News
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Region Transportation Visioning
Transportation needs in the Harrisonburg Rockingham region are changing, and the Harrisonburg Rockingham Metropolitan Planning Organization (HRMPO) is offering residents an exciting opportunity to share community priorities that will shape the future of the region’s transportation network.
HRMPO, which is staffed by CSPDC, is providing several ways for residents to convey input that will guide the development of the region’s 2045 long range transportation plan (LRTP) over the next year.
HRMPO is working with Avid-Core, a strategic communications firm based in Northern Virginia. Avid-Core will support the HRMPO throughout the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan process with a three-phase Public Engagement Plan. Avid-Core and MPO staff have developed a multi-media strategy to engage with the region’s diverse communities, and to raise the MPO’s profile as the regional transportation planning body charged with implementing a collaborative, comprehensive process for investing in transportation improvements. During February, 2022, Avid-Core is helping the HRMPO promote the online Visioning Survey, which will inform priorities in the 2045 Long Range Plan.
The LRTP will cover all modes of transportation across the City of Harrisonburg, the towns of Bridgewater, Dayton, and Mt. Crawford, and portions of Rockingham County. The first phase of the LRTP process is visioning. Residents are invited to:
• Fill out the online visioning survey between February 1 and March 2, 2022.
• Tune into the webinar on February 16, 2022 at 7 p.m. or watch the recording on-demand.
HRMPO 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan from CSPDC on Vimeo.
The community priorities identified in the survey will guide which transportation projects are considered in the LRTP, and to develop the evaluation criteria for projects.
Visit hrvampo.org/lrtp for more information and to sign up to receive email updates on the LRTP.
Bath-Highland Network Authority Virtual Meeting
The Bath-Highland Network Authority is scheduled to meet on February 7, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting will be conducted by video conference call, rather than in-person. Join the Zoom call by one of the following three ways:
1) Through your browser:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87133250454?pwd=eStNZnNTRnFOelkxTXFUbWVxTVY3dz09
2) Download Zoom Mobile App for iPhone or Android
Meeting ID: 871 3325 0454
Passcode: 595087
3) Dial-in (audio only):
301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 871 3325 0454
Passcode: 595087
For more information about the meeting, please contact Ms. Hunter Moore at 540-885-5174 or hunter@cspdc.org.
Bath-Highland Network Authority Receives VATI Grant
In December, Governor Northam announced the allocation of $722 million to provide universal broadband infrastructure in 70 localities, which will close 90% of Virginia’s digital divide. The funding—from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) and the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—will support 35 projects. One of those projects is the Bath-Highland Network Authority 2022 Universal Broadband Project, which was awarded over $7 million. The CSPDC was the applicant on behalf of the Bath-Highland Network Authority and MGW is the co-applicant to bring universal broadband coverage to Bath and Highland counties.
- Total project cost: $10,990,000
- Total matching funds: $3,113,200 (28.3% of the total project)
- MGW is providing $2,013,200
- Bath County is providing $800,000 in local ARPA funds
- Highland County is providing $300,000 in local ARPA funds
- Total VATI funding request: $7,876,800
- Total locations served: 2,470 locations (Bath: 2,156 and Highland: 314)
Sites Enhancement Project Progressing
Over the last several months the GO Virginia Region 8 Shenandoah Valley Sites Enhancement Project has been making quick progress in completing necessary due diligence on significant and attractive sites throughout the region. The project will expand our region’s capacity to attract new business investment by advancing the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Business Ready Tier level for sites located throughout the Shenandoah Valley. Activities include wetlands delineation, geotechnical exploration, boundary survey, topographical survey, cultural resource review, threatened and endangered species review, Phase 1 environmental site assessment and master planning. Our region’s close proximity to interstate, rail, and airline transportation, as well as the Port of Virginia makes the Valley a well-suited location for new or expanded business, however, lack of ready-sites has been a significant reason for loss of prospects in the past. Project completion is expected by Q2 of 2022.
PDC Housing RFP Released
Applications for affordable housing developers seeking funds through the PDC Housing Development Program are now open. In July 2021, the CSPDC was awarded $2 million in funding to support the creation of new affordable housing units. Specifically, the CSPDC is positioned to provide gap funds toward the creation of at least 20 affordable units by July 1, 2024. The CSPDC has released a Request for Proposals for non-profit, public, and private affordable housing developers seeking gap funds for proposed affordable housing development. The application will remain open until Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 at 5pm. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of CSPDC staff, and funding decisions will be made in March 2022. Application materials can be found on the CSPDC website at https://cspdc.org/programs-services/housing/, and should be submitted to Olivia Raines at olivia@cspdc.org.
On Wednesday, January 12th from 9am-11am, the CSPDC will be hosting an ‘Office Hours’ session for those interested in applying for PDC Housing Development Program funds that have questions about the application process. Click here to download the calendar invite. For additional guidance or to see if your project is eligible, please see our RFP Guidelines, or contact Olivia Raines.