March is Transit Operator Appreciation Month, with an official day of celebration on March 18. Transit Operator Appreciation Day commemorates the first known bus line that began operating in Paris in 1662. These celebrations are a way to recognize the hard work and vital role that transit operators play in our communities. Public transportation is an invaluable fixture to any community and drivers are a key element to such structures.

Tyrone Alston and Yvonne Smith

This year, Virginia Regional Transit wanted to highlight and thank two drivers, Yvonne Smith and Tyrone Alston, for their dedication and outstanding service to public transit. Virginia Regional Transit staff noted that these drivers have shown flexibility and stepped in on short notice to maintain route connectivity, and that they have shown constant professionalism and work ethic. The Central Shenandoah Planning District and Virginia Regional Transit will be showing extra gratitude this month for their drivers.

The Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO) is holding a public open house from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 6 at Stone Spring Elementary School for proposed safety and congestion improvement concepts for all modes of travel in the Port Republic Road – Peach Grove – Neff Avenue corridor. The area is one of the busiest corridors in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham region, and the intersection itself has the highest vehicular crash rate in the region.

Open house attendees will be able to review the proposed concepts, ask questions, and provide input on potential improvement strategies during the open house to staff from HRMPO, VDOT, and the City of Harrisonburg. Public input will be documented in a final corridor study, which will be complete in May 2025 and available to the public.

The study area includes the area bounded by Devon Lane to the north/west, Portland/Wine Drive to the south/east, Turner Ashby Lane/A Dream Come True Playground to the north/east, and Stone Spring Road to the south/west. The designs also incorporate ways to ensure safe biking, walking, and scooting use of the corridor, many of whom are students at James Madison University (JMU).

In addition to the open house, an online survey will be available before, during, and after the meeting to collect public feedback via the CSPDC Connects Social Platform at https://connect.cspdc.org/hrmpo-port-republic-road-2025-study which will be open from 8:00AM on March 3 through March 14, 2025 at 5:00PM. Written or oral questions and comments may be submitted to Garreth Bartholomew by emailing garreth@cspdc.org or calling 540-885-5174, before or after the open house.

The Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) is updating its Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) which defines a vision and proposes transportation projects in our region for the next 25 years. Input from community members helps us align these projects with what’s important to you.

We’re currently in Phase Two, focusing on gathering input on a proposed list of transportation projects and areas for future study. Help us shape the future of transportation in our region. Get involved by:

• Exploring and Commenting: Use our interactive map to leave feedback on proposed regional transportation projects.
• Visioning the Future: Look at areas for future study and let us know your priorities.
• Attending an Open House: Stop by an open house to share your thoughts.
  • Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Waynesboro YMCA
• Asking a Planner: Submit your questions for our weekly “Ask a Planner” live chat sessions on Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and Noon through the end of March.
• Watch a recap video of what we’ve learned so far.

The SAWMPO Policy Board is eager to receive public input on the proposed projects and studies in the 2050 LRTP. In Phase One, community feedback identified bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, enhanced vehicular safety, intersection improvements, and increased transit services in rural areas as priorities for the SAWMPO.

Stay connected for updates, events, and additional ways to engage by visiting our interactive project page on CSPDC Connect.

The Southeast Regional Directors Institute (SERDI) is a voluntary professional development association for regional council executive directors in the southeastern United States. SERDI provides technical assistance and training designed and tailored specifically for regional planning agencies.

CSPDC staff attended the SERDI’s 2^nd Leadership Development Training Conference held on February 19-21, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Training was designed for council’s deputy directors, and department heads and it focused on six areas important to leadership in regional councils: (1) Basic Understanding of Leadership (2) Key Things that are Needed to Understand the Finances of a Regional Council (3) Basic Human Resources (4) Board of Directors and Your Local Government Logistics and Working Relationships (5) The Various Programs of Regional Councils Across the SERDI Footprint, and (6) Technology/AI.

On February 26, Governor Glenn Youngkin announced $139 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) loans for 41 projects across the state, including five within the CSPDC’s region. Of this total, more than $19 million has been allocated to affordable housing projects in Waynesboro and Harrisonburg.

The funding aims to create and preserve housing units for low-income and extremely low-income households. The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the ASNH program, with funding drawn from multiple sources, including the federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME), the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF), Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE), and the Virginia Housing Trust Fund (VHTF).

Among the local recipients:

• The Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority secured over $9 million for two developments as part of the Bluestone Town Center.
• The Beverly J. Searles Foundation received a $5 million loan for its Harrisonburg Family I project.
• Enterprise Community Development received $4 million for its 1030 Alston Court project in Waynesboro.
•  Woda Cooper Development was awarded $1 million for the Rosenwald Pointe project in Waynesboro.