VDOT I-81 Public Input Meeting at Blue Ridge Community College on October 29
VDOT is holding a public meeting at Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Center on October 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to review the final prioritized list of recommended projects in the new I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). The meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the CIP process, the proposed projects identified for funding along the I-81 corridor in our region, and to provide comment on the draft prioritized project list. The current CIP builds on the 2018 CIP, which identified 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion that are now completed or in development.
In our region, the new CIP recommendations include over 70 lane miles of 3-lane widening along I-81 in both directions between Staunton and Harrisonburg to compliment the current and planned widening projects. After the public input review, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will finalize project selections in December. Additional information and meeting details are available at improve81.org.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Blue Ridge Community College, Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486
CSPDC Awarded $4.5 Million in SPARC Funds to Support First-Time Homebuyers
Virginia Housing’s Sponsoring Partnerships & Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) Program awarded CSPDC $4.5 million to help first-time homebuyers across the Central Shenandoah Valley. The announcement was shared with local lenders on September 8, 2025. This is the third consecutive year that CSPDC has sponsored the program, and its largest allocation to date.
Through the SPARC program, eligible buyers earning up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI) receive a 1% reduction on Virginia Housing’s prevailing mortgage interest rates, a benefit that can save families thousands of dollars over the life of their loan. The program also complements CSPDC’s existing First-Time Homebuyer Program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to income-qualified households earning up to 80% of AMI.
Due to strong demand, allocations are often fully reserved in a matter of months, with the funds being offered on a first-come, first-served basis. With the previous allocation, the CSPDC was able to assist 11 households in purchasing homes: seven in Rockingham County, three in the City of Harrisonburg, and one in the City of Waynesboro. Each program participant completed a Virginia Housing Homebuyer Education course and received housing counseling from the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Inc. (SERCAP).
“With this year’s allocation, the CSPDC is excited to help even more families achieve homeownership,” said Regional Planner Philippe E. Bone. “Our goal is to assist approximately sixteen buyers across the Central Shenandoah region,”
For more information about the CSPDC’s First-time homebuyer’s program and our other housing initiatives, visit the SPARC Program page on CSPDC Connects.
The Afton Express Celebrates Four Years While Planning for the Future
The Afton Express is celebrating its fourth anniversary this September, marking a major milestone for a service that has become a key asset for commuters traveling along the I-64 corridor. Since its launch in 2021, Afton Express has seen steady growth, with ridership increasing by 56% from its inception to the end of 2024, with a projected increase of 84% from inception to December 2025.
In addition to the anniversary, a new proposed schedule for the Afton Express is now available for public comment. We are revising the schedule using rider and stakeholder feedback as well as ridership data to better align with passenger needs. The public can provide feedback on the proposed schedule by visiting the Afton Express page on CSPDC Connects.
To celebrate the anniversary and discuss the future of the service, CSPDC staff are hosting pop-up events at the Staunton and Waynesboro Park and Ride lots and the UVA Bavaro Hall stop in Charlottesville. These events will provide an opportunity for staff to thank riders, share Rideshare resources, and engage with the Afton Express community.
Following the public comment period, we will make necessary revisions and implement the new schedule on Monday, November 3.
Waynesboro Celebrates South River Preserve with Public Dedication
Waynesboro city representatives and residents gathered on August 21st to celebrate the transformation of the South River Preserve. The public dedication marked the culmination of years of collaborative environmental restoration work.
The project reclaimed portions of Constitution Park, the South River, and former DuPont properties that sat largely unused for more than a decade. What was once a seven-acre asphalt parking lot and degrading picnic area is now a flourishing meadow that welcomes both wildlife and community members.
The South River Preserve exemplifies the remarkable community benefits possible when federal, state, and local partners unite around a shared vision. City Councilman Terry Short praised the collaborative efforts that brought the project to fruition, with key speakers at the dedication including Anne Condon from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Parks and Recreation leaders C. Dwayne Jones and Stephanie Seltzer, Dr. Joe Keiper of the Virginia Natural History Museum, and Lisa Carter from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.
The project also brought together a team coalition of design and engineering partners, including the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Anhold Associates, Timmons Group, and Summit Environmental Services, LLC.
The restoration was funded primarily through a settlement with DuPont that addressed historic mercury releases into the South River, known as the DuPont-Waynesboro Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Fund. Additional monetary support came from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, and Virginia Department of Forestry.
Construction began in late 2023, and the preserve now features:
- Expansive meadow and forest habitat that supports local ecosystems
- Fish habitat structures to enhance aquatic life in the South River
- ADA-compliant river access
- a Theater for outdoor programming and events
- Restored streambanks along Rockfish Run
- Educational interpretive signs developed in partnership with the Virginia Natural History Museum and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Rather than a traditional ribbon cutting, the dedication ceremony concluded with a community seed scatter—a fitting symbol for a project designed to help both native plants and community connections take root and flourish.
Rockbridge Area Pursues Airport Feasibility Study
The Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) has long identified a service gap in Rockbridge County—meaning it’s a 45-minute drive in any direction to a general aviation or commercial airport. Recognizing this gap and the economic development opportunities that a general aviation airport can create, a group of local elected officials, Economic Development Authority members and staff from Rockbridge County and the Cities of Buena Vista and Lexington approached DOAV and the CSPDC to undertake a feasibility study for a general aviation airport in the County.
The Virginia Aviation Board approved a scope of work and funding for the Feasibility Study on August 15th, and we will soon be underway with Delta Airport Consultants, LLC to evaluate aviation demand for the region, conduct a comprehensive market analysis, and develop a recommended general facility design and governance structure. Additionally, the study will provide order of magnitude cost estimates and operational budget projections based on demand forecasts. Once underway, the study is anticipated to take nine months to complete.