Commission Approves FY15 Rural Work Program

Thomas Jefferson PDC:

“On Thursday, March 6, the TJPDC formally approved its Rural Transportation Planning Work Program for FY15, which starts on July 1. This work program is renewed every year, with funding from VDOT ($58,000) and match from the TJPDC ($14,500). In FY15, TJPDC staff will conduct several activities, such as running the region’s Rural Technical Committee, helping member governments with transportation grants, and assisting VDOT with updates to plans.”

~ Thomas Jefferson PDC

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Job Opening at Accomack-Northampton PDC

Accomack-Northampton PDC:

“The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC), a regional non-profit organization based in Accomac, Virginia, seeks a motivated person to provide project management for various state and federal planning activities and technical assistance to local jurisdictions. With the A-NPDC’s fast growing diversity of programs, this is an exciting opportunity for a creative and driven professional to gain experience and have their efforts make a positive impact on the communities of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.”

~ Accomack-Northampton PDC

Click here for the job description

Planners Survey Bike Route 76 for Improvements

Thomas Jefferson PDC:

“Central Virginia planners are surveying 136 miles of a cross-country bike route that runs through the region. Bike Route 76 directs riders on some of the area’s busiest, curviest roads. One trouble spot planners have identified is Route 53, which winds its way from Route 20 to Monticello. There are no shoulders, the drop-offs are steep, and it has become a busy commuter road. But a study is looking at ways to make it safer for cyclists to pedal through our part of the cross-country bike route.”

~Writes NBC29

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Click here for another story from November 2013

Click here for the project website

Input on James River pollution study sought

James River:

“With 19 sections of the James River and its tributaries observed to be violating legal bacteria levels, the Department of Environmental Quality is asking for public comment in redeveloping a study on sources of pollution. The DEQ in conjunction with Region 2000, held a public meeting Tuesday night at Randolph College to present the study’s preliminary findings, which examined sections of streams and the James River from which they stem.

Violations were found in water bodies in Amherst, Bedford and Campbell counties and Lynchburg as well as the James. The total maximum daily load study, which examines the amount of bacteria a body of water can handle to meet standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency was last completed in 2007. It is being redeveloped by request from Lynchburg so the city can update its own combined sewer overflows strategy.

Jim Kern, who spoke for MapTech Inc., the company performing the study, said streams were examined as representative of general watersheds in the area. One impairment evidences pollution in another, he said. The TMDL study includes estimates of farm, domestic and wild animals, and people because fecal matter is the main source of E. coli. It also lists discharges that have been permitted.”

~Writes Alex Rohr of the News Advance

Click here for more information

Click here for the story from the Richmond Times Dispatch

Click here for more detail on the project

CSPDC's HOME Down Payment Program

Central Shenandoah PDC:

“The HOME Down Payment Assistance Program (DPA) in the Shenandoah Valley region has received $75,000 in funding for the calendar year 2014. Created to help first-time, income-eligible homebuyers to obtain decent, safe and affordable housing, this Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program has been administered in the region by the CSPDC for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for more than a decade. It has helped 225 people grow their personal wealth and equity through homeownership.

For more information on the HOME program contact Kimberly Miller, kimberly@cspdc.org, 540.885.5174.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

Safe Routes to School in Rockingham County

Central Shenandoah PDC:

“Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects have been completed at Mountain View Elementary in Rockingham County and Plains Elementary in Timberville.  At Mountain View Elementary improvements included the addition of a new sidewalk, curb & gutter, ADA curb cuts with associated crosswalks, signing and pavement markings, and the installation of pedestrian signals at the Erickson Avenue and Rawley Springs (Rt. 33) intersection.

  

In Timberville, the improvements included a five-foot concrete sidewalk, curb and gutter improvements, and a stream crossing along American Legion Drive. Other improvements included curb ramps, crosswalk pavement and sign installation, high visibility crosswalk markings, and flashing school beacons installed at the school entrance.

Safe Routes to Schools is a federally-funded program administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation designed to encourage kindergarten through 8th grade students to walk or bike to school by creating a safer and more appealing transportation alternative through biking and walking.  Other SRTS program goals are to improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.  CSPDC staff assisted the County and the Town with grant administration and project management for these two SRTS projects.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

VAPDC's Winter Conference

VAPDC:

“The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) Winter Conference was held in conjunction with Virginia Municipal League (VML) and Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Local Government Day on February 6-7, 2014, in Richmond.  The theme of this year's conference was ‘Meeting Virginia's Challenges through Regional Solutions.’  Highlights of the conference included presentations from three of  Virginia's new cabinet secretaries: Maurice Jones, Secretary of Commerce and Trade; Molly Ward, Secretary of Natural Resources; and Aubrey Lane, Secretary of Transportation.  Also presenting was Dr. Glenn DuBois, Chancellor of Virginia Community College System.

At the conference awards ceremony, the CSPDC received the Robert M. deVoursney Best Practices Award for its Fields of Gold agritourism program.  The award recognizes a PDC or regional organization that has initiated or heightened an innovative approach or activity of regional significance.  This award recognizes innovation, excellence, commitment and/or service to the advancement of regional planning and multijurisdictional cooperation.   Mr. George Pryde, CSPDC Commissioner representing the City of Lexington and who serves on the Fields of Gold Steering Committee, accepted the award on behalf of the CSPDC.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

Fields of Gold: February News Letter

Fields of Gold:

“The second edition of the Fields of Gold Insider, a quarterly newsletter created for agribusinesses participating in the Fields of Gold agritourism program was published during February. Filled with information, tips and educational opportunities, the Insider is currently distributed to more than 200 agritourism operators, tourism partners and government agencies.”

~ Central Shenandoah PDC

Click here to view the newsletter