New Executive Director Takes the Helm at TJPDC
The TJPDC hired Stephen W. Williams as Executive Director in May, 2009. A professional planner, Steve comes to TJPDC with over 25 years of experience working for local and regional planning agencies, including most recently as the executive director of the Nashua (New Hampshire) Regional Planning Commission (NRPC). Mr. Williams has specific expertise in transportation planning, leading NRPC efforts to prepare and adopt regional transit, bicycle/pedestrian, intelligent transportation system and transportation safety plans. During his tenure there, the NRPC was recognized as a leading regional planning commission in New Hampshire, and Steve received gubernatorial appointments to the state’s Climate Change Task Force and the Freedom’s Way Heritage Commission, and was vice-chairman of the New Hampshire Rail Transit Authority.
State Recognition for Long-Time Commissioner
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The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions (VAPDC) awarded long-time TJPD Commissioner and Albemarle Supervisor Sally Thomas with its Robert W. Baker Achievement Award. The award, named for the first head of the Southside Planning District Commission, recognizes persons who have been involved directly in planning district commission activities and who have contributed significantly to promoting regional planning and development in Virginia. She advocated for formation of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission while involved with the Charlottesville-Albemarle League of Women Voters, then was one of the first members to serve on the Commission when it formed in the early 1970s. She has served on the Commission as an elected representative from Albemarle for the past 16 years, including three years as chairman in the mid-to-late 1990s.
She is noted for many efforts at the TJPDC, including advocating for rural transit in the region (rural transit provider JAUNT was formed by TJPDC), helping form the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) and establishing the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization. She helped convince leaders from the six TJPDC member localities to form the Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium in 1993 and led in the development of the TJPDC Sustainability Accords, which represent a community consensus and opportunity for individual and group actions toward sustainability for the region.
Transit Options Move Forward
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded TJPDC $100,000 to develop innovative approaches to improving public participation in the transportation planning process. Three-thousand Charlottesville Transit Service riders responded to surveys about current experiences using transit and a TJPDC consultant randomly sampled 300 people about transit use and funding, as well as how they choose transportation modes. An on-line survey instrument also was used, with over 1,000 responses received. The toolkit of methods and best practices of public engagement used during this study is being made available to other communities.
This project was carried out to complement the RTA Plan. TJPDC provided staff support for a Joint Working Group on the RTA, including providing research and analysis on regional transit authorities to support decisions about the structure and financing of an RTA in the MPO region. As a result of this work, Charlottesville and Albemarle County sought enabling legislation to establish a Regional Transit Authority, which the 2009 General Assembly approved. A second initiative seeking authority for the two governing bodies to conduct referendums on increasing the local sales tax to support transportation was not approved.
Localities Agree on Regional Housing Action Plan
Each locality, as well as the TJPD Commission, adopted a resolution of support for a Regional Housing Action Plan last fall. Locality representatives joined other housing advocates and stakeholders to identify potential partnering projects and outcomes at the “Finding Common Ground: Call to Action” conference. This gathering was a follow-up session to a previous Regional Housing Conference and included presentations from each locality on current and planned housing activities, and “partnering think tank” work in small groups. The Regional Housing Action Plan was developed from the input at that session, identifying specific actions, a lead partner and other strategic players.
MPO Approves UnJAM Plan
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Culminating two years of work, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopted the urban portion of UnJAM 2035 in May. The plan combines transportation planning for both the MPO area (Charlottesville and urban Albemarle) and rural areas of the PDC, assessing the current regional transportation network and how to maintain it over a 20-year period. TJPDC used the Neighborhood America template to develop an interactive website as a vehicle to inform the public on the plan and to receive input. The on-line survey received over 400 responses from across the region on the urban piece of UnJAM. Development of the rural portion of the plan got underway in earnest following the MPO action last spring and continues in FY10.
TJACH Takes Lead on Homelessness
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The Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) has existed as a coalition and Continuum of Care since 1999, but has assumed the role of Lead Organization on Homelessness as recommended in the Community Plan to End Homelessness adopted by the TJPDC in May. TJACH merged with the First Street Church Project, formed to provide a central location for delivery of services to the working poor and homeless, and then renamed as the Haven at First and Market. TJACH applied for non-profit status and hired its first Executive Director. A wide array of services will be provided in the new facility through the four components of the building: 1) Annex, consisting of office and conference space for TJACH, homeless service providers, and agencies and organizations providing supportive services; 2) Day Haven, offering a space for people to gather during the day, connection to local services, internet access, mailing services, a storage space for their personal effects, showers and laundry facilities; 3) Kay’s Kitchen, providing breakfast, bag lunches, and an on-the-job training program; and 4) Sanctuary, a large space that will serve as a multi-use venue for performances and other cultural/arts events. The significant progress over the past year has enhanced cooperation and coordination among service providers and raised public awareness of the issue of homelessness in the region.
TJPDC Seeks Broadband Funding
In spring, the TJPD Commission approved a resolution supporting local and regional broadband initiatives, setting the stage for the TJPDC to pull together locality representatives to discuss an approach for applying for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for broadband programs. About $7.2 billion is being made available in three rounds of competitive grant funding to develop and expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas and to improve access to broadband by public safety agencies.
RideShare Services in Demand
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As gas prices reached a record high in summer 2008, area commuters and large employers turned to RideShare for help. July was a record month for RideShare in terms of applications received and number of carpool matches. Over 70% of applicants were matched with other RideShare members interested in forming or joining a carpool. RideShare also collaborated with all PDC localities in a variety of ways (see individual locality sections for more details).
THA Toolkit Projects Administered
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TJPDC staff, working with the Disability Services Board and the Jefferson Area Transition Council, conducted an assessment of the needs of people with disabilities in the planning district using the Transportation Housing Alliance Toolkit. This initiative links public and private leaders in the areas of housing and transportation to promote independent living and community inclusion for people with disabilities, the elderly and other underserved populations. This was one of a dozen projects completed across the state (see Louisa County for more projects); comments and “lessons learned” from these projects were incorporated into the second edition of the toolkit.
HOME Consortium
Each year the HOME Consortium and the City of Charlottesville prepare the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to report on activities and achievements over the past year. The CAPER was submitted to HUD on September 30 and is available here. In the past fiscal year (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 200) the HOME Consortium drew down $1,027,373 in HOME funds, excluding administrative funds. Fifteen percent of HOME funds are reserved for Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) projects. Remaining funds are evenly distributed among the six localities. The Consortium completed 31 HOME projects during the program year. Of the 31 projects, 16 were rehabilitation of owner-occupied units, 2 were rental rehabilitation, 8 were first-time homebuyer downpayment assistance, and 5 were development of rental units. The five rental projects represent a total of 16 units. Completed units for the year total 42. Additional projects were initiated during the year.