The CSPDC is partnering with Augusta Health, the Central Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth, the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, and Waynesboro Parks and Recreation to sponsor a screening of The Street Project, a film about creating safer streets for all road users – walkers, bike riders, and drivers. This event will be held at the Wayne Theater on June 20 at 7 pm. This pay-what-you-will event will include brief opening remarks, the film, and an opportunity for question and answer/discussion with local panelists following the film.
More About the Film
The Street Project is a 52-minute documentary that covers three main topics through an uplifting narrative: 1) the current crisis in bicyclist and pedestrian traffic accidents and fatalities, 2) the historical developments that led us to this crisis, 3) infrastructure, planning, and design strategies to improve road safety for all users, improve transportation equity, and build strong communities.
In 2010, the small community of specialists who pay attention to US road safety statistics picked up on a troubling trend: more and more pedestrians and bicyclists riders were being killed on America’s roads. In fact, pedestrian deaths have increased steadily since reaching their low point in 2009. 2022 (the latest year for which data are available) was the deadliest year for pedestrians in the US since 1981. The Street Project includes interviews with a diverse array of experts, including street historian Peter Norton, city planner Jeff Speck, and urban design expert Mikael Colville-Andersen. These expert interviews are interwoven with the stories of people working to make their communities safer. For more information about the film and/or to watch the trailer, click https://www.thestreetproject.com/about/
The Wayne Theater is located at 521 West Main Street in Waynesboro, VA. Doors will open at 6 pm.
If you plan to attend, please register at this link https://forms.gle/Fi2Q6WdVMnEE6nGF9.
We hope to see you there!
After great anticipation, construction work officially began on the Lewis Street Transit Hub on April 15. Construction crews from Virginia Infrastructure demolished the existing asphalt and have begun preparing the foundation for the new and improved transit hub. You may have seen activity on the lot as you passed by on Lewis Street. We are amazed each week at how much progress has been made since our last site visit! At the end of May, the contractors completed all excavating and grading work to level the site and have laid the base layer materials that will help mitigate water runoff ensuring the longevity of the pavement.
The most notable change to the lot recently is the installation of the stone retaining wall. This wall will not only serve retaining purposes for the slope of the lot but will also provide additional seating for passengers as they wait for their bus.
Rachel Kinzer joined the CSPDC as their newest Regional Planner on June 3. She is a recent graduate of the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Urban and Environmental Planning. She was an undergraduate and graduate research assistant for UVA’s Environmental Institute’s Climate Restoration Initiative. In that role, she helped conduct qualitative research on the potential of several carbon-capturing land uses and practices in select rural and urban localities in the state. Rachel is from Farmville, VA, and currently resides in Fishersville. In her free time, she enjoys walking trails with her dog. She looks forward to supporting and providing assistance to the communities in the region.
The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) is offering a free series of virtual training sessions to be held on June 10, August 5, and September 5 at 12:00pm. Topics include FOIA for All, The Virginia Legislative Process, Communications—Telling the PDC Story. Register 
May is not just another month on the calendar; it’s Bike Month – a time to celebrate the joys and benefits of cycling! As we dust off our bicycles and hit the roads and trails, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of sustainable transportation and the positive impact it has on our communities. CSPDC and RideShare join the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in promoting biking as a viable and eco-friendly mode of transportation.
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission has selected Paula Melester to be the next Director of Transportation. Paula has been at the PDC for two-and-a-half years working with the transportation and transit team first as a Regional Planner and most recently as a Senior Planner. In her previous role, Paula served as the coordinator of the Rideshare Commuter Assistance program, worked with the BRITE Transit System, and managed the Afton Express Commuter Bus Service.
