News
Rockbridge and Goshen Broadband Projects Close Out
In 2020, the CSPDC was awarded a $2,202,000 VATI grant to bring high-speed internet to areas in Rockbridge County with co-applicant BARC Electric. Construction began December 2020 and ended in April 2022. This project provided broadband access to approximately 470 serviceable units, including 31 businesses in Rockbridge County. Specific areas include Glasgow, South Buffalo, Vesuvius, and Big Hill with a total of 118 miles of fiber. Construction to 22 homes in the Vesuvius area were not completed due to a Blue Ridge Parkway permitting issue. BARC intends to complete construction and serve these 22 homes after the project closeout.
BARC’s 2019 ARC POWER Initiative broadband project in Goshen began construction in April 2021 and completed in November 2022. This project closed out in May 2022 and deployed a high-speed fiber optic broadband network in and around the Town of Goshen. There are 309 serviceable units including about 301 households and 8 businesses and approximately 33 miles of fiber installed for this project. The CSPDC provided grant administration services for this project and the Rockbridge VATI project.
CSPDC Kicks off Data Training Series for Regional Housing Study
The CSPDC recently began a Regional Housing Study in partnership with the Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) and HousingForward Virginia. As part of the study process, VCHR will host a series of data trainings that are available to both CSPDC staff and the region’s local government staff. The purpose of these trainings is to introduce participants to the variety of publicly available data that can be used to assess regional housing issues. Additionally, the trainings hope to empower staff to update data in comprehensive plans, housing studies, and other projects without needing to engage a consultant.
The trainings will be held virtually, and will begin on Thursday, July 14th from 10am-11am, with the first session focusing on American Community Survey and U.S. Census data. The series will span across seven sessions and cover a variety of topics, including economic data, housing affordability data, and MLS and real estate assessment data.
Local government staff interested in attending any of the data training sessions can fill out a registration form here no later than Wednesday, July 13th.
Schedule:
Thursday July 14 – American Community Survey/U.S. Census
Thursday July 21 – Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)/Jobs EQ
Thursday July 28 – Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) Data
Thursday August 4 – Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Data #1
Thursday August 11 – PUMS #2
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TBD – MLS Data
TBD – Assessment
Dayton Receives CDBG Planning Grant
The Town of Dayton received a Community Development Block Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a downtown revitalization plan that will guide the Town’s efforts to reenergize Downtown Dayton. Through this process, the Town hopes to create a collaborative vision for transforming Downtown Dayton into a year-round destination through streetscaping, local business, and pedestrian-oriented development.
To kick off the planning process, the Town will hold a public meeting later this Summer that will introduce the project and gather community input to guide the vision for the Downtown. Throughout the Summer, a Project Management Team will be formed and a physical inventory of buildings and open spaces in Downtown Dayton will be completed to establish a foundation for the full planning process that will be started in the Fall. The CSPDC is providing grant writing services and grant administration support.
Afton Express Experiencing Increased Ridership
The Afton Express has seen an increase in ridership as gas prices remain high. Ridership has been steadily growing since the service launched in September of 2021, but has really taken off in the last few months. From February to May, the CSPDC saw passenger counts increase by about 5% each month as more people learn of the service. From May to June that number jumped to 25%. As of June, the Afton Express sees between 45 and 50 passenger trips per day Monday through Thursday. Ridership is slightly lower on Friday, as people may take vacation, or may drive their own car to get a head start on their weekend plans.
CSPDC Planners attribute the increase in ridership to several factors. Gas prices are likely a factor. Additionally, more employees are transitioning back to an in-person work schedule. And finally, the partnership with the University of Virginia’s Parking and Transportation Office has made it easier for UVA employees to purchase Afton Express farecards.
An expansion of the service is planned for the fall of 2022. The CSPDC seeks to add an additional run in the evening that would allow the Afton Express to better serve hospital staff who work 12-hour shifts and get off work later than the service currently runs.
For more information about the Afton Express, visit www.aftonexpress.org
Bath-Highland Network Authority Public Meeting
On July 11, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., the Bath-Highland Network Authority will hold a meeting at the Bolar Ruritan Club, 38 Bolar Ln Monterey, VA 24465. For more information about the meeting, please contact Ms. Hunter Moore at 540-885-5174 or hunter@cspdc.org.