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, hazard mitigation, agritourism, to human services, the CSPDC is an invaluable asset to the quality of life in the Central Shenandoah Valley. For more information about the CSPDC, click here.
Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission
112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
Phone: 540-885-5174
Fax: 540-885-2687
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Latest News
VDOT Completes Public Engagement for Shenandoah Valley Rail-with-Trail Assessment
With publication of the Phase 3 Public Engagement Summary, VDOT has concluded the Shenandoah Valley Rail-with-Trail Assessment — a study that began in March 2024 to evaluate options for the 49-mile rail corridor running through Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham counties.
Phase 3 public engagement took place in the Spring of 2026 with in-person meetings in the towns of Woodstock, Front Royal, and Timberville, and an online survey that was open from April 8 through May 13, 2026.
VDOT received 8,150 survey responses. Among the 2,552 respondents from Warren, Shenandoah, and Rockingham Counties, 69.9% named converting the corridor to a trail as the best investment for the Commonwealth, compared with 6.7% who favored keeping rail service alongside a parallel trail. 18.4% of these respondents along the corridor said they had no preference, and 5.0% said they liked neither option.
Support for rail-to-trail was similarly strong statewide, at 57.8% of the 6,160 respondents identifiable by Virginia zip code.
In February 2026, the Secretary of Transportation’s office indicated to the Commonwealth Transportation Board that it would begin negotiations with Norfolk Southern to acquire the corridor. The final configuration — rail-to-trail or rail-with-trail — will be decided later, informed in part by this engagement data.
Full engagement summary and project materials are available on VDOT’s project page.
CSPDC to Map Child Care Gaps Across the Blue Ridge Region
Where are the child care deserts in the Blue Ridge region — and what would it take to close them? CSPDC will help answer that question as part of a new statewide effort to strengthen child care access, in partnership with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.
Over the coming months, we will analyze regional child care supply and demand data, working alongside Ready Region Blue Ridge leadership to turn the findings into an action plan. The data and methodology come from a partnership between VECF, PlanRVA, and the Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions — giving every region in the state a common starting point.
The results will feed directly into the region’s economic development strategy, tying child care access to workforce growth — recognizing that families can’t go to work if there’s nowhere for their kids to go.
Findings are due by the end of September.
Floodplain Management Workshop for Locality Staff
On Thursday, August 27, 2026, the CSPDC will host a Regional Floodplain Management Workshop in partnership with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
The free, half-day workshop will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the BRITE Transit Facility in Fishersville. Participants will hear about five key aspects of floodplain management — floodplain mapping, regulations, substantial improvement and substantial damage requirements, permitting, and flood insurance — with time reserved for questions and discussion.
CSPDC organized the workshop in response to a need identified during the early stages of the CSPDC’s Flood and Stormwater Resilience Plan, when localities expressed interest in additional training and resources to strengthen floodplain management and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) compliance.
The workshop is intended for local floodplain administrators, plan review staff, code officials, and anyone involved in—or interested in learning more about—floodplain management and NFIP requirements. Whether you are new to floodplain administration or simply looking for a refresher, this workshop is a chance to strengthen your knowledge, ask questions, and connect with regional peers.
For more information, please contact the CSPDC office. To inquire about registering, please email cspdc@cspdc.org.
