Author Archive: Kimberly Miller

2024 Afton Express Annual Report Released

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CSPDC is pleased to release the 2024 Afton Express Annual Report. This report highlights Afton Express performance metrics, milestones, and shares the results of the annual rider survey.

CSPDC transit staff surveyed riders from December 2024 to January 2025, and asked questions about their riding history, habits, and experiences. CSPDC staff encourages all members of the public to take the survey so they can gain insight into barriers to access, schedule preferences, and other data that can help guide service decisions.

We are proud to share that there was a 16% increase in ridership from 2023 to 2024, with a record number of 19,146 passenger trips in 2024.

CSPDC staff are excited about the ridership and the community that has been cultivated by this service and will continue to work diligently to meet the commuter needs of the BRITE service area.

The Afton Express Annual Survey is available here.

Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Visits the Region

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In March 2025, the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO (HRMPO) welcomed the region’s new Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) member Mr. John Good. Locality members from each MPO had the opportunity to share transportation needs and priorities in the region with the area’s newest CTB member. The 17-member CTB oversees transportation funding, statewide planning, project selection, and other initiatives in Virginia.

Mr. Good is a resident of Frederick County and is the treasurer of Shockey Management Company, which is a general contractor and an owner/developer/redeveloper of industrial real estate. Mr. Good grew up on a beef cattle and crop farm in Frederick County and holds a degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech. Mr. Good was appointed for a term of four years beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2028, succeeding Mark Merrill.

Andy Seabolt Receives Stanley Everett Crigger Humanitarian Award

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The 2025 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium (VEMS) took place from March 17-20 in Roanoke, VA. During the event, Andy Seabolt, Bath County’s Emergency Services Coordinator, was honored with the Stanley Everett Crigger Humanitarian Award. This award recognizes an emergency management professional who has demonstrated empathy, kindness, and compassion in their work. It is named in memory of Stan Crigger, who exemplified these qualities throughout his career and in his service to both his colleagues and community. We congratulate Andy on this award.

VEMS is an annual event co-sponsored by the Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). It provides a platform for discussing current trends, sharing information about the latest tools and practices in emergency management, and exploring advancements in homeland security. The symposium encourages collaboration among stakeholders from all levels of government, the private sector, public health, and other related fields to protect lives and property from disasters. The next symposium is scheduled for March 16-19, 2026, in Norfolk, VA.

VDOT Seeks Input on Interstate 81 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan

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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has launched a new study to assess and improve the Interstate 81 corridor. The I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan (CIP) will analyze the entire 325-mile stretch of the interstate in the Commonwealth to identify safety and congestion issues.

VDOT is seeking input from drivers and stakeholders to compare real-world travel experiences with traffic-data analysis. The study includes an online survey with an interactive map where participants can highlight locations with traffic concerns. This is the first phase of the study and this public engagement period is open until April 15. The survey is available in multiple languages on the VDOT Project Page, and additional comments can be submitted to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov.

After the initial public engagement period, the study team which combines data obtained from the survey data with traffic data to develop recommendations. Additional opportunities for public comment on said recommendations.

The study is part of the Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program (IOEP), which focuses on improving safety, reliability, and traffic flow on Virginia’s interstate highways. A similar study was conducted in 2018, leading to 65 construction projects totaling approximately $3 billion. Information about these projects is available at Improve81.org.

CSPDC Attends Mary Baldwin University All Majors Career Fair

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On March 19th and 20th, CSPDC staff members Garreth Bartholomew, Danielle Gannon, Elizabeth Goodloe, and Rachel Kinzer, attended a Mary Baldwin University All Majors Career Fair to interact with the students and tell them about the work of the CSPDC and what it is like to be a regional planner. A variety of employers were present at the fair including city and county police departments, educational entities, community organizations, radio, architecture companies, as well as companies and organizations from other disciplines. The CSPDC spoke with many students at different stages in their college career. While MBU does not have a planning program, many students were interested in the work of the CSPDC and a few students could see how their major could fit into a planning career. It was a great event to connect with the community and engage in conversation about how the area can come together and inspire future graduates to explore careers in the planning field.

CSPDC Staff Member Receives Social Marketing in Transportation Certificate

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CSPDC Transit Planner Danielle Gannon recently completed the Social Marketing in Transportation course from the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. The course was five months long and focused on how to address transportation issues in our communities through social marketing.

Social marketing is a form of marketing that is centered around encouraging behavioral changes that promote positive social action and address societal issues.

In the course, participants chose a transportation issue and priority population that were relevant to their community and then applied formative research techniques to identify both internal and external determinants that influence that group’s behavior. Ms. Gannon focused on understanding the stigmas related to public transit, and helped create a campaign that was centered around promoting safer driving habits in young men.

Gannon will use these tools at the CSPDC in both her role as a transit planner for the BRITE system, as well as in her role as TDM Coordinator for the Commuter Assistance RideShare Program.

VDEM Leads Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Workshop for the Region

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On March 10th, representatives from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) led a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) workshop with local government staff, emergency response managers, floodplain managers, and various regional organizations, gathered to discuss the program, the role of the regional hazard mitigation plan, and eligible projects.

During the meeting, VDEM grant specialists raised awareness of Federal funds awarded to the State related to Hurricane Helene (FEMA-DR-VA-4831). They noted that 15% of these funds could be used for mitigation efforts through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Eligible projects include but are not limited to property acquisition and demolition, mitigation reconstruction, infrastructure protection, mitigation planning, and flood control.

While this opportunity is open statewide, priority will be given to declared localities, particularly in Southwest Virginia.