Category Archives: Main Featured

Waynesboro Traffic Playground Holds Ribbon Cutting

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On May 3, 2025, the City of Waynesboro held a ribbon cutting for the new Rotary Traffic Playground at 101 Short Street. The facility features a small-scale road network with traffic signs, crosswalks and a roundabout. The Playground is designed for bicycle safety education and serves as a controlled environment where children or new riders can practice cycling skills before transitioning to public roads or the adjacent South River Greenway.

The Rotary Club of Waynesboro, the Waynesboro Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth partnered on the Playground. The Shenandoah Valley Art Center created murals for the Playground, while local fourth grade elementary students provided design input that was incorporated into the final layout.

The facility is open to bicycles, scooters, and electric-assist equipment. Users are expected to follow basic traffic rules such as riding on the right side of the road and obeying all posted signs.

For more information about operating hours and rules, visit: https://www.waynesboro.va.us/2275/Rotary-Traffic-Playground

GO Virginia Region 8 Hosts Project Pipeline Brainstorming Sessions

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GO Virginia Region 8 recently wrapped up a series of four Project Pipeline Brainstorming Sessions. Community members, employers, chamber representatives, economic developers, industry leaders, and other regional stakeholders came together to identify local needs, propose project ideas, and collaborate on solutions within GO Virginia’s key focus areas: startup ecosystems, cluster scale-up, workforce development, and site/infrastructure development. The sessions, held at Laurel Ridge Community College, the Shentel Center, the VA Innovation Accelerator, and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership office explored the GO Virginia grant process and upcoming funding opportunities while brainstorming potential projects that may be eligible for GO Virginia funding.

GO Virginia is a statewide business-led economic development initiative with funding to invest in collaborative projects that lead to high-paying jobs. The mission of GO Virginia is to encourage collaboration among business, education, and government. GO Virginia Region 8, one of nine regions in Virginia, includes the CSPDC’s ten cities and counties plus another 6 localities to the north.

Executive Director Attends SERDI Annual Professional Development Conference

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Executive Director Ann Cundy attended the Southeast Regional Director’s Institute (SERDI) Annual Professional Development Conference from April 27th – 30th, in Jacksonville, FL. SERDI is a voluntary professional development association for regional council executive directors in the southeastern United States, and provides technical assistance to regional council directors, their councils and their state associations.

Seasoned and new executive directors gather each year to share knowledge and expertise in a focused series of sessions on topics like communicating return on investment in PDCs, communications strategy best practices, and innovative approaches to meeting the needs of local governments.

CSPDC & BRITE Bus Attend Staunton Senior Health Fair

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CSPDC transit staff members, Devon Thompson and Danielle Gannon, attended the Staunton Park and Recreation’s 3rd Annual “50 & Better” Senior Health Expo at Gypsy Hill Park on April 12th. Various community organizations were in attendance and set up booths that catered to older adults, with some providing complimentary health screenings and others information regarding a variety of wellness needs.

CSPDC staff spoke with attendees about the BRITE Bus transit system, and provided information on routes, schedules, and ADA service.

VDOT Holds Shenandoah Rail Trail Public Meetings in April

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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has published the Phase One Report from its Rail With Trail Assessment, and will host three public meetings along the corridor in April. The meeting locations are:

Timberville
Tuesday April 8, 5-7p.m. @ Plains District Community Center, Large multi-purpose room
233 McCauley Ave, Timberville, VA 22853

Front Royal
Thursday April 10, 5-7p.m. @ Warren County Government Center, Board of Supervisors room
220 N Commerce Ave # 100, Front Royal, VA 22630

Woodstock
Tuesday April 15, 5-7p.m. @ Peter Muhlenberg Middle School, Cafeteria
1251 Susan Ave, Woodstock, VA 22664

At the direction of the Secretary of Transportation, VDOT is evaluating the engineering requirements and costs of rail service and a trail adjacent to one another as an alternative to the previously-studied Shenandoah Rail Trail initiative. This Phase 1 (of 3) Report presents proposed typical sections for the rail-with-trail alternative, summarizes supporting stakeholder interviews, and documents relevant studies and guidance documents.

Anyone interested in the future of the rail corridor should attend and share their input. Alternately, please fill out VDOT’s online survey to provide your input online.

Lexington Completes Housing Assessment

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Summit Design and Engineering has presented the results of a city-wide Housing Conditions Study for Lexington to Threshold, Lexington’s Housing Commission. Funded by a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant, the Housing Conditions Study assessed the state of residential properties across the City.

Summit’s team conducted a windshield survey in late October, evaluating nearly 2,100 residential properties from the public right-of-way. Each property was rated on a scale from one (in good condition) to five (appearing dilapidated). The findings revealed that 72 properties scored a three or higher, indicating significant wear or neglect, with these properties spread throughout Lexington.

In addition to the windshield survey, the study gathered input from local staff, real estate professionals, residents, and housing advocates, along with demographic data. Some of the findings included a high vacancy rate of 21%, primarily due to second homes, and that 44% of households are considered cost-burdened, spending 30% or more of their income on housing.

The study identified two main challenges: preserving and rehabilitating the current housing stock, and addressing barriers to new housing development. To tackle these issues, Summit recommended diversifying the housing stock and creating a targeted program to address the city’s most dilapidated properties.

This study is a critical step in advancing Lexington’s housing goals, as it helps to identify opportunities for revitalizing underused properties—a key solution highlighted in the CSPDC’s Regional Housing Study. With these insights in hand, the city can continue to build momentum toward improving housing conditions for all residents.

The full study is available on the Threshold Housing Commission’s webpage: : https://www.lexingtonva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/threshold.

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.

HRMPO Holding Open House for Public Feedback on Proposed Port Republic Road – Peach Grove – Neff Avenue Study Improvements

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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.

Share Your Feedback on Proposed Regional Transportation Projects

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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.