The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will conduct a public meeting in the VDOT Staunton Construction District to give citizens the opportunity to provide comments on projects and programs to be included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Six-Year Improvement Program (FY2025-2030 SYIP), including highway, rail and public transportation initiatives.  These projects and programs represent important improvements to address safety, congestion and preservation of Virginia’s transportation network.

The Staunton District Spring Six Year Public meeting will start at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at Laurel Ridge Community College, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645. Formal public comment on projects proposed to be included in the SYIP will be accepted at the meeting. Written comments may also be submitted during the meeting, or they may be mailed or e-mailed afterwards and accepted until May 20, 2024.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can submit your comments online, in writing to Infrastructure Investment Director at 1401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, or e-mail to Six-YearProgram@vdot.virginia.gov. For transit and public transportation, send your comments to DRPTPR@drpt.virginia.gov, Public Information Office, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 600 East Main Street, Suite 2102, Richmond VA, 23219.

For more information, please visit https://www.ctb.virginia.gov/planning/springmeetings2024/default.asp.

On March 1, Bonnie was recognized for her 29 years of service to the region.  Frank Friedman, Mayor of Lexington and vice-chair of the CSPDC, presented Bonnie with a Commendation from Delegate Ellen Campbell of the Virginia House of Delegates for her service to the Commonwealth and the region.  Bonnie has retired as Executive Director of the CSPDC having worked with the CSPDC since 1994.  Bonnie will stay on part-time until her replacement is hired.

The CSPDC is pleased to present the 2023 Annual Report for the Afton Express Commuter Bus Service. The Afton Express launched in September 2021 and has grown each year since. With just over two years of operations under our belt, the Afton Express has become a fixture in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro community – connecting commuters from their homes in the Valley to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and other opportunities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

In 2023, the Afton Express provided 16,482 passenger trips between the Shenandoah Valley and the Charlottesville Metropolitan region – a nearly 60% increase from 2022. The report provides a look at some of the highlights of the year, such as the expanded schedule implemented in February 2023. Performance metrics, such as ridership by month, stops, and individual trips are also included.

A new feature in this year’s report looks at the impact of the Afton Express. Using data collected through our RideShare Commuter Assistance Program, we can quantify the impact of the service by looking at the reduction of single-occupancy vehicle trips, the amount of money saved by commuters, and emissions prevented. Of course, this analysis uses data collected from just a portion of our riders, so the actual impact is potentially even more significant.

When measuring our performance for the past year, the most important metric is how well are we meeting the needs of our riders. By surveying riders, we gain important insight into the passenger experience. Feedback from passengers plays an important role in the planning of future service enhancements. Responses to a rider survey helped us create a passenger profile. This information and more can be found in the report.

The Annual Report may be viewed online HERE.

The CSPDC would like to thank our partners, without whom the Afton Express would not be possible.

After a COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit returns on April 12, 2024. The Bike Summit will highlight the potential for economic development when transportation and recreation meet, and will feature Ryan Hale, CEO of Laneshift, as a keynote speaker. Ryan has extensive experience in helping to plan and develop the successful trail system in rural Northwest Arkansas. The Bike Summit will be held 8 am – 4 pm at The Loft at Liberty St. in Harrisonburg and will provide local leaders and community members to gather and learn ways to implement bike and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the region.

The 2024 Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit is free, but registration is encouraged. Click here to register.