Category Archives: News

SAWMPO to host WWRC Transportation Study Final Open House

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The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) will host a final public meeting for the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC) Transportation Study on Wednesday January 31, 2018, at the Wilson Middle School Cafeteria at 232 Hornet Drive, Fishersville.  The meeting is from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

The study examines alternative/secondary access locations to the WWRC Complex, access management along US 250 (Jefferson Highway), and operational and safety issues along the corridor with the intent of developing short- and long-term improvement recommendations. Study recommendations presented at the meeting will be used to guide future transportation improvements in the area. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and provide input. The SAWMPO is leading this effort in collaboration with Augusta County, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. To learn more about the study please visit the study website at: http://www.sawmpo.org/wwrc-small-area-transportation-study

 

 

Project Impact Calendar Distribution Begins

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STAUNTON (December 4, 2017) —A popular locally-produced calendar that features a collection of historic photos from around the Shenandoah Valley and amusing “holidays” for each day of the year is currently being distributed in the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Lexington and the counties of Augusta, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Highland and Bath. The unique calendar, produced by Shenandoah Valley Project Impact (SVPI) and the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC), has become a community holiday tradition around the region, and is available at government centers, libraries and other locations, while supplies last.

“We start getting calls asking when the calendars come out as soon as the holidays hit,” said Rebecca Joyce, Community Program Manager with the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, developed the first calendar in 2003 and has been supervising production ever since.

This year’s calendar features the towns of the Shenandoah Valley, and contains a mix of entertaining historic photos and facts. But the underlying purpose of the publication is to provide easily accessible information about disaster preparedness and mitigation pertinent to each season. The distribution of materials to help the general public prepare for emergencies is part of SVPI’s mission to educate the community about opportunities and planning for severe weather events and emergencies of all kinds.

“We want the information at people’s fingertips all year long, so that’s where the idea of a calendar was born,” Joyce added.

The calendar is part of SVPI’s ongoing efforts to create awareness about preparedness. Since its inception in September 2000, SVPI has conducted hundreds of trainings, demonstrations, surveys, forums and planning meetings, as well as developed important plans and printed materials to educate Valley residents on ways to protect their families, homes and properties, and businesses from the impact of severe weather, emergencies, and disasters. SVPI is also a pilot community within the Resilient Neighbors Network, a national program that will forge stronger efforts within local communities to prepare and respond to emergencies.

Locations where the calendar is available (while supplies last) can be found HERE.

Request for Proposals – Auditing Services

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The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is requesting proposals from qualified firms of Certified Public Accountants to contract for financial and compliance audit services for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 through June 30, 2020 with the option to extend the contract for four subsequent years.

If interested, you may obtain a copy of the Request for Proposal in electronic form by emailing Bonnie Riedesel, Executive Director bonnie@cspdc.org or refer to the RFP on the CSPDC website (www.cspdc.org) for detailed instructions regarding submission and for a description of the entity and records to be audited.

Proposals must be submitted no later than noon on Friday December 29, 2017. One electronic copy plus four (4) hard copies should be delivered to:

Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
Bonnie Riedesel, Executive Director
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
bonnie@cspdc.org

The CSPDC reserves the right to reject any, all or part(s) of responses. There is no expressed or implied obligation for the CSPDC to reimburse responding firms for any expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request. CSPDC will select the proposal with the best overall value to the Commission.

Request for Proposal

FY16 Audit

FY17 Audit

Virginia Breeze Bus Line Launches

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The Virginia Breeze, a new bus line along I-81 and I-66, launched December 1.  The Virginia Breeze, the program’s pilot route, connects travelers from Blacksburg to Washington, D.C. with multiple destinations in-between, including Lexington, Staunton, and Harrisonburg.
The Virginia Breeze features a modern 56-passenger coach with free Wi-Fi, in-seat power outlets, and other amenities, and provides a critical transportation connection between rural Virginia communities and the national bus network.  Customers can purchase Virginia Breeze tickets as well as access interline tickets for destinations beyond Washington, D.C. through Megabus.  The program is funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s 5311 Intercity Bus Program and administered by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Braiding the Way Celebrates Completion of Outdoor Recreation Plan

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In October, the steering committee for Braiding the Way for Outdoor Recreation in the Rockbridge Area celebrated the completion and endorsement of the Rockbridge Area Outdoor Recreation and Trail Plan.
The project, underway since 2015, has been a collaborative effort composed of key partners including Rockbridge Area Tourism, Rockbridge County, City of Lexington, City of Buena Vista, and representatives from government, educational, and community-based organizations.  The project was assisted by the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and a Rural Community Development Initiative Grant through USDA-Rural Development. CPSDC provided grant management, mapping, and staff support.
Moving forward, the steering committee will transition to the Rockbridge Area Outdoors Partnership which will serve as a coordinating entity and forum for continued collaboration, networking, project development, and promotion.  Twenty-eight organizations have committed to joining the Partnership.

Fields of Gold Featured in Series on WHSV

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WHSV’s Claire Richardson recently produced a four-part series on the Fields of Gold Farm Trail that features farm trail members throughout our region titled Exploring the Fields of Gold Farm Trail. The series features many of the Fields of Gold members, including My Peeps Farm, Mount Crawford Creamery, Barren Ridge Vineyards, and Brothers Craft Brewing. Watch the series HERE.
WHSV Series

The Fields of Gold Farm Trail has also released a promotional video titled “Meet Our Farmers.” The video features the stories of multi-generational farming families and highlights the role of agritourism in the sustainability of their farms.  Spotlighting a mixture of Farm Trail members from the six-county, five-city region, the video includes insight from Shenandoah Valley historian Nancy Sorrells and a variety of regional “farm facts.”

A shorter video, “See You on the Fields of Gold Farm Trail,” debuted in July.  That video shows a family enjoying a fun-filled day on the farm trail, and highlights the convenient web and mobile-ready tools available for trip planning and navigating the farm trail. Both videos will be used to showcase the many ways visitors can have farm adventures in the Shenandoah Valley.

Long-Range Transportation Demand Management Plan Adopted

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The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) adopted the Long-Range Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan at its October 16, 2017 meeting. The TDM Plan includes an overview of the region’s transportation demand management program and existing services and staffing. Development of an updated mission, goals, and objectives will provide additional guidance and direction to the program. Additionally, the plan includes  the TDM program organization and operations review; service changes and expansion; financial plan; and TDM program monitoring and evaluation. CSPDC provided input, assistance, and review during the development of the plan to Michael Baker International, the lead consultant.

The development of the strategic plan balances initiatives that are attainable and inspirational. A total of 23 strategic were developed, including augmentation of existing efforts and entirely new projects. All initiatives were stratified into five categories – marketing and community outreach; carpool/vanpool/ride matching; employer services; alternative travel mode promotion; and TDM and regional planning and coordination.

CSPDC’s TDM program began in 2009 with the receipt of a Rideshare Transportation Demand Management grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Trnapsortation (DRPT). TDM programs throughout Virginia promote ridesharing and other transportation alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles. This helps assist individuals seeking transportation options to their workplaces and other destinations, mitigate congestion on Virginia’s roadway, and to reduce environmental impacts caused by vehicle emissions, roadway expansion, and other transportation-related factors.

Click here to view the TDM Plan.

Annual Joint MPO Meeting Held

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The Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) and the Charlottesville-Albemarle MPO (CA-MPO) held their third annual joint meeting on Wednesday, September 27 in Crozet. The MPOs strive to maximize their resources and expertise to address shared transportation interests and projects, including multimodal needs along the I-64 Corridor, public transit between the two regions, and the restoration of the Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel.
This year’s meeting covered the results of two recently concluded studies on which the MPOs have collaborated – an I-64 Corridor Study and an Inter-Regional Transit Study.  A presentation on “The Future of Transportation: Autonomous Vehicles,” by John Martin, CEO and Managing Partner of the Southeastern Institute of Research, Inc. and remarks from state and federal agencies rounded out the joint meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for fall 2018 in the SAWMPO region.

Greenhouse Village Grant Awarded

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Rockbridge County has been awarded a $476,693 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to add neighborhood infrastructure and 12 new homes to the Greenhouse Village Housing Production Project. This award will advance Phase II of the project, which is a cluster development of single-family homes completed in partnership with Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity (Habitat). The project is in a designated growth area where Rockbridge County has identified a need for safe and affordable low- to moderate-income family housing.
Phase II will bring the total number of homes to 27, and the additional infrastructure upgrades will allow Habitat to build eight more homes in the future. The funding also contributes to trade skill development in the region. Rockbridge Area Habitat typically builds four homes a year, one of which is a modular home built by students in the Building Trades Department at Rockbridge County High School.  The CSPDC has assisted Rockbridge County with the CDBG grant applications for both phases of the Greenhouse Village project, and will provide ongoing grant administrative services.

Governor’s Transportation Conference Coming Up

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CSPDC staff will be part of a panel at the Governor’s Transportation Conference on October 24-27, 2017, at the Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs. The Virginia Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (VAMPO) panel will discuss regional and state partnerships. CSPDC staff will present the Inter-Regional Transit Plan that studied the feasibility of a transit system linking the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Charlottesville.  The transportation conference provides a statewide forum for networking with public and private sector partners to advance transportation planning in our region.