Category Archives: Uncategorized

2025 Transportation Alternatives Program

Posted on by

The Transportation Alternatives (TA) program is a federal reimbursement transportation grant funding program administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and provides 80 percent match funding for transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, safe routes to schools, conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails, and historic transportation facility preservation. Applicants must submit a pre-application by June 2, and the final application by August 15, 2025. VDOT will announce the selection of projects in June 2026.

CSPDC staff members are available to assist localities with project development and application submission. Contact Program Manager Zach Beard for assistance at 540-885-5174 or by email here.

DCR Presents Virginia Outdoors Plan to Rockbridge Outdoors

Posted on by

Allison Tillett and Kristal McKelvey from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) met with Rockbridge Outdoors on March 20th to present the newly updated Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP).

The VOP serves as a guiding framework for communities across the Commonwealth, helping them connect residents with their most desired outdoor recreation opportunities while protecting the natural and scenic resources that enhance quality of life. The plan outlines Virginia’s strategies, priorities, and planned actions, ensuring the state remains eligible for apportionment funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The VOP is now available online in an interactive format for the first time.

Often referred to as the “gateway to funding,” the VOP is essential for accessing LWCF grants. Currently, Virginia has 414 parks protected through LWCF funding, including six parks in Rockbridge County. DCR representatives also highlighted the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is currently accepting applications for maintenance projects. This program offers $1.5 million in funding with an 80/20 match requirement, making it a valuable resource for local trail improvements.

Kristina Ramsey, Chair of Rockbridge Outdoors, shared her thoughts on the VOP Presentation: “It was a pleasure to host DCR to share the new Virginia Outdoors Plan with our partners. The new interactive format and clear funding pathways will make it easier for Rockbridge Outdoors and our partners to utilize it and align our efforts with the state’s priorities for outdoor recreation.”

Click here to view the Virginia Outdoors Plan and available funding opportunities.

Rockbridge Outdoors is a partnership of organizations committed to making the Rockbridge area an ideal destination for outdoor recreation. The CSPDC continues to provide administrative support to Rockbridge Outdoors. For more information, please contact Philippe Bone at 540-885-5174 or by email here.

2024 Afton Express Annual Report Released

Posted on by

CSPDC is pleased to release the 2024 Afton Express Annual Report. This report highlights Afton Express performance metrics, milestones, and shares the results of the annual rider survey.

CSPDC transit staff surveyed riders from December 2024 to January 2025, and asked questions about their riding history, habits, and experiences. CSPDC staff encourages all members of the public to take the survey so they can gain insight into barriers to access, schedule preferences, and other data that can help guide service decisions.

We are proud to share that there was a 16% increase in ridership from 2023 to 2024, with a record number of 19,146 passenger trips in 2024.

CSPDC staff are excited about the ridership and the community that has been cultivated by this service and will continue to work diligently to meet the commuter needs of the BRITE service area.

The Afton Express Annual Survey is available here.

Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Visits the Region

Posted on by

In March 2025, the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (SAWMPO) and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO (HRMPO) welcomed the region’s new Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) member Mr. John Good. Locality members from each MPO had the opportunity to share transportation needs and priorities in the region with the area’s newest CTB member. The 17-member CTB oversees transportation funding, statewide planning, project selection, and other initiatives in Virginia.

Mr. Good is a resident of Frederick County and is the treasurer of Shockey Management Company, which is a general contractor and an owner/developer/redeveloper of industrial real estate. Mr. Good grew up on a beef cattle and crop farm in Frederick County and holds a degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech. Mr. Good was appointed for a term of four years beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2028, succeeding Mark Merrill.

Andy Seabolt Receives Stanley Everett Crigger Humanitarian Award

Posted on by

The 2025 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium (VEMS) took place from March 17-20 in Roanoke, VA. During the event, Andy Seabolt, Bath County’s Emergency Services Coordinator, was honored with the Stanley Everett Crigger Humanitarian Award. This award recognizes an emergency management professional who has demonstrated empathy, kindness, and compassion in their work. It is named in memory of Stan Crigger, who exemplified these qualities throughout his career and in his service to both his colleagues and community. We congratulate Andy on this award.

VEMS is an annual event co-sponsored by the Virginia Emergency Management Association (VEMA) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). It provides a platform for discussing current trends, sharing information about the latest tools and practices in emergency management, and exploring advancements in homeland security. The symposium encourages collaboration among stakeholders from all levels of government, the private sector, public health, and other related fields to protect lives and property from disasters. The next symposium is scheduled for March 16-19, 2026, in Norfolk, VA.

CSPDC Attends Mary Baldwin University All Majors Career Fair

Posted on by

On March 19th and 20th, CSPDC staff members Garreth Bartholomew, Danielle Gannon, Elizabeth Goodloe, and Rachel Kinzer, attended a Mary Baldwin University All Majors Career Fair to interact with the students and tell them about the work of the CSPDC and what it is like to be a regional planner. A variety of employers were present at the fair including city and county police departments, educational entities, community organizations, radio, architecture companies, as well as companies and organizations from other disciplines. The CSPDC spoke with many students at different stages in their college career. While MBU does not have a planning program, many students were interested in the work of the CSPDC and a few students could see how their major could fit into a planning career. It was a great event to connect with the community and engage in conversation about how the area can come together and inspire future graduates to explore careers in the planning field.

CSPDC Staff Member Receives Social Marketing in Transportation Certificate

Posted on by

CSPDC Transit Planner Danielle Gannon recently completed the Social Marketing in Transportation course from the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida. The course was five months long and focused on how to address transportation issues in our communities through social marketing.

Social marketing is a form of marketing that is centered around encouraging behavioral changes that promote positive social action and address societal issues.

In the course, participants chose a transportation issue and priority population that were relevant to their community and then applied formative research techniques to identify both internal and external determinants that influence that group’s behavior. Ms. Gannon focused on understanding the stigmas related to public transit, and helped create a campaign that was centered around promoting safer driving habits in young men.

Gannon will use these tools at the CSPDC in both her role as a transit planner for the BRITE system, as well as in her role as TDM Coordinator for the Commuter Assistance RideShare Program.

VDEM Leads Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Workshop for the Region

Posted on by

On March 10th, representatives from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) led a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) workshop with local government staff, emergency response managers, floodplain managers, and various regional organizations, gathered to discuss the program, the role of the regional hazard mitigation plan, and eligible projects.

During the meeting, VDEM grant specialists raised awareness of Federal funds awarded to the State related to Hurricane Helene (FEMA-DR-VA-4831). They noted that 15% of these funds could be used for mitigation efforts through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Eligible projects include but are not limited to property acquisition and demolition, mitigation reconstruction, infrastructure protection, mitigation planning, and flood control.

While this opportunity is open statewide, priority will be given to declared localities, particularly in Southwest Virginia.

BRITE Bus RFI 2022-001-Mobile Data Collection System

Posted on by

Please click link:  RFI 2022-001

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) administers the transit funds for the BRITE public transit system, and plans and manages the BRITE transit service(s). The CSPDC desires to implement a mobile data collection system (MDCS) for the BRITE transit vehicle fleet. The MDCS will be a foundational technology for BRITE operations, transitioning from more manual methods of collecting data while also providing a rich data source to support operations and planning. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain information from vendors with products designed to administer mobile data collection for fixed route bus transit vehicle fleets. It is the intent of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) to use the RFI responses to develop system requirements and issue a formal Request for Proposal (RFP).