Welcome to the CSPDC

The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) represents and serves the local governments of Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, and Rockingham counties and the cities of Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Staunton and Waynesboro as well as the 11 towns within the Central Shenandoah region.

The CSPDC works with its member jurisdictions, communities and agencies to provide high-quality planning, technical assistance, and facilitation of services that address local, regional and state needs in an innovative, timely and cooperative manner. Covering everything from land use planning, transportation, water and waste-water utilities, natural resource management, affordable housing, economic and community development, disaster mitigation and preparedness, agritourism to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.

Elkton’s Downtown Gets Greener with New Street Tree Initiative

Posted on July 10, 2025July 14, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

The Town of Elkton’s western entrance corridor is getting a dramatic transformation this fall, thanks to a $10,000 CSPDC Watershed Wellness grant that will plant 37 strategically placed street trees along the gateway to downtown. The trees aren’t just for aesthetics, they will also capture stormwater runoff while creating an inviting tree-lined entrance that welcomes visitors and residents alike.

The project represents the kind of win-win solution that makes nature-based stormwater management so compelling: addressing real flooding and water quality issues while simultaneously beautifying a community’s front door. By fall, Elkton’s entrance corridor will become a leafy gateway that manages rain where it falls and creates a memorable first impression of downtown Elkton.

The CSPDC’s Watershed Wellness grant program makes these transformations possible by providing 100% no-match funding for nature-based stormwater projects, backed by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). With nearly $100,000 available for stormwater planning and implementation projects across the region in 2025, communities can tackle environmental challenges without straining local budgets. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted, making it accessible for communities ready to put innovative stormwater solutions to work.

Learn more at: https://cspdc.org/programs-services/wip-iii/

Transportation Study Reveals Solutions for High-Traffic Corridor

Posted on July 10, 2025July 14, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

In June 2025, the Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO completed a comprehensive study of the Port Republic Road / Peach Grove Avenue / Neff Avenue intersection and surrounding corridor in the City of Harrisonburg. Working with VHB Engineering the study team conducted operational and safety analysis, traffic data collection, and future condition modeling for five major intersections within the study area. The study team worked with City staff, VDOT, James Madison University, Rockingham County, and community stakeholders to evaluate existing constraints and develop improvement alternatives.

The study’s preferred alternative proposes extending the eastbound turn on Devon Lane to provide dedicated left-turn capacity, expanding the southbound Port Republic Road approach to accommodate dual left turns onto Neff Avenue, and constructing a 10-foot shared-use path along the east side of Port Republic Road. The study’s recommendations include shared-use paths on Neff Avenue and Peach Grove Avenue, safe pedestrian crossings at key locations, and low-cost safety countermeasures including high-visibility signal backplates.

VHB Engineering developed preliminary engineering drawings for the Preferred Alternative to meet VDOT Smart Scale application requirements, with implementation strategies tailored to coordinate with ongoing development in the corridor. Since the study’s completion, CSPDC staff have worked with regional partners to identify funding opportunities to construct the improvements.

Review the final study report here: https://hrvampo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CSPDC-Port-Republic-Rd-Peach-Grove-Ave-Neff-Ave-Small-Area-Study-FINAL-Report-06.25.2025-Scaled2x.pdf

From Broadband to Water to Transit: CSPDC Staff Dive Deep into Regional Challenges

Posted on July 10, 2025July 10, 2025 by Kimberly Miller

Picture Credits: Choose Clean Water Coalition, photo by Carolyn Millard, Leeanna Duong, and Drew Robinson

Bridging the Digital Divide

Regional Planner Philippe Bone participated in Broadband Together 2025: Universal Broadband and Beyond in Richmond (May 15th). This event, hosted by the Broadband Association of Virginia, the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD), and the Virginia Municipal League, focused on achieving universal broadband access while exploring emerging technologies like telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity enhancement. Currently, CSPDC administers three DHCD-funded Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) projects—one serving Bath and Highland counties, and two in Rockbridge County—collectively aiming to deliver internet service to over 3,700 locations throughout the Central Shenandoah region.

Tackling Water Quality Challenges

The annual Choose Clean Water Conference in Harrisonburg (May 19-21) drew more than 280 participants, including two CSPDC staff members, Zach Beard and Rachel Kinzer. Together, they explored this year’s theme: “Hills and Valleys: Our Journey for Clean Water.” The three-day event brought together environmental professionals, advocates, and community leaders to collaborate on innovative solutions for watershed restoration and Chesapeake Bay protection. Conference sessions tackled pressing contemporary issues, from the growing presence of data centers in Virginia and their potential impacts on water quality and quantity, to PFAS contamination in biosolids and effective community engagement strategies around flooding, historic preservation and environmental restoration.

Exploring Transit Innovation

CSPDC’s transit team, Danielle Gannon, Paula Melester, and Devon Thompson, attended the Virginia Transit Association’s (VTA) Annual Conference & Expo on May 28-29 in Richmond. This gathering brought together transit professionals from across the Commonwealth alongside policy makers, consultants, and vendors to examine both current realities and future possibilities in public transportation. Sessions focused heavily on funding challenges while also exploring creative topics like incorporating art into transit systems, workforce development needs, cybersecurity, and land use planning tools that help communities better connect residents to essential services.

Connecting the Dots

While these three conferences addressed distinct sectors, common themes emerged around funding challenges, the intersection of technology with traditional infrastructure, and the importance of community engagement. Whether discussing water quality impacts from data centers, cybersecurity concerns in transit systems, or the role of broadband in enabling telemedicine, each event highlighted how modern infrastructure challenges require integrated thinking and comprehensive solutions.