Author Archive: klawrence

CSPDC Releases Regional Housing Study

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The CSPDC recently published a housing study for its five-county region. The Regional Housing Study is the culmination of a major collaborative effort among CSPDC staff, local governments, housing stakeholders and consultants, and includes analysis of local and regional trends as well as solutions to the unique housing supply and affordability issues that its member localities are facing.

Funded by a grant from Virginia Housing, the study was developed by industry experts at Virginia Tech’s Center for Housing Research and HousingForward Virginia. The Regional Housing Study is a detailed analysis tailored to the region and its distinct housing markets. The study team worked closely with local staff and regional stakeholders and engaged in extensive outreach to develop solutions to market challenges that align with local goals and build on existing plans and interests.

CSPDC Chairman and Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman highlighted the critical need for accessible housing in the region and the role the housing study could play in supporting localities, stating, “Ensuring a steady supply of housing, including workforce, affordable, and market rate housing inventory remains a top priority for localities across our region. The release of the CSPDC Housing Study offers County, City, and Town staff reliable insights into housing challenges, viable solutions, and actionable steps toward implementation. This study will undoubtedly become a vital resource in our region’s ongoing efforts to ensure housing stability and continued growth.”

“The release of CSPDC’s Housing Study marks an important milestone for the Commonwealth’s largest planning district, providing localities with a strong foundation to address the region’s diverse housing needs,” said Virginia Housing Director of Strategic Housing Chris Thompson.  “Virginia Housing is proud to support this important regional initiative.”

To read the study, visit CSPDC Housing Study | CSPDC Connects: Planning Together

Planning Together with CSPDC Connect

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CSPDC is excited to announce the launch of our new community engagement platform, CSPDC Connect, which is designed to foster more meaningful and accessible public participation across the Central Shenandoah region.

This innovative digital platform will serve as our hub for community engagement, providing updates on projects, studies, and other CSPDC activities and making participation easy for community members. With multilingual capabilities, our new platform will help ensure the feedback is representative of the diverse community we serve.

CSPDC Connect will be used across all CSPDC’s service areas, from transportation to housing to economic and community development to disaster mitigation and preparedness. It will also support the efforts of the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) and Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO), which CSPDC staffs and manages.

SAWMPO will be the first to utilize this new platform with the launch of Phase Two of the 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update on February 18. This project will invite community feedback on a proposed list of projects, highlighting the importance of public input in shaping regional transportation priorities. You’ll find information about how you can participate in the engagement process on our Social Pinpoint project site – Subscribe now to receive an email when the Phase Two survey is live.

Through features such as project updates, short videos, and interactive tools, community members can use CSPDC Connect to stay informed and see the direct impact of getting involved.

We invite everyone to explore the new platform and join us in shaping the future of the Central Shenandoah region. Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage with the projects that matter to you.

 

Commuter Assistance Program Strategic Plan Adopted

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CSPDC RideShare staff have completed the Commuter Assistance Program Strategic Plan (CAPSP) and the Board of Commissioners formally adopted the plan at their February 3 meeting. The CAPSP is a Department of Rail and Public Transportation requirement for all state-funded Commuter Assistance Programs and must be completed every five years. This year, the Strategic Plan was developed with technical assistance from Launch! Consulting, and in collaboration with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.

The Strategic Plan outlines objectives, operations, and performance measures, and will serve as a guidebook for the program until 2030. The Commuter Assistance (RideShare) Program works to connect individuals in the Central Shenandoah region to the alternative transportation options available to them for their commuting needs.

 

CSPDC Submits Transit and Commuter Assistance Program Grant Applications

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The CSPDC applied for eight grants to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Applications submitted included: urban and rural capital cost of contracting, urban and rural operating, capital assistance, technical assistance, and commuter assistance operating and project assistance.

Grant funds go towards operating and improving transit and alternative transportation in the Central Shenandoah Valley. DRPT will review applications, and recommendations for funding will be made available when the draft Six-Year Improvement Program is released in Spring 2025.

BRITE Celebrates Transit Equity Day

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The BRITE bus system celebrated Transit Equity Day on Tuesday, February 4. This day of action honors Civil Rights activist and icon, Rosa Parks, for her commitment to dismantling inequality and racism. Park’s refusal to move to the back of the bus and subsequent arrest, helped spark the Montgomery bus boycotts in 1955, which then contributed to the 1956 Supreme Court decision decreeing bus segregation unconstitutional. The legacy of these battles highlights the importance of equity in public transportation. Public transit is a vital vein and resource to communities, giving access to jobs, appointments, shopping centers, and social gatherings, and historically, this critical infrastructure has not been equally accessible or available to all. February 4 is Rosa Park’s birthday, and Transit Equity Day honors her legacy and contributions to Civil Rights and the equal treatment of all individuals. To commemorate, all BRITE routes, including Afton Express, were fare-free on February 4.

Carrie Sensabaugh Joins CSPDC Staff

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Carrie Sensabaugh, Administrative Assistant

 

Carrie Sensabaugh joined the CSPDC as Administrative Assistant in November 2024. Carrie brings extensive public and private sector administrative experience, working closely with Office & HR Manager Kimberly Miller to support the planners and finance team and ensure smooth office operations. A native of Augusta County, she balances her professional life with personal passions—enjoying beach getaways and spending time with her young golden retriever, Bella, and her cat, Lily.  She looks forward to contributing to the PDC in her new role.

Rachel Kinzer Earns Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professional Certification

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Rachel Kinzer, Regional Planner

 

Regional Planner Rachel Kinzer recently earned a Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professionals (CUSP) certificate from the Chesapeake Stormwater Network funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The certificate program covered essential topics in stormwater management and urban watershed restoration, from stormwater runoff impacts, implementing mitigation strategies, and improving local watershed management practices. Her training included hands-on learning through interactive engagements, live webinars, and study of municipal stormwater program operations. Rachel looks forward to applying key concepts from the program through her work with the CSPDC’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program and the regional Hazard Mitigation Plan update.

Virginia Innovation Accelerator in Buena Vista Receives Additional IRF Funding

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The Advancement Foundation received an additional $110,000 through the Industrial Revitalization Fund (IRF) program to support the ongoing renovation of the Virginia Innovation Accelerator (VIA). The funding will be used install an eight-inch interior sewer line and an exterior sewer main. This funding will supplement a $985,000 IRF grant and a $700,000 ARC grant The Advancement Foundation received earlier this year to convert the former Mundet building in downtown Buena Vista into space for small-scale manufacturing, commercial kitchen use, business acceleration, and product development. CSPDC staff are providing grant administration assistance for the project.

Lexington Conducts City-Wide Windshield Survey to Assess Housing

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In October, Summit Design and Engineering Services, the consulting firm hired by the City of Lexington, conducted a survey of the city’s housing to assess local needs. Summit’s team performed a city-wide windshield survey, driving through every neighborhood to evaluate the condition of buildings using a standardized methodology.

The survey results are one piece of a forthcoming report that will document the current state of the City’s housing stock, assess both present and future needs, and propose potential recommendations and strategies for improvement. The report will also incorporate data from existing plans and studies, interviews with local stakeholders, and spatially-mapped Census data.

The windshield survey follows the award of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to the City of Lexington. The grant, awarded last year, supports the completion of a comprehensive housing and infrastructure survey as well as a needs assessment. It aims to provide critical data for the City, build on the CSPDC’s Regional Housing Study, and assist local partners like the Threshold Housing Commission in developing and implementing effective housing strategies.

USDA Awards $4.4 Million to BARC Connects to Expand Broadband in Rockbridge County

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In late October, BARC Connects received a $4.4 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Community Connect Program to install a fiber-to-the-premises system in Rockbridge County. The project will provide high-speed internet access to 816 residents and four businesses, focusing on the Collierstown/Effinger area.

Subscribers will enjoy symmetrical internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. Additionally, two public computer workstations will be installed at the Lake Robertson recreation area, offering free internet access to the community for at least two years.

According to the USDA, the Community Connect Program “helps bring high-speed internet service to areas where it is least likely to be commercially available but can make a tremendous difference in quality of life. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the internet for individual and community development.”

This funding builds on $2 million in grants awarded in July through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) to Rockbridge County. The VATI projects include collaborative efforts involving BARC Connects and Brightspeed. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will serve as the grant administrator for both projects.

These investments highlight ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, ensuring residents and businesses in Rockbridge County have access to reliable, high-speed internet.