News
Public Feedback on BRCC Shuttle Schedule Change Requested
Starting in June the hours on the BRCC Shuttle North and South routes will be reduced in the evening. Historically, the route served Blue Ridge Community College students commuting to the campus in Weyers Cave for classes. With greater opportunities for virtual learning and the shift toward more online courses, traffic to campus in the late evening has reduced significantly. The existing schedule currently operates until 10:30 pm (South) and 11:00 pm (North) Monday through Thursday, and until 7:30 pm (South) and 8:00 pm (North) on Friday.
To better align service with demand, the routes will now end at 5:30 pm (South), and 6:00 pm (North). The new hours will be the same Monday through Friday. This change will go into effect on Monday, June 5, 2023, and will be a permanent change.
We recognize that any change to a transit schedule may have an impact on existing riders and the general public. The CSPDC and BRITE Bus offer opportunities for the public to provide feedback on these changes. There are multiple options for providing feedback.
In-Person
CSPDC & BRITE Bus staff will be hosting pop-up events throughout the month of April to talk with riders about the upcoming changes. If you’d like to provide feedback in person, you can speak with staff at the following dates and times:
BRCC Houff Student Center – April 19th from 9:00 – 11:00 am, and April 20th from 12:00 – 2:00 pm
JMU Godwin Transit Center – April 25th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Staunton Lewis Street Hub – April 27th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Online
An online survey will be available through May 19th. The survey will ask a few questions to help us understand how riders use the BRCC routes, and provides an open-ended comment box for any feedback you’d like to share. The survey link is available on the BRITE Bus website.
In Writing
You can provide feedback in writing. Please email your comments to Devon Thompson, Transit Planner (devon@cspdc.org) or by mail to:
CSPDC – Devon Thompson
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
The public comment period is open until May 19th.
VDOT Six-Year Improvement Program Open House Set
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) is conducting a spring meeting to allow the public to comment on transportation projects recommended for funding in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP). The Staunton District’s in-person meeting will be on Wednesday, May 3rd from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College’s Plecker Center for Continuing Education. Individuals are encouraged to submit comments online until May 24, 2023.
The CTB will consider comments as it develops the FY2024-2029 SYIP. The program allocates public funds to highway, road, bridge, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation projects. All federally eligible projects in the SYIP will be included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to document how Virginia will obligate its federal funds.
CSPDC Bids Farewell to Rebecca Joyce
Rebecca Joyce, Community Program Manager, resigned from the CSPDC last month. Rebecca joined the PDC in 1997 and began working with the Town of Glasgow on one of the largest flood mitigation projects in the state at that time where 56 homes were removed from the floodplain through acquisition and elevation. Over the next few years, and following Hurricanes Isabel and Fran, Rebecca worked in Buena Vista, Rockbridge County, Waynesboro, Goshen, Port Republic, and Rockingham County on a number of flood mitigation projects again helping hundreds of families rebuild their lives and protect their properties.
From there Rebecca went on to establish the first regional disaster education and outreach program called Project Impact which has provided life-saving information to the citizens and businesses in the Shenandoah Valley for over two decades. One of the disaster educational products that Rebecca conceived and oversaw was the ever-popular Project Impact Calendar. The calendars contain valuable information on disaster emergency preparedness pertinent to each season along with historical local photographs and humorous daily quotes.
Most recently, she worked with the City of Staunton and the Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge to provide flood relief assistance to the citizens and businesses that were severely impacted by the devasting storms that flooded the city in August of 2020.
She also started the first CERT program in the region which has trained nearly 600 ordinary citizens in what to do before, during, and after disasters.
Throughout her tenure at the CSPDC, Rebecca has worked with multiple jurisdictions in developing their Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), flood mitigation plans, wildfire plans and hazardous materials plans. She oversaw the region’s All Hazard Mitigation Plan and its 5-year updates. The All Hazard Mitigation Plan, a requirement of FEMA, identifies and assesses the Region’s natural hazard risks and makes recommendations to mitigate these hazards.
In 2020, Rebecca received the James Madison University John B. Noftsinger Alumni Award for Public Service Excellence. The John B. Noftsinger award recognizes JMU graduates who actively engage with the community, strengthen social equality, demonstrate personal integrity, promote ethical standards of performance and stewardship, and advance professional excellence in the Shenandoah Valley.
As Stephen King, Rockingham County Administrator, so adequately stated: “High levels of ability, competence, intelligence, and commitment, combined with an always cheerful disposition = Rebecca Joyce.”
Rebecca will be missed by many and her service and work in the region will be felt for years to come.
BRITE Transit Facility to Host Paratransit Roadeo
The 2023 Paratransit Roadeo will take place at the BRITE Transit Facility on April 29. Hosted by the Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV), the Paratransit Roadeo draws drivers from around the Commonwealth to compete for top scores on a course that tests skills on every level of the drivers’ abilities, with a primary focus on safe operations and passenger sensitivity. There are two divisions for the Roadeo, both compete against other operators in their division. There are safety quiz, pre-trip inspection, and wheelchair securement portions of both divisions: Body on Chassis and Mini Van.
The event also includes a Young Professionals in Transportation Training and Networking Event April 27 & 28, and the training sessions will be held at the BRITE Transit Facility as well.
More information on CTAV and the Paratransit Roadeo can be found here.
CSPDC Co-Hosting USDA-RD Programs Showcase at Virginia Horse Center
The CSPDC is co-hosting a USDA-Rural Development Programs Showcase on April 19th from 9am-12:30pm at the Virginia Horse Center in Rockbridge County. At the event, USDA-RD will provide an informative overview of their programs, including loans and grants, that help to improve economic prosperity for the families and businesses in the Central Shenandoah Region. USDA-RD will provide presentations and one-on-one networking with specialty experts in the fields of rural business, community facilities, water and environmental programs, single family housing, and telecommunications. Dupont Community Credit Union and the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund will also give brief presentations to share the economic development services they provide to the region, and a representative from Congressman Cline’s office will make brief remark. This event is made possible through the support of event sponsors Dupont Community Credit Union and BARC Electric Cooperative.
Local officials, planners, economic development staff, administrators, housing professionals, community service providers, farm market managers, lending professionals, and small/rural business owners are encouraged to attend this free event. Registration is required by April 17th, and can be found here. Light breakfast, coffee and tea, and mid-morning snacks will be provided. Don’t miss this chance to talk to USDA-RD program specialist and learn how these programs can benefit your locality or organization! To view the agenda, click here.
Announcements
Please stay tuned for events and more information from the CSPDC.
Archives
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- September 2016