112 MacTanly Place
Staunton, VA 24401
phone: 540-885-5174
fax: 540-885-2687
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.
Latest News
Lexington Conducts City-Wide Windshield Survey to Assess Housing
In October, Summit Design and Engineering Services, the consulting firm hired by the City of Lexington, conducted a survey of the city’s housing to assess local needs. Summit’s team performed a city-wide windshield survey, driving through every neighborhood to evaluate the condition of buildings using a standardized methodology.
The survey results are one piece of a forthcoming report that will document the current state of the City’s housing stock, assess both present and future needs, and propose potential recommendations and strategies for improvement. The report will also incorporate data from existing plans and studies, interviews with local stakeholders, and spatially-mapped Census data.
The windshield survey follows the award of a $50,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Grant by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to the City of Lexington. The grant, awarded last year, supports the completion of a comprehensive housing and infrastructure survey as well as a needs assessment. It aims to provide critical data for the City, build on the CSPDC’s Regional Housing Study, and assist local partners like the Threshold Housing Commission in developing and implementing effective housing strategies.
USDA Awards $4.4 Million to BARC Connects to Expand Broadband in Rockbridge County
In late October, BARC Connects received a $4.4 million grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Community Connect Program to install a fiber-to-the-premises system in Rockbridge County. The project will provide high-speed internet access to 816 residents and four businesses, focusing on the Collierstown/Effinger area.
Subscribers will enjoy symmetrical internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps. Additionally, two public computer workstations will be installed at the Lake Robertson recreation area, offering free internet access to the community for at least two years.
According to the USDA, the Community Connect Program “helps bring high-speed internet service to areas where it is least likely to be commercially available but can make a tremendous difference in quality of life. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the internet for individual and community development.”
This funding builds on $2 million in grants awarded in July through the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative (VATI) to Rockbridge County. The VATI projects include collaborative efforts involving BARC Connects and Brightspeed. The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission will serve as the grant administrator for both projects.
These investments highlight ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide in rural areas, ensuring residents and businesses in Rockbridge County have access to reliable, high-speed internet.
CSPDC Begins Microtransit Feasibility Study for BRITE Service Area
The CSPDC is conducting a microtransit feasibility study, with technical assistance from Kimley-Horn. The kick-off meeting was conducted at the November BRITE Transit Advisory Committee (BTAC) meeting, as the BTAC will serve as the stakeholder group. Microtransit is an on-demand transportation service where riders can request rides via an app or a call to the dispatcher, and service is available within designated areas. Microtransit provides flexibility and additional coverage to service areas and can either complement existing routes or replace underperforming fixed routes. Many microtransit service systems often designate a first/last mile connection to certain routes, so that riders who live within a mile of an existing bus stop can be picked up or dropped off closer to their home.
To assess the demand and feasibility for microtransit services in our region, Kimley-Horn will be analyzing data (such as travel patterns, employment, demographics, passenger and trips counts, route patterns, etc.), past studies and plans, and collaborating with the stakeholder group. Because microtransit services work best when they are implemented to serve the specific needs of a region, community understanding will be critical in creating a study that will serve BRITE transit service area.
News from the CSPDC Region Monthly Newsletter
Read News from the CSPDC Region, Our Monthly Newsletter - December 2024.
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