Category Archives: News

Afton Express Experiencing Increased Ridership

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The Afton Express has seen an increase in ridership as gas prices remain high. Ridership has been steadily growing since the service launched in September of 2021, but has really taken off in the last few months. From February to May, the CSPDC saw passenger counts increase by about 5% each month as more people learn of the service. From May to June that number jumped to 25%. As of June, the Afton Express sees between 45 and 50 passenger trips per day Monday through Thursday. Ridership is slightly lower on Friday, as people may take vacation, or may drive their own car to get a head start on their weekend plans.

CSPDC Planners attribute the increase in ridership to several factors. Gas prices are likely a factor. Additionally, more employees are transitioning back to an in-person work schedule. And finally, the partnership with the University of Virginia’s Parking and Transportation Office has made it easier for UVA employees to purchase Afton Express farecards.

An expansion of the service is planned for the fall of 2022. The CSPDC seeks to add an additional run in the evening that would allow the Afton Express to better serve hospital staff who work 12-hour shifts and get off work later than the service currently runs.

For more information about the Afton Express, visit www.aftonexpress.org

Buena Vista’s $1M CDBG Downtown Revitalization Project is Underway

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Buena Vista is moving forward with downtown revitalization activities. This spring, the City jumped into its $1M Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Department of Housing and Community Development. The $1M CDBG project will fund streetscape enhancements along the City’s 21st Street Corridor, upgrade wayfinding signage throughout downtown, and develop a façade improvement program.

In May, Buena Vista installed an official project sign outside City Hall to note the project location, contractors, and funding source. The City has also launched its new, CDBG Façade Improvement Program. City staff and the project architect are currently collaborating with 14 downtown property owners to create façade design proposals. With approval from DHR, Buena Vista will finalize improvements with property owners, procure a contractor, and begin work to the downtown building exteriors. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission is providing grant management services for the project.

Listening Sessions Held for Recently Funded Housing Study

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Earlier this month, CSPDC staff engaged in a series of listening sessions with local government staff and elected officials across the region to introduce the recently funded Regional Housing Study and garner feedback about the study process. In April, the CSPDC was awarded a $200,000 Community Impact Grant through Virginia Housing to complete a regional housing study. The CSPDC is working with the Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) and HousingForward Virginia to conduct the study.

The listening sessions were a critical first step in the study process, as continued input from local government throughout the study process will shape the direction of the study and its eventual strategies and recommendations. Several themes emerged from the sessions, including a lack of housing options at a variety of income levels from workforce to management level, rapidly increasing home prices, and a lack of large affordable housing developers in the region. Following the listening sessions, the CSPDC will be coordinating focus groups across the region to engage additional stakeholders in the private, non-profit, and public sectors.

This summer, CSPDC and VCHR will also be hosting a data training series for local government staff to cover a variety of data platforms, including American Community Survey and Census data, Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy data. The goal of these trainings is to provide local government staff with the tools they need to update housing-related data in the long-term without the assistance of a consultant. If you are a local government staff member and are interested in attending these trainings, please contact Olivia Raines at olivia@cspdc.org.

Mount Crawford Residents Weigh In on Comprehensive Plan

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The CSPDC has been working with the Town of Mount Crawford on the development of a Comprehensive Plan. The Town’s Planning Commission is serving as the Comprehensive Plan Development Committee and they meet monthly with CSPDC planners to discuss and draft each section of the plan. The town wanted to ensure the public had a voice in this process, so a public engagement campaign was developed to gather input from residents related to needs and priorities.
The first public engagement phase took place in May. A survey was available in both a digital and paper format. The survey was open from April 12th through May 31st and received 109 responses which represents 25% of the town’s residents.

There were also two open-house style events held in May; at the Town Hall on May 14th and at the Ruritan Club on May 19th. Between the two events, approximately 30 residents came out to share their ideas about the future of Mount Crawford. Attendees provided input through different activities. A “love it or leave it” map allowed residents to place different stickers on a town map to indicate areas or aspects of town that are special to them, as well as points of frustration or opportunities for improvement. Participants could also use stickers to indicate the top three topics they believe the town should prioritize in the plan. Bicycle and pedestrian mapping and open-ended input activities were also available.

CSPDC staff are working to analyze the data from both the survey and the in-person events and will present the results to the Mount Crawford Planning Commission at their next meeting on July 5th. The commission will then use the public’s input to begin developing goals and recommendations. A second public engagement phase is planned for later this year (fall) where residents will be able to review a draft of the recommendations before the plan is finalized.

Ann Cundy Re-Elected as VAMPO Chair

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The Virginia Association of MPOs (VAMPO) recently re-elected Ann Cundy, CSPDC Director of Transportation, as Chair. The General Assembly established VAMPO in 2009 to provide education, information, and opportunities for cooperation among Virginia’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and among state, federal and community officials. Ms. Cundy will serve as Chair for two years.

Ansley Heller Joins CSPDC Team

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Welcome to Ansley Heller, the newest Planner to join the CSPDC staff. Ansley recently graduated from the University of Virginia with her Master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Planning. In her degree, she focused on transportation planning with particular interest at the intersection of active streets and healthy cities. Ansley is originally from Georgia, and has lived in Staunton for three years with her husband Caleb and their two cats. When she is not working, you can find her at any of the local breweries soaking up the sun and playing board games.

Hurricane Agnes – 50th Anniversary

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Fifty years ago this month, Hurricane Agnes made landfall affecting communities on the U.S. East Coast from the Caribbean to Canada. One hundred and twenty-eight (128) people died from Hurricane Agnes. At the time it was the costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. with an estimated 2.1 billion dollars (1972 dollars) in damages. Because the hurricane was so devastating, the name Agnes was retired from the list of hurricane names. Agnes was the first named storm of the 1972 hurricane season. The hurricane made landfall on June 19 in Panama City, Florida. The storm traveled to North Carolina and went back out to sea. On June 22, Agnes made a second landfall near New York City.

Scottsville, VA – Library of Virginia photo

In Virginia, 13 deaths were caused by Agnes including four people in Richmond who drowned when their car plunged into the James River. Across the state at the height of the flooding, over 600 miles of highway were submerged, sewer and water facilities experienced severe damage, 95 houses were destroyed and 4,393 houses were damaged, and 205 small businesses were damaged or destroyed. Over 125 million dollars (1972 dollars) in damages was reported in the State.

Route 130, Glasgow, VA – Library of Virginia photo

Hurricane Agnes also made her presence felt in the Central Shenandoah Region as well. Waynesboro was one of the hardest hit areas with both its downtown and Club Court areas evacuated. In Rockbridge County, Buena Vista and Glasgow received flooding. Fifty families were evacuated in Glasgow. Buena Vista was prepared for Agnes with a new Emergency Evacuation and Warning Plan created after Hurricane Camille hit the area in 1969. Because of past experiences with Hurricane Camille still fresh in everyone’s memories, residents in the Region were vigilant as Agnes approached.

May is Bike Month

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During the month of May, the CSPDC and our RideShare commuter assistance program are celebrating Bike Month! Throughout the month, we’re promoting the benefits of incorporating bicycling into your daily commute. The week of May 16th is Bike Week, and Friday, May 20th is Bike to Work Day. RideShare staff will be visiting bike shops throughout our region on Saturdays in May to talk with riders about bike commute benefits.

Biking to work instead of driving has great benefits for your health, and the planet. It also reduces congestion on our roads. Many communities in our region have bike trails for recreation, and bike lanes for safe biking to work, school, or errands.

Now is a great time to try your new commute – During the month of May, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT) is hosting a contest and prize drawing for commuters who log their bike-to-work trip. Each trip logged increases your chances of winning a $100 gift card. To sign-up and start logging trips today, visit www.rideshareinfo.org and download the RideShare app. You can also find bike safety tips, bike laws, and other biking information at www.BikeVA.org

In addition to promoting biking to work, the RideShare program promotes other environmentally sustainable alternatives to your typical commute. RideShare offers carpool matching services, vanpool coordination, and resources to get you connected to local transit options.

Safe Streets for All Grant Provides Transportation Safety Funding for Localities

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), now referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), was approved by Congress in November 2021 and provides $1.2 trillion in infrastructure funding over five years. BIL includes $550 million in new transportation funding, and establishes more than a dozen new transportation grant funding programs.

In May, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released details for the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program that provides $5-6 billion in grants over the next five years for MPOs and localities to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The funding covers comprehensive safety studies, and also buildable projects ranging from smaller projects such as pedestrian lighting to larger intersection improvements such as roundabouts.

Learn more by watching an informational webinar recording about SS4A, and subscribe to email updates to be notified when additional information is available for the SS4A program. Visit the BIL website to stay up-to-date on all of the funding programs as they are announced.