News
BRITE Request for Proposals for Mobile Data Collection System
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms for a system to administer mobile data collection for BRITE Bus fixed route operations. The mobile data collection system (MDCS) will be a foundational technology for BRITE, transitioning from more manual methods of collecting data while also providing a rich data source to support operations and planning. The purpose of this RFP is to contract with a system provider to deliver a MDCS that includes but is not limited to: production, installation, configuration, hosting, training, licensing, maintenance, and support. The CSPDC intends to award one contract for the entire solution. Please click here to access the RFP.
PDC/MPO Staff Attend Title VI Training
On December 16, 2022, five members of staff attended a training on Title VI on the Civil Rights Act addressing non-discrimination in all federally-funded activities that we undertake at the PDC. Title VI ensures that no one is discriminated against based on their race, nationality or skin color. The Virginia Association of MPOs (VAMPO) hosted the training in partnership with PlanRVA, which contracted with KLT Group to develop and lead the training, and Thomas Jefferson PDC, which acted as the local host at the UVA North Fork Facility in Charlottesville.
Waynesboro Receives Eastern Federal Lands Access Program (EFLAP) Funding
US DOT awarded the City of Waynesboro a $950,000 grant that will pay for preliminary engineering and partial right-of-way acquisition on a trail to connect Sunset Park to the Crozet Tunnel and then onto Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail via the Rockfish Gateway Trail. Waynesboro Director of Parks and Recreation, and the Chair of the Crozet Tunnel Foundation Dwayne Jones says that “while all final appropriations will be contingent upon Congress approval, we are thrilled to share the great news!”
Shenandoah Valley Airport Project Approved
Following GO Virginia Region 8 Council’s recommendation, the GO Virginia State Board approved the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission’s (SHD) site development proposal at its December 13 meeting. SHD was awarded $993,300 for utility improvements at its 58-acre Aviation Technology Park. The project will construct new water and sewer lines, moving existing utilities from the center of the site to its perimeter. The relocation of utilities enables future construction of additional hangars and facilities to support aviation-related business growth in the region. The project is expected to create more than 260 higher-wage jobs. Design and engineering for the project was supported by a GO Virginia Enhanced Capacity Building grant. With a federal grant through the Economic Development Administration, SHD is currently constructing two hangars in the Aviation Technology Park that are expected to be completed in the summer. The CSPDC provides technical assistance and grant administration services for these projects.
Rockbridge Area Tourism Gathers Input for DRIVE Outdoor Grant
On December 14th, Rockbridge Area Tourism held a workshop at the Virginia Horse Center to gather input for their recently received DRIVE Outdoor Grant. The DRIVE Outdoor Grant was awarded by the Virginia Tourism Corporation and builds on the recently completed DRIVE 2.0 Statewide Strategic Plan. The goal of the workshop was to determine next steps for outdoor recreational product development in the Rockbridge Region. DRIVE Outdoor funds can be used to enhance outdoor recreational development, assets, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Rockbridge Area Tourism invited Rockbridge Outdoors members as well as other community stakeholders to attend the event.
During the meeting, the group conducted a competition analysis of similar outdoor recreation markets, and determined priority outdoor recreation product development opportunities for the near term, over the next two years, and a five-year strategy. The group settled on a final ‘hub and spoke’ model that determined a primary tourism lure, outdoor products to sustain and enhance, and two new outdoor product concepts.
More information on DRIVE Outdoor can be found here: https://www.vatc.org/driveoutdoor/