News

CTB Member Mark Merrill Tours Crozet Tunnel

New Staunton District Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) member Mark Merrill visited the region on June 30 to tour the Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel. The CSPDC hosted Mr. Merrill with VDOT, Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro MPO Policy Board members, and CSPDC Chair Frank Friedman. City of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation Director and Tunnel Foundation Chair Dwayne Jones led the tour and shared a map of eastern Waynesboro, the Tunnel, and Rockfish Gap where so many transportation corridors converge. Past CTB Board members have been integral to the restoration and re-opening of the Crozet Tunnel. Waynesboro and Augusta County emphasized to Mr. Merrill the importance of creating more trail connections between the Tunnel and destinations in our region.

Buena Vista Receives Block Grant

The City of Buena Vista was awarded a $1 million Community Development Block Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for community improvements in downtown Buena Vista. Improvements will focus along the 21st Street corridor and will include new sidewalks and pedestrian connections, street lights and trees, wayfinding signage, and building façade improvements. Grant activities are based on recommendations identified by the City’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, recently completed in January 2021. The project is scheduled to begin in late 2021 and will be completed within two years. The CSPDC is providing grant writing services and grant administration support.

Afton Express to Launch in September

The Afton Express, a commuter bus service connecting Staunton, Fishersville, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, and Fifth Street Station in Albemarle County will begin operating September 1. Three buses, outfitted with Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and bike racks, will be used to operate four morning and four afternoon service routes, five days a week. The first bus was painted silver and branded with the distinct Afton Express logo in June with others to soon follow. All rides will be free during the month of September. Standard fares, beginning October 1, will be $3 one way, with 10 ride farecards available for purchase for $25. A comprehensive marketing campaign for the bus service is scheduled to launch in late July. To stay up-to-date, “like” and “follow” the Afton Express on Facebook and Twitter.

New PDC Housing Development Program

A new source of funding through Virginia Housing will help the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) and its housing partners create more affordable housing units in the region. On July 13, Virginia Housing announced $40 million in grants to Virginia’s 21 Planning Districts. Based on its population, the CSPDC will receive $2 million over 3 years. The PDC Housing Development Program will promote regional approaches to planning and development, bring together local housing partners, and support housing projects that create new affordable housing units throughout the region. Through this opportunity, the CSPDC will work closely Virginia Housing and the region’s housing delivery partners including local governments, housing authorities, non-profit organizations, developers, and other groups working to address the need for affordable rental and homeownership housing units. The CSPDC plans to bring stakeholders together to launch the program this fall.

Bath-Highland Network Authority Public Notice

Public Notice of a Meeting of the Bath-Highland Network Authority

On July 12th, 2021 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.