On January 8, 2019, Governor Ralph Northam issued a press release announcing the administration and a group of bi-partisan legislators’ support for the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan, and a I-81 Improvement Fund that would raise $2.2 billion for improvements along the interstate corridor. Interstate tolls would raise revenues for the Improvement Fund. The proposal would establish limits on toll rates, and give automobiles and small trucks the ability to purchase an annual pass allowing unlimited use of I-81 for a fixed yearly fee. Revenues collected would only be used for improvements included in the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan that was adopted by the Commonwealth Transportation Board at its December meeting.

The CSDPC, HRMPO, and SAWMPO all passed resolutions of support for the Improvement Plan and a dedicated funding source for the critical improvements to I-81. The resolutions were sent to our full General Assembly delegation in December, 2018. The Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program legislation will be patroned by Senators Mark Obenshain and Bill Carrico in the Senate, and by Delegates Steve Landes and Terry Austin in the House.

Read the Full release here. The Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan can be found at www.va81corridor.org.

In December, Bath County was awarded a $20,000 Community Impact Grant from the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA). Funding will be used to procure a consultant to conduct a county-wide housing needs assessment and market analysis report. Bath County has identified housing as a priority for community development, including opportunities for rental housing and homeownership, and the goal is to enhance and expand opportunities for affordable, workforce housing in the County.

The County will be organizing a Project Team of stakeholders to oversee the project, and the CSPDC will provide grant administration and management services for the project.

In December, the CSPDC submitted the final report to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP III). The WIP III planning process began in July and involved many local stakeholders including representatives from localities, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Virginia Departments of Health, Forestry, Transportation, Environmental Quality, and Conservation & Recreation, Virginia Wilderness Committee, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, Valley Conservation Council, and the Community Alliance for Preservation, as well as CSPDC staff.

DEQ will be integrating all regional reports into one statewide WIP III report and submitting to the Environmental Protection Agency. Virginia’s WIP III will ensure pollution control measures needed to fully restore the Chesapeake Bay are in place no later than 2025.

For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan, please contact Regional Planner/GIS Coordinator, Hunter Moore: hunter@cspdc.org.