendations and your input is needed!

The Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI), alongside local stakeholders, has developed draft recommendations for the VTrans Multimodal Transportation Plan (VMTP).  The VMTP2025 Needs for Corridors of Statewide Significance (CoSS), Regional Networks, and Urban Development Areas (UDAs) were developed in 2015.  These 2025 Needs were consolidated across different travel markets and divided into three tiers.  The 2025 draft project recommendations for the Tier 1 Needs have been developed.  These draft recommendations will be available for review and discussion at an Open House on Wednesday, February 15th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., at the Regional Transit Facility, 51 Ivy Ridge Lane, Fishersville, Virginia.

This Open House will be an important opportunity to share your input on these strategic investment recommendations.

If you have any questions, please contact Shana Johnson, sjohnson@foursquareitp.com, or to learn more about VTrans, please see www.vtrans2040.com.

A small area study will commence this month to examine congestion and safety issues at the intersection of US 250 & Woodrow Wilson Ave / Lifecore Drive in Fishersville. The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) is leading this effort in partnership with Augusta County, VDOT and an engineer selected from the CSPDC On-call Consultant program.

The study area extends along US 250 between Idlewood Boulevard and Barren Ridge Road; and on Woodrow Wilson Avenue (VA 358) from US 250 to the Y intersection with Hornet Drive. The study will analyze observed and recorded congestion and safety issues, evaluate a potential new connection to the Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center, and develop a set of short- and long-term improvement recommendations. The study is to be completed by the end of 2017.

The HOME Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) in the Central Shenandoah Valley region has received funding to assist approximately eight firsttime, low- to moderate-income homebuyers in 2017.

Created to help eligible homebuyers obtain decent, safe and affordable housing, this program has helped approximately 240 people in our region grow their personal wealth and equity through homeownership.

Of the households the CSPDC has helped over the past few years:

• 41% percent have household income levels below 50% of the area median income.
• The majority of households have children under the age of 18 living at home.
• 40% are single-parent households.
• Almost half are minority households represented primarily by Hispanic households, an increasing segment of the region’s minority population.

The CSPDC partners with lenders and housing providers in the area to identify eligible homebuyers. For more information on the HOME program, contact Kimberly Miller, kimberly@cspdc.org, 540-885-5174.

The 2017 Shenandoah Valley Project Impact Preparedness Calendar is now available. The demand for the free calendar remains high. In its ninth edition since 2003, the publication features preparedness tips and mitigation strategies for dealing with severe weather, emergencies, and disasters. The attractive calendar also contains historic photographs and fun holidays for each day of the year. The calendar is available at local government buildings and public libraries throughout the region. Contact Rebecca Joyce at rebecca@cspdc.org or 540-885-5174 for additional information.