In 2021, the City of Buena Vista applied for a Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) planning assistance program grant to help grow its outdoor recreation economy and revitalize its Main Street. The city was one of 25 communities across the nation to receive this technical assistance award sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

On April 4-5, 2023, the City of Buena Vista hosted a workshop, where local stakeholders came together with city officials, regional, state, and federal partners, and the RERC planning assistance team to develop action plans to strengthen their downtown and their outdoor recreation sectors. During the first session on Tuesday, April 4, roughly 70 participants attended the nighttime workshop to learn about the project and participate in community visioning exercises. During the second and third sessions, on Wednesday, April 5, roughly 45 participants attended the daytime workshop to develop strategies to boost the recreation economy and downtown revitalization, identify actions to implement those strategies, prioritize actions, and develop an action plan to implement high-priority actions.

The RERC workshop was an incredible community-driven process that will result in a concrete, implementable action plan that the City of Buena Vista will be able to use to make visible progress over the next 2-3 years.

USA Today recently announced their 2023 list of America’s Top 10 Recreational Trails, with Lexington’s Chessie Trail snagging the #3 spot.  After being nominated by a panel of experts, the trail was entered into a readers’ choice election and placed third overall. The 7-mile rail-trail was noted for its scenic location in proximity to the Maury River, and access to both canal towpaths and the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad bed. In 2021, regional partners including Rockbridge County, the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, VMI, and Friends of the Chessie Trail concluded a multi-year effort to replace a railroad bridge that was damaged after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. This reconstruction effort closed a key gap in the 7-mile trail and allowed visitors to walk the trail without making a detour. This addition enhanced an already well-loved regional trail and allowed more visitors to enjoy its natural beauty and wildlife.

Starting in June the hours on the BRCC Shuttle North and South routes will be reduced in the evening. Historically, the route served Blue Ridge Community College students commuting to the campus in Weyers Cave for classes. With greater opportunities for virtual learning and the shift toward more online courses, traffic to campus in the late evening has reduced significantly. The existing schedule currently operates until 10:30 pm (South) and 11:00 pm (North) Monday through Thursday, and until 7:30 pm (South) and 8:00 pm (North) on Friday.

To better align service with demand, the routes will now end at 5:30 pm (South), and 6:00 pm (North). The new hours will be the same Monday through Friday. This change will go into effect on Monday, June 5, 2023, and will be a permanent change.

We recognize that any change to a transit schedule may have an impact on existing riders and the general public. The CSPDC and BRITE Bus offer opportunities for the public to provide feedback on these changes. There are multiple options for providing feedback.

In-Person

CSPDC & BRITE Bus staff will be hosting pop-up events throughout the month of April to talk with riders about the upcoming changes. If you’d like to provide feedback in person, you can speak with staff at the following dates and times:

BRCC Houff Student Center – April 19^th from 9:00 – 11:00 am, and April 20^th from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
JMU Godwin Transit Center – April 25^th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Staunton Lewis Street Hub – April 27^th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Online

An online survey will be available through May 19^th. The survey will ask a few questions to help us understand how riders use the BRCC routes, and provides an open-ended comment box for any feedback you’d like to share. The survey link is available on the BRITE Bus website.

In Writing

You can provide feedback in writing. Please email your comments to Devon Thompson, Transit Planner (devon@cspdc.org) or by mail to:

CSPDC – Devon Thompson
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401

The public comment period is open until May 19^th.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is conducting a spring meeting to allow the public to comment on transportation projects recommended for funding in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The Staunton District’s in-person meeting will be on Wednesday, May 3^rd  from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College’s Plecker Center for Continuing Education. Individuals are encouraged to submit comments online until May 24, 2023.

The CTB will consider comments as it develops the FY2024-2029 SYIP. The program allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation projects. All federally eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds.

Rebecca Joyce, Community Program Manager, resigned from the CSPDC last month. Rebecca joined the PDC in 1997 and began working with the Town of Glasgow on one of the largest flood mitigation projects in the state at that time where 56 homes were removed from the floodplain through acquisition and elevation. Over the next few years, and following Hurricanes Isabel and Fran, Rebecca worked in Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, Waynesboro, Goshen, Port Republic, and Rockingham County on a number of flood mitigation projects again helping hundreds of families rebuild their lives and protect their properties.

From there Rebecca went on to establish the first regional disaster education and outreach program called Project Impact which has provided life-saving information to the citizens and businesses in the Shenandoah Valley for over two decades. One of the disaster educational products that Rebecca conceived and oversaw was the ever-popular Project Impact Calendar.  The calendars contain valuable information on disaster emergency preparedness pertinent to each season along with historical local photographs and humorous daily quotes.

Most recently, she worked with the City of Staunton and the Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge to provide flood relief assistance to the citizens and businesses that were severely impacted by the devasting storms that flooded the city in August of 2020.

She also started the first CERT program in the region which has trained nearly 600 ordinary citizens in what to do before, during, and after disasters.

Throughout her tenure at the CSPDC, Rebecca has worked with multiple jurisdictions in developing their Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), flood mitigation plans, wildfire plans and hazardous materials plans.  She oversaw the region’s All Hazard Mitigation Plan and its 5-year updates.  The All Hazard Mitigation Plan, a requirement of FEMA,  identifies  and assesses the Region’s natural hazard risks and makes recommendations to mitigate these hazards.

In 2020, Rebecca received the James Madison University John B. Noftsinger Alumni Award for Public Service Excellence. The John B. Noftsinger award recognizes JMU graduates who actively engage with the community, strengthen social equality, demonstrate personal integrity, promote ethical standards of performance and stewardship, and advance professional excellence in the Shenandoah Valley.

As Stephen King, Rockingham County Administrator, so adequately stated: “High levels of ability, competence, intelligence, and commitment, combined with an always cheerful disposition = Rebecca Joyce.”

Rebecca will be missed by many and her service and work in the region will be felt for years to come.

The CSPDC is co-hosting a USDA-Rural Development Programs Showcase on April 19^th from 9am-12:30pm at the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County. At the event, USDA-RD will provide an informative overview of their programs, including loans and grants, that help to improve economic prosperity for the families and businesses in the Central Shenandoah Region. USDA-RD will provide presentations and one-on-one networking with specialty experts in the fields of rural business, community facilities, water and environmental programs, single family housing, and telecommunications. Dupont Community Credit Union and the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund will also give brief presentations to share the economic development services they provide to the region, and a representative from Congressman Cline’s office will make brief remark. This event is made possible through the support of event sponsors Dupont Community Credit Union and BARC Electric Cooperative.

Local officials, planners, economic development staff, administrators, housing professionals, community service providers, farm market managers, lending professionals, and small/rural business owners are encouraged to attend this free event. Registration is required by April 17^th, and can be found here. Light breakfast, coffee and tea, and mid-morning snacks will be provided. Don’t miss this chance to talk to USDA-RD program specialist and learn how these programs can benefit your locality or organization! To view the agenda, click here.