The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is accepting applications to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) this year. TAP is a subset of the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (STBG) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Every two years, localities can submit project applications to TAP, which provides 80% federal funding for non-motorized transportation improvements. Eligible projects include sidewalks, trails, bike lanes, and all activities previously eligible under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act (MAP-21).

The local applicant must provide the remaining 20% of the project cost. TAP applications are due by October 2, 2023. The City of Harrisonburg, the Town of Bridgewater, and Rockingham County are applying for TAP projects in this round. Of the eight projects being applied for by the City, Town, and County, five are sidewalk projects, two are shared use path connections, and one is for non-infrastructure Safe Routes to School activities. VDOT will review the applications and announce project awards in Spring 2024, with the projects funded through the FY 2025 Six Year Improvement Program to be approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in June, 2024.

On August 15, 2023, Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) President Dr. John Rainone cut the grand opening ribbon for MGCC’s interim Workforce Development Center in Buena Vista. The event marked the phase 1 milestone of constructing the Wilson Workforce Development Center in the former Courtesy Ford Dealership building. MGCC students began courses the following Monday (August 21^st) in the McCormick Building at 2045 Forest Avenue. MGCC programs will encompass HVAC, building, electrical, plumbing, industrial technology, precision machining, welding, diesel mechanics, and CDL training for these in-demand career fields.

Local representatives taking part in the ribbon cutting included Ramsey Real Estate owner Skip Ramsey, Rockbridge County Administrator Spencer Suter, Lexington City Council member Marilyn Alexander, Rockbridge Odd Fellows Society Treasurer Tony McFaddin, Buena Vista City Manager Jason Tyree, MGCC President, Dr. John Rainone, MGCC Technical Services employee Billy Oulds, and Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman.

On September 1, 2021, the Afton Express took its maiden voyage across the mountain from Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro to Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia. Now, two years later it is still growing strong!

Ridership continues to grow steadily, improving each month as more commuters learn of the service. From September 2022 to August 2023, monthly ridership increased by 64%.

To celebrate this milestone, CSPDC staff will host pop-up events in Charlottesville and Staunton to engage with current and prospective riders.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Afton Express, or helping us celebrate this occasion, is invited to visit one of the pop-up events below.

September 14, 2023, from 3:30 – 6:00 pm at the University of Virginia, Hospital West Complex bus stop

September 28, 2023, from 4:00 – 7:30 pm at the Staunton Mall bus stop

The CSPDC would like to thank all the community partners who have helped this service succeed in these first two years. Our staff looks forward to year three and beyond!

The Blue Grass Resource Center will receive a $700,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Construction Grant to support the completion of The Highland Inn Revitalization Project. On August 11th, Governor Youngkin recommended the Inn as one of sixteen projects in Virginia for ARC funding. The grant will fund Phase II of the effort to renovate the historic Highland Inn. Located on Main Street in Monterey, the Highland Inn is part of Highland County’s economic development strategy to increase tourism through retreat conferences and cultural events. In 2021, Phase 1 of the revitalization effort successfully stabilized and restored the Inn’s exterior. Phase II will restore the Inn’s interior, completing the final step necessary to reopen the hotel and restaurant.

For more information see: https://dhcd.virginia.gov/2023-appalachian-regional-commission-award-recommendations

The 2023 Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro Bike-Walk Summit will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Russell Museum in Waynesboro. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The event will highlight the Virginia Capital Trail, Waynesboro’s South River Greenway, and the positive impacts of regional bike and pedestrian projects on health and economic development.

An optional walking tour of Sunset Park and happy hour at Basic City Beer Company will take place in the afternoon. The event is sponsored by Augusta Health, the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, the SAWMPO, RideShare, and other community partners.

REGISTER HERE

Registration for the SAW Housing Summit is open through September 28^th. In partnership with the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, Augusta Health, Valley Community Services Board, and Valley Homeless Connection, the CSPDC will be presenting the Summit on October 11^th & 12^th at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Staunton.

The SAW Housing Summit is a result of collaborative work across organizations in the SAW region since March 2020, who joined together to disburse critical funding and resources to underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those experiencing housing insecurity. As the short-term impacts of the pandemic began to lessen, the group turned their attention toward our region’s more persistent housing challenges that remained, from addressing homelessness to providing accessible housing to our local workforce. The Summit will culminate the work that has taken place and provide a forum for planning to address our regional housing issues into the future.

The Summit will take place over the course of a day and a half, and will incorporate a variety of speakers, facilitated discussions, and brainstorming sessions. It will conclude with an action-focused facilitated discussion on Day 2 to chart a path forward.

Topics include defining affordable housing, assessing our region’s housing landscape, the connections between housing, health, and economic development, promoting the development of affordable housing stock, and funding and success stories around the state.

For more information on the SAW Housing Summit and to register today, visit www.sawhousing.com.