A new, user-friendly smart phone app “RideShare – Rides & Rewards” has been launched to better assist and reward commuters who reduce single occupancy vehicle trips and use alternate modes of transportation. This new platform, developed through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, allows commuters to set up free profiles and be matched with other users traveling to the same location at the same time. Carpool, vanpool, transit, biking, and walking miles can also be tracked to earn rewards towards dining, activities, and shopping, all while calculating money and gas saved, calories burned, and emissions prevented.

The CSPDC in partnership with the TJPDC administers the RideShare Program to reduce traffic congestion, increase mobility, and facilitate the use of alternative transportation throughout Central Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia. Visit the CSPDC website for more information.

After completing an intensive two-day Esri training online class, CSPDC Planner and GIS Coordinator, Hunter Moore became certified in ArcGIS Pro. This course was conducted to help experienced GIS ArcMap users transition to the new Esri software, ArcGIS Pro. With this certification, Ms. Moore will be able to better assist localities with their mapping and GIS planning needs

The Town of Glasgow has received a $35,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to help develop an improvement plan for its downtown business district.  The Town completed its initial phase of the planning grant by completing an inventory and assessment of its downtown commercial buildings.  A project management team made up town business leaders, town officials, interested citizens and others has been created and will be meeting over the course of the project to oversee the planning process.  The next meeting of the project management team is set for March 17.  CSPDC staff serves on the project management team.

Round 4 of SMART SCALE began on Tuesday, March 2 with a month-long pre-application phase. SMART SCALE is a program that distributes transportation funds based on a transparent and objective evaluation of projects that will determine how effectively they achieve statewide transportation needs. This round will add projects to the FY 2022 Six Year Improvement Program, which will be finalized in June, 2021. Several jurisdictions, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham and Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro MPOs, and the PDC will make applications this year for a variety of projects addressing roadway capacity, signal operations, new bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities. Final applications are due by August 1, 2020.

The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how $675 billion dollars in federal funding flows into communities every year for the next decade. For every person who does not take the Census in Virginia, $2,000 a year for 10 years is not distributed to our local communities.

This year it is easier than ever to complete the Census because for the first time, it can be completed online, in addition to by phone and by mail. By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate.