CHP Energy Solutions is a 501c3 non-profit providing zero cost home and energy improvements for qualifying renters AND homeowners in Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro, Highland, Harrisonburg, and Rockingham. Improvements can include installation of LED lighting, repair or replacement of heating and cooling systems, adding insulation, select home repairs, health & safety improvements, and more. CHP Energy Solutions is the Virginia DHCD designated weatherization provider for central and northern Virginia. Households can apply for no-cost services by calling our office at 888 – 229- 3714 or by visiting their website.

On May 8, Regional Planner & Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Coordinator Paula Melester and Transit Planner Devon Thompson traveled to Warsaw, Virginia to meet with fellow TDM professionals to learn how microtransit is being implemented in rural Virginia. The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT)’s Chesapeake Chapter organized the event. The Chesapeake Chapter is hosting a series of in-person meetings this year to discuss topics of interest in the Transit and TDM industries. Microtransit is a hot topic right now, as agencies are considering how it might supplement or replace fixed transit routes.

The meeting was hosted by the Northern Neck Planning District Commission. Bay Aging and Bay Transit staff presented their microtransit pilot program – Bay Transit Express. Michael Norvell, Manager of Marketing and Public Relations for Bay Transit, shared lessons learned and performance data from the first year of operations for Bay Transit Express. The service has been very successful in Gloucester, Virginia, providing on-demand transportation solutions in rural areas.

CSPDC staff talked with Michael about Bay Transit’s experience, from feasibility study through implementation. The CSPDC and BRITE Transit have plans to conduct a microtransit feasibility study for the BRITE service region in FY25 as part of the Transit Development Plan. Information gleaned from early adopters – particularly in rural areas – will help guide the scope of future studies.

Bay Transit Express is also featured in the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)’s recently published Rural Microtransit Case Study and Report. You can read more about microtransit in rural Virginia by reviewing the report on the DRPT website.

The review period for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (HRMPO) draft 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) closes Thursday, May 18.

You can review the draft plan online and submit feedback directly on a digital version of the document.

Physical copies of the draft 2045 LRTP are also available for review at the Harrisonburg City Hall, the Rockingham County Administration Center, Town of Dayton City Hall, Mt. Crawford Town Municipal Building, Bridgewater Community Center, and the Massanutten Regional Library.

HRMPO, which is staffed by CSPDC, developed the draft 2045 LRTP based on input from a record number of community members. Your review of the draft document, which includes 55 transportation projects across the region, will help ensure the plan captures our region’s transportation needs and that the projects and proposed studies in the draft plan help meet those needs.

Visit hrvampo.org/lrtp for more information and to sign up to receive email updates on the LRTP.

In 2021, the City of Buena Vista applied for a Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) planning assistance program grant to help grow its outdoor recreation economy and revitalize its Main Street. The city was one of 25 communities across the nation to receive this technical assistance award sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the USDA Forest Service, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

On April 4-5, 2023, the City of Buena Vista hosted a workshop, where local stakeholders came together with city officials, regional, state, and federal partners, and the RERC planning assistance team to develop action plans to strengthen their downtown and their outdoor recreation sectors. During the first session on Tuesday, April 4, roughly 70 participants attended the nighttime workshop to learn about the project and participate in community visioning exercises. During the second and third sessions, on Wednesday, April 5, roughly 45 participants attended the daytime workshop to develop strategies to boost the recreation economy and downtown revitalization, identify actions to implement those strategies, prioritize actions, and develop an action plan to implement high-priority actions.

The RERC workshop was an incredible community-driven process that will result in a concrete, implementable action plan that the City of Buena Vista will be able to use to make visible progress over the next 2-3 years.

USA Today recently announced their 2023 list of America’s Top 10 Recreational Trails, with Lexington’s Chessie Trail snagging the #3 spot.  After being nominated by a panel of experts, the trail was entered into a readers’ choice election and placed third overall. The 7-mile rail-trail was noted for its scenic location in proximity to the Maury River, and access to both canal towpaths and the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad bed. In 2021, regional partners including Rockbridge County, the cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, VMI, and Friends of the Chessie Trail concluded a multi-year effort to replace a railroad bridge that was damaged after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. This reconstruction effort closed a key gap in the 7-mile trail and allowed visitors to walk the trail without making a detour. This addition enhanced an already well-loved regional trail and allowed more visitors to enjoy its natural beauty and wildlife.

Starting in June the hours on the BRCC Shuttle North and South routes will be reduced in the evening. Historically, the route served Blue Ridge Community College students commuting to the campus in Weyers Cave for classes. With greater opportunities for virtual learning and the shift toward more online courses, traffic to campus in the late evening has reduced significantly. The existing schedule currently operates until 10:30 pm (South) and 11:00 pm (North) Monday through Thursday, and until 7:30 pm (South) and 8:00 pm (North) on Friday.

To better align service with demand, the routes will now end at 5:30 pm (South), and 6:00 pm (North). The new hours will be the same Monday through Friday. This change will go into effect on Monday, June 5, 2023, and will be a permanent change.

We recognize that any change to a transit schedule may have an impact on existing riders and the general public. The CSPDC and BRITE Bus offer opportunities for the public to provide feedback on these changes. There are multiple options for providing feedback.

In-Person

CSPDC & BRITE Bus staff will be hosting pop-up events throughout the month of April to talk with riders about the upcoming changes. If you’d like to provide feedback in person, you can speak with staff at the following dates and times:

BRCC Houff Student Center – April 19^th from 9:00 – 11:00 am, and April 20^th from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
JMU Godwin Transit Center – April 25^th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Staunton Lewis Street Hub – April 27^th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Online

An online survey will be available through May 19^th. The survey will ask a few questions to help us understand how riders use the BRCC routes, and provides an open-ended comment box for any feedback you’d like to share. The survey link is available on the BRITE Bus website.

In Writing

You can provide feedback in writing. Please email your comments to Devon Thompson, Transit Planner (devon@cspdc.org) or by mail to:

CSPDC – Devon Thompson
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401

The public comment period is open until May 19^th.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is conducting a spring meeting to allow the public to comment on transportation projects recommended for funding in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The Staunton District’s in-person meeting will be on Wednesday, May 3^rd  from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College’s Plecker Center for Continuing Education. Individuals are encouraged to submit comments online until May 24, 2023.

The CTB will consider comments as it develops the FY2024-2029 SYIP. The program allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation projects. All federally eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds.

Rebecca Joyce, Community Program Manager, resigned from the CSPDC last month. Rebecca joined the PDC in 1997 and began working with the Town of Glasgow on one of the largest flood mitigation projects in the state at that time where 56 homes were removed from the floodplain through acquisition and elevation. Over the next few years, and following Hurricanes Isabel and Fran, Rebecca worked in Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, Waynesboro, Goshen, Port Republic, and Rockingham County on a number of flood mitigation projects again helping hundreds of families rebuild their lives and protect their properties.

From there Rebecca went on to establish the first regional disaster education and outreach program called Project Impact which has provided life-saving information to the citizens and businesses in the Shenandoah Valley for over two decades. One of the disaster educational products that Rebecca conceived and oversaw was the ever-popular Project Impact Calendar.  The calendars contain valuable information on disaster emergency preparedness pertinent to each season along with historical local photographs and humorous daily quotes.

Most recently, she worked with the City of Staunton and the Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge to provide flood relief assistance to the citizens and businesses that were severely impacted by the devasting storms that flooded the city in August of 2020.

She also started the first CERT program in the region which has trained nearly 600 ordinary citizens in what to do before, during, and after disasters.

Throughout her tenure at the CSPDC, Rebecca has worked with multiple jurisdictions in developing their Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), flood mitigation plans, wildfire plans and hazardous materials plans.  She oversaw the region’s All Hazard Mitigation Plan and its 5-year updates.  The All Hazard Mitigation Plan, a requirement of FEMA,  identifies  and assesses the Region’s natural hazard risks and makes recommendations to mitigate these hazards.

In 2020, Rebecca received the James Madison University John B. Noftsinger Alumni Award for Public Service Excellence. The John B. Noftsinger award recognizes JMU graduates who actively engage with the community, strengthen social equality, demonstrate personal integrity, promote ethical standards of performance and stewardship, and advance professional excellence in the Shenandoah Valley.

As Stephen King, Rockingham County Administrator, so adequately stated: “High levels of ability, competence, intelligence, and commitment, combined with an always cheerful disposition = Rebecca Joyce.”

Rebecca will be missed by many and her service and work in the region will be felt for years to come.