An expansion of the Town Center Park and Ride commuter lot in Waynesboro began construction the end of March and is scheduled to be complete in May of 2022.

The $1 million project will increase parking capacity from 120 to about 175 spaces, install a bus stop with a covered shelter, and will repave and improve on-location lighting. Additional amenities include bicycle racks, sidewalks, landscaping and infrastructure to accommodate future charging stations for electric vehicles.

The commuter lot, located near the Interstate 64 exit 94 interchange at Route 340 (P. Buckley Moss Drive), will remain open during construction. Barricades will separate the work zone from areas open to the public. The project is funded by the SMART SCALE transportation prioritization program. Additional information can be found on the Virginia Department of Transportation project page.

The GO Virginia State Board awarded the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP) $821,000 in GO Virginia funds to improve six sites in GO Virginia Region 8. The work to be performed will include Phase I environmental reviews, wetlands surveys, geotechnical subsurface evaluation, and characterization of each site for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Tier program. The six sites proposed for this program are those that were identified as having the greatest return on investment made possible by both public and private sector investments and commitments to the market. Partners included the counties of Augusta, Frederick, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren. The total budget for the Site Enhancement Program is $1,916,359 and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. The CSPDC will be providing grant administration services for the duration of the project.

The next GO Virginia Region 8 Council meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, April 27. For more information about GO Virginia Region 8, please visit their website.

The 2020 update of the Central Shenandoah Hazard Mitigation Plan (CSHMP) has been conditionally approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is pending adoption over the next few months by the jurisdictions in the Planning District. The CSHMP identifies hazards and vulnerabilities of the Region and mitigation strategies that can be implemented to make communities more resilient. Having an approved and adopted Hazard Mitigation Plan also allows the local jurisdictions to apply for hazard mitigation grant funds. A steering committee made up of local and state government agencies and other relevant stakeholders guided the planning process and helped to obtain public input. The plan is available on the CSPDC website.

In February, Agricultural Enterprise Center Feasibility Study consultant New Venture Advisors, presented a recommended operating model to the CSPDC and Study Team. The preferred model will continue to be evaluated throughout the duration of the study that is scheduled to complete in May. The model’s concept is to build a centralized agricultural facility and commercial kitchen that supports farmers, entrepreneurs and agricultural enterprises in the Central Shenandoah Valley. If brought to fruition, the Ag. Enterprise Center will provide warehousing for the aggregation, distribution and sale of local products; business incubation and support services for food businesses; and a certified commercial kitchen serving meat and vegetable producers and entrepreneurs.

Next steps include the identification of anchor tenants, development of a capacity model, preliminary breakeven model, building program and bubble diagrams and further financial analysis. Potential sites and a facility floorplan will also be included in the final report.

This winter, the CSPDC completed the Central Shenandoah Regional Wildfire Protection Plan (CSRWPP) to analyzes wildfire risk and offer mitigation strategies for structures in woodland areas. The CSPDC region has many forested and wildland areas including national forests and a national park that put woodland communities at a higher risk for wildfire. Representatives from federal and state agencies, wildfire professionals, local government staff, and citizens helped to develop the plan that was funded through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant. The CSRWPP is available to the public on the CSPDC website.

In February, the CSPDC in cooperation with the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission conducted a public survey to ascertain the demand for a collective workspace in the Fishersville area. Out of 359 survey respondents, 72% stated that their employment has shifted entirely or partially to telework and 61% indicated that they anticipate continuing to telework in the future and utilizing a shared workspace between one and four days per week. The desired amenities for a shared workspace include privacy, security, and enhanced technology and cleaning services. Most respondents were located in Waynesboro (40%) followed by Stuarts Draft and Fishersville (18%) and Staunton (16%). The steering committee will reconvene in March to discuss the survey results and determine the next steps of development.