Monthly Archives: September 2025

CSPDC Awarded $4.5 Million in SPARC Funds to Support First-Time Homebuyers

Posted on by

Image of a key in the front door of a house

Virginia Housing’s Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program awarded CSPDC $4.5 million to help first-time homebuyers across the Central Shenandoah Valley. The announcement was shared with local lenders on September 8, 2025. This is the third consecutive year that CSPDC has sponsored the program, and its largest allocation to date.

Through the SPARC program, eligible buyers earning up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) receive a 1% reduction on Virginia Housing’s prevailing mortgage interest rates, a benefit that can save families thousands of dollars over the life of their loan. The program also complements CSPDC’s existing First-Time Homebuyer Program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to income-qualified households earning up to 80% of AMI.

Due to strong demand, allocations are often fully reserved in a matter of months, with the funds being offered on a first-come, first-served basis. With the previous allocation, the CSPDC was able to assist 11 households in purchasing homes: seven in Rockingham County, three in the City of Harrisonburg, and one in the City of Waynesboro. Each program participant completed a Virginia Housing Homebuyer Education course and received housing counseling from the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP).

“With this year’s allocation, the CSPDC is excited to help even more families achieve homeownership,” said Regional Planner Philippe E. Bone. “Our goal is to assist approximately sixteen buyers across the Central Shenandoah region,”

For more information about the CSPDC’s First-time homebuyer’s program and our other housing initiatives, visit the SPARC Program page on CSPDC Connects.

The Afton Express Celebrates Four Years While Planning for the Future

Posted on by

Image of an Afton Express Bus

The Afton Express is celebrating its fourth anniversary this September, marking a major milestone for a service that has become a key asset for commuters traveling along the I-64 corridor. Since its launch in 2021, Afton Express has seen steady growth, with ridership increasing by 56% from its inception to the end of 2024, with a projected increase of 84% from inception to December 2025.

In addition to the anniversary, a new proposed schedule for the Afton Express is now available for public comment. We are revising the schedule using rider and stakeholder feedback as well as ridership data to better align with passenger needs. The public can provide feedback on the proposed schedule by visiting the Afton Express page on CSPDC Connects.

To celebrate the anniversary and discuss the future of the service, CSPDC staff are hosting pop-up events at the Staunton and Waynesboro Park and Ride lots and the UVA Bavaro Hall stop in Charlottesville. These events will provide an opportunity for staff to thank riders, share Rideshare resources, and engage with the Afton Express community.

Following the public comment period, we will make necessary revisions and implement the new schedule on Monday, November 3.

Waynesboro Celebrates South River Preserve with Public Dedication

Posted on by

Image of attendees walking alongside the south river at the dedication event

Waynesboro city representatives and residents gathered on August 21st to celebrate the transformation of the South River Preserve. The public dedication marked the culmination of years of collaborative environmental restoration work.

The project reclaimed portions of Constitution Park, the South River, and former DuPont properties that sat largely unused for more than a decade. What was once a seven-acre asphalt parking lot and degrading picnic area is now a flourishing meadow that welcomes both wildlife and community members.

The South River Preserve exemplifies the remarkable community benefits possible when federal, state, and local partners unite around a shared vision. City Councilman Terry Short praised the collaborative efforts that brought the project to fruition, with key speakers at the dedication including Anne Condon from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Parks and Recreation leaders C. Dwayne Jones and Stephanie Seltzer, Dr. Joe Keiper of the Virginia Natural History Museum, and Lisa Carter from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

The project also brought together a team coalition of design and engineering partners, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Anhold Associates, Timmons Group, and Summit Environmental Services, LLC.

The restoration was funded primarily through a settlement with DuPont that addressed historic mercury releases into the South River, known as the DuPont-Waynesboro Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Fund. Additional monetary support came from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, and Virginia Department of Forestry.

Construction began in late 2023, and the preserve now features:

  • Expansive meadow and forest habitat that supports local ecosystems
  • Fish habitat structures to enhance aquatic life in the South River
  • ADA-compliant river access
  • a Theater for outdoor programming and events
  • Restored streambanks along Rockfish Run
  • Educational interpretive signs developed in partnership with the Virginia Natural History Museum and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, the dedication ceremony concluded with a community seed scatter—a fitting symbol for a project designed to help both native plants and community connections take root and flourish.

Rockbridge Area Pursues Airport Feasibility Study

Posted on by

Image of small airplane

The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) has long identified a service gap in Rockbridge County—meaning it’s a 45-minute drive in any direction to a general aviation or commercial airport. Recognizing this gap and the economic development opportunities that a general aviation airport can create, a group of local elected officials, Economic Development Authority members and staff from Rockbridge County and the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington approached DOAV and the CSPDC to undertake a feasibility study for a general aviation airport in the County.

The Virginia Aviation Board approved a scope of work and funding for the Feasibility Study on August 15th, and we will soon be underway with Delta Airport Consultants, LLC to evaluate aviation demand for the region, conduct a comprehensive market analysis, and develop a recommended general facility design and governance structure. Additionally, the study will provide order of magnitude cost estimates and operational budget projections based on demand forecasts. Once underway, the study is anticipated to take nine months to complete.

Augusta Health Awarded Outstanding Business Partner at CTAV Conference

Posted on by

 

Image of CSPDC and Augusta Health Staff holding an award plaque

The Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV) honored Augusta Health with its Outstanding Business Partner Award at the Annual Conference and Expo, recognizing the hospital’s partnership, engagement, and commitment to public transportation in the region. Augusta Health Community Outreach Manager Abby Calvert, pictured above with CSPDC staff, attended to accept the award. CTAV’s Outstanding Business Partner Award recognizes exceptional support for community transportation throughout Virginia.

As a dedicated funding and community partner for BRITE Bus, Augusta Health exemplifies how healthcare organizations can support mobility for all. Through partnering to provide fare-free rides to all Augusta Health facilities, purchasing farecards in bulk for community distribution, and advocating for accessibility through the BRITE Transit Advisory Committee, Augusta Health’s partnership removes transportation barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services throughout the region.  Their multifaceted commitment to healthcare access demonstrates how strengthened regional transportation networks can advance community health was applauded and recognized through this award.

Lexington Cuts Ribbon on North Main Street

Posted on by

Image of a group of people standing across a road while the Secretary of Transportation cuts a ceremonial ribbon

The City of Lexington celebrated the completion of a transformative streetscape project on August 27th with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Members of the Virginia House of Delegates, the Secretary of Transportation and the entire 7th grade class from nearby Lylburn Downing Middle School were the honored guests who cut the ribbon across the North Main Street streetscape project. CSPDC worked with City of Lexington and VMI in 2016 to submit a SMART SCALE application for the $4.1 million six-block project, which stretches along U.S. 11 Business from Massie Street to Hook Lane. The street reconfiguration widened the east-side sidewalk by five feet to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and replaced on-street parking with a dedicated four-foot bike lane on the west side. The work also included replacing underground utilities and improving connections to the Chessie Trail and Washington and Lee University.

Recent Flood Mitigation Initiatives in the Region

Posted on by

Image of a flooded road

July proved to be a busy month for regional flood preparedness efforts, with $652,160 awarded in state funding to regional partners and multiple applications submitted for post-disaster federal funding.

On July 2nd, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) announced Round 5 awards for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), with three coming to our region:

  • CSPDC received $270,000 to develop a Regional Flood Resilience Plan, with nearly all of our localities participating. This plan will identify and prioritize flood mitigation projects for implementation, ultimately streamlining future grant applications and unlocking additional funding opportunities.
  • City of Waynesboro received $172,160 to update its Stormwater Capital Improvement Plan, building on previous drainage studies to identify and prioritize site-specific stormwater management projects. The plan will also support the city’s Chesapeake Bay water quality requirements.
  • Town of Craigsville received $210,000 to develop a local resilience plan. Through this planning process, the town will gain a more detailed and technical study of flood occurrences and a list of future projects to reduce the impact of flooding.

Several localities in the region have also submitted applications for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) following Hurricane Helene, including:

  • Bath and Highland Counties applied for funds to install a joint enhanced flood monitoring system with 14 real-time stream gauges connecting to West Virginia’s flood warning network, benefiting both local communities and neighboring areas.
  • City of Harrisonburg proposed major upgrades to stormwater infrastructure along the Chicago Avenue and Waterman Drive corridor to address chronic flooding, building damage, and safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians.

Note: Round 6 of the Community Flood Preparedness Fund is expected to open this fall.

CSPDC Hosts MPO Roundtable in Fishersville

Posted on by

Image of a map of Virginia with each MPO region outlined

Transportation planning professionals from across Virginia gathered at the BRITE Transit Facility in Fishersville on August 27th for a collaborative roundtable discussion hosted by CSPDC’s transportation team. The three-hour event brought together staff from eight different Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to tackle shared challenges and exchange valuable insights.

The afternoon began with a networking lunch that allowed participants to connect informally before diving into substantive discussions. The facilitated roundtable centered on meeting local transportation needs, along with persistent funding gaps that challenge project implementation across regions. The second discussion topic focused on examining the unique challenges faced by localities along the I-81 corridor where congestion and incidents on the interstate often force through traffic onto the local roadway networks. Participants shared experiences and strategies for advancing projects in these high-impact areas.

The event concluded with an open discussion where staff highlighted current projects, sought advice from peers, and exchanged ideas related to ongoing studies. This collaborative exchange was especially meaningful for the many participants who are new to their agencies or positions.

Future roundtables could explore different topics and rotate to various locations throughout the State, ensuring broader accessibility while maintaining the valuable in-person networking component that made this inaugural event so successful.