News

Bonnie Recognized for Service in the Region

On March 1, Bonnie was recognized for her 29 years of service to the region.  Frank Friedman, Mayor of Lexington and vice-chair of the CSPDC, presented Bonnie with a Commendation from Delegate Ellen Campbell of the Virginia House of Delegates for her service to the Commonwealth and the region.  Bonnie has retired as Executive Director of the CSPDC having worked with the CSPDC since 1994.  Bonnie will stay on part-time until her replacement is hired.

2023 Afton Express Annual Report Now Available

The CSPDC is pleased to present the 2023 Annual Report for the Afton Express Commuter Bus Service. The Afton Express launched in September 2021 and has grown each year since. With just over two years of operations under our belt, the Afton Express has become a fixture in the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro community – connecting commuters from their homes in the Valley to jobs, healthcare, shopping, and other opportunities in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

In 2023, the Afton Express provided 16,482 passenger trips between the Shenandoah Valley and the Charlottesville Metropolitan region – a nearly 60% increase from 2022. The report provides a look at some of the highlights of the year, such as the expanded schedule implemented in February 2023. Performance metrics, such as ridership by month, stops, and individual trips are also included.

A new feature in this year’s report looks at the impact of the Afton Express. Using data collected through our RideShare Commuter Assistance Program, we can quantify the impact of the service by looking at the reduction of single-occupancy vehicle trips, the amount of money saved by commuters, and emissions prevented. Of course, this analysis uses data collected from just a portion of our riders, so the actual impact is potentially even more significant.

When measuring our performance for the past year, the most important metric is how well are we meeting the needs of our riders. By surveying riders, we gain important insight into the passenger experience. Feedback from passengers plays an important role in the planning of future service enhancements. Responses to a rider survey helped us create a passenger profile. This information and more can be found in the report.

The Annual Report may be viewed online HERE.

The CSPDC would like to thank our partners, without whom the Afton Express would not be possible.

 

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bike Walk Summit Returns!

After a COVID-19 pandemic hiatus, the Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit returns on April 12, 2024. The Bike Summit will highlight the potential for economic development when transportation and recreation meet, and will feature Ryan Hale, CEO of Laneshift, as a keynote speaker. Ryan has extensive experience in helping to plan and develop the successful trail system in rural Northwest Arkansas. The Bike Summit will be held 8 am – 4 pm at The Loft at Liberty St. in Harrisonburg and will provide local leaders and community members to gather and learn ways to implement bike and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in the region.

The 2024 Harrisonburg Rockingham Bike Walk Summit is free, but registration is encouraged. Click here to register.

2024 Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant – Application Cycle Now Open

The CSPDC Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant is a reimbursement grant that provides up to $3,500 in non-match funding for constructing practical, cost-effective, and ready-to-go best management practice (BMP) projects that improve water quality and reduce runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funding is available for localities and non-profits within the five-county CSPDC region. Funding is provided through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program.

The application is available from Wednesday, February 28 and closes on Friday, March 29, 2024. Projects must be constructed by December 20, 2024.

The program’s main goal is establish a simple, streamlined BMP grant application that leads to the construction of BMPs and supports the state’s Chesapeake Bay pollution reduction goals. The 2024 Watershed Wellness Mini-Grant Guide details the grant goals, requirements, eligible activities, and timeline.

Download the 2024 Watershed Wellness Application, and submit the application and requested attachments to CSPDC WIP Coordinator Zach Beard at zach@cspdc.org.

CSPDC Makes Progress Toward Renovation of the Lewis Street Transit Hub

The Lewis Street Transit Hub rehabilitation project is well underway. Looking at the hub today it might appear that nothing is happening – but in the background the CSPDC project team has been working hard to bring this project to life.

The team completed the engineering phase of the project at the end of 2023, and CSPDC issued an Invitation to Bid in late January. While awaiting bids from prospective contractors, CSPDC staff worked with the City of Staunton to identify a location for BRITE buses to temporarily hub while the Lewis Street lot is unavailable during construction. Finding a location that is accessible to passengers who use a wheelchair or mobility device and that allows all passengers to board and alight safely was critical.

In early March, CSPDC staff hosted a live bid opening. In the coming weeks, the project team will ensure the bids submitted are complete and competitive and hope to announce the award of a contract by the end of March.

Construction is expected to begin in April and should last approximately four months. When complete, the renovated transit hub will be a tremendous asset to the BRITE Bus system and Downtown Staunton.