News
The Afton Express Celebrates 2 Years of Service!
On September 1, 2021, the Afton Express took its maiden voyage across the mountain from Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro to Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia. Now, two years later it is still growing strong!
Ridership continues to grow steadily, improving each month as more commuters learn of the service. From September 2022 to August 2023, monthly ridership increased by 64%.
To celebrate this milestone, CSPDC staff will host pop-up events in Charlottesville and Staunton to engage with current and prospective riders.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Afton Express, or helping us celebrate this occasion, is invited to visit one of the pop-up events below.
September 14, 2023, from 3:30 – 6:00 pm at the University of Virginia, Hospital West Complex bus stop
September 28, 2023, from 4:00 – 7:30 pm at the Staunton Mall bus stop
The CSPDC would like to thank all the community partners who have helped this service succeed in these first two years. Our staff looks forward to year three and beyond!
Rideshare and BRITE Bus Participate in Discover Transit Month
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is engaged in the second “Discover Transit” campaign of the year.
Between mid-August and mid-September, DRPT is inviting Virginians to discover how public transportation can help connect them to the places they need to go.
The CSPDC’s Commuter Assistance Program, Rideshare, along with BRITE Bus will help promote the use of transit in our region. To encourage travelers to use transit, all BRITE Bus routes (including the Afton Express) will operate fare-free on September 20, 2023.
In addition to fare-free days, during the month of September, travelers who log their transit trips in their regional commuter assistance program’s smartphone app will be entered to win a $100 gift card courtesy of DRPT. Here in the central Shenandoah Valley, that would be the Rideshare App, which is available on both Apple and Android devices.
In addition to the statewide contest, riders who log their commute trips on the Afton Express will be entered to win additional prizes. Rideshare will select four winners in early October. All Afton Express commute trips logged in September will count as an entry for the drawing.
We hope you consider using transit for your daily trips this month. In the CSPDC region, you can explore routes in any of the following transit systems:
Harrisonburg Public Transportation Department (HDPT)
RADAR Transit (Maury Express)
Rockbridge Area Transportation System
Or – visit ConnectingVA.org and use the Virginia Transportation Finder – a tool that will help you locate transportation options in your region.
Highland Inn Receives ARC Grant
The Blue Grass Resource Center will receive a $700,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Construction Grant to support the completion of The Highland Inn Revitalization Project. On August 11th, Governor Youngkin recommended the Inn as one of sixteen projects in Virginia for ARC funding. The grant will fund Phase II of the effort to renovate the historic Highland Inn. Located on Main Street in Monterey, the Highland Inn is part of Highland County’s economic development strategy to increase tourism through retreat conferences and cultural events. In 2021, Phase 1 of the revitalization effort successfully stabilized and restored the Inn’s exterior. Phase II will restore the Inn’s interior, completing the final step necessary to reopen the hotel and restaurant.
For more information see: https://dhcd.virginia.gov/2023-appalachian-regional-commission-award-recommendations
CSPDC Welcomes New Program Specialist
Allyson Finchum joins the CSPDC as their Program Support Specialist with the CSPDC team on September 5, 2023. A native Virginian, born and raised in Arlington, Allyson earned her undergraduate degree at American University and received her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has extensive planning, code administration and management experience in counties, towns and cities throughout Virginia, most recently serving as Town Manager for the towns of Bowling Green and Port Royal. Allyson and her husband Mike currently live in Wintergreen. She uniquely understands the issues facing communities and looks forward to assisting the localities in the CSPDC region.
SAW Walk-Bike Summit Set for October 20
The 2023 Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro Bike-Walk Summit will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Russell Museum in Waynesboro. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The event will highlight the Virginia Capital Trail, Waynesboro’s South River Greenway, and the positive impacts of regional bike and pedestrian projects on health and economic development.
An optional walking tour of Sunset Park and happy hour at Basic City Beer Company will take place in the afternoon. The event is sponsored by Augusta Health, the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, the SAWMPO, RideShare, and other community partners.