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
Shenandoah Rail Trail Update
The Shenandoah Rail Trail Partnership continues to expand support and secure funding to acquire, design and construct the 48.5-mile trail between the Town of Broadway in Rockingham County and the Town of Front Royal in Warren County. The Partnership recently secured a $3 million congressional earmark for partial design and engineering of the Trail.
In late 2022, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) also allocated $1 million to VDOT to finalize the full scope, schedule and cost estimate to design, engineer, and construct the Trail as the Commonwealth evaluates how it may acquire the out-of-service rail corridor. The Partnership continues to keep local governments and community organizations along the corridor informed about successes and next steps.
For more information on the Rail Trail Partnership’s activities and updates on the Trail progress, visit www.shenandoahrailtrail.
BRITE Request for Proposals for Mobile Data Collection System
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms for a system to administer mobile data collection for BRITE Bus fixed route operations. The mobile data collection system (MDCS) will be a foundational technology for BRITE, transitioning from more manual methods of collecting data while also providing a rich data source to support operations and planning. The purpose of this RFP is to contract with a system provider to deliver a MDCS that includes but is not limited to: production, installation, configuration, hosting, training, licensing, maintenance, and support. The CSPDC intends to award one contract for the entire solution. Please click here to access the RFP.
Update on Regional Housing Study
In September, the CSPDC and Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR) concluded several months of focus groups and interviews with realtors, lenders, service providers, developers, universities, and employers for the Regional Housing Study. The focus groups were held in Buena Vista, Fishersville, Monterey, and through several virtual sessions. On October 26th, the CSPDC and VCHR convened the Regional Housing Study’s Leadership Team for their second meeting to discuss the findings of the focus groups and determine next steps for data analysis. The housing study scope allows for more detailed data analysis of up to five subtopics, to be selected by the CSPDC in partnership with the leadership team. At the meeting, the group worked collaboratively to select the five subtopics based on the focus group and interview feedback.
The five subtopics for additional data analysis will be:
- Impact of universities and student population
- Seniors
- Vulnerable populations (homelessness, substance use disorder, etc.)
- Naturally occurring affordable housing
- Living arrangements (overcrowding, multigenerational housing, etc.)
Over the next several months, VCHR and the CSPDC will continue data analysis – the most recent American Community Survey data is expected to be released in December, and all data will be refreshed to reflect the most recent demographic trends. Additionally, the study team will begin drafting local data profiles for the Interim Data Report, which is expected to be completed in Spring 2023.
