TJPDC e–News—Summer 2002

TJPDC e–News is issued on a quarterly basis to keep you informed about the programs and projects at the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. In addition to e-mail, every issue of TJPDC e–News is posted on our website.

TJPDC e–News provides brief snapshots of our current efforts. If you are interested in additional information on a particular subject, just click on the link embedded in the article or contact the appropriate TJPDC staff member. We hope you enjoy this update. Please feel free to send comments and suggestions to info@tjpdc.org.

Round 1 Of United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan (Unjam 2025) Workshops Complete

During late spring and early summer, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) , the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, and their partners from across the region, hosted nine UnJAM 2025 workshops and a series of focus groups and presentations.

The comments and data collected at the workshops, focus groups and presentations will be analyzed and brought back to the community as a draft plan for further public input this fall. Click on www.tjpdc.org for more information about UnJAM 2025 and photos of recent UnJAM workshops and activities. If you have questions about UnJAM, please contact Harrison Rue at (434) 979-7310 or

Tjpdc Announces New Rideshare Program Manager

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Rhonda Edmunds as its new RideShare Program Manager, effective July 16, 2002. Ms. Edmunds is fulfilling the outreach marketing and program management duties of Caryn Fiedler, who departed at the end of July. Ms. Edmunds comes to the Planning District with marketing experience from the UVA Community Credit Union and an MBA, which will be complete in August, from Virginia Commonwealth University. If you would like to contact Ms. Edmunds personally to welcome her to the Planning District, she can be reached at (434) 295-6165 or

Commuter Information Team Works Together For Fourth Year

The Commuter Information Team (CIT), which is a partnership that includes RideShare, JAUNT, CTS, University Transit Service (UTS), and Greene County Transit, has agreed to combine forces for a seventh straight year. The CIT works together on a regional basis to provide seamless customer service and to market transportation options to the residents of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, which includes the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. If you would like more information about the services offered by the Commuter Information Team, please visit www.commuterinformation.com or call toll-free 1-888-974-5500.

Vdot Updates Its Statewide Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan

Virginia Department of Transportation is updating its Statewide Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan over a three-year period. The plan will focus on providing access and mobility for people, information, and goods, while meeting the diverse long-term transportation goals of the Commonwealth. The plan will be the result of coordination between federal, state, and regional agencies, as well as extensive public involvement. This is a major undertaking at the statewide level and an excellent opportunity for all Virginians to participate in the development of the Commonwealth's future multimodal transportation system. For more information on the Statewide Transportation Plan, visit the VDOT website at www.virginiadot.org/projects/multi-default.asp or send an e-mail to Contact Kimberly Spence at (804) 371-4864 or Katherine Graham at (804) 786-4198 to see how you can get involved today!

Transportation And Land Use Conference

TJPDC is working with VDOT and VAPDC to organize a free, one-day transportation and land use conference in Richmond, tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2002. Discussions will focus on how planning agencies can best integrate transportation and land use decisions, and define what steps each agency can take to improve this linkage for everyone. For details, watch the VAPDC website at www.institute.virginia.edu/vapdc. For more information about this conference, please contact Chris Gensic at (434) 979-7310 or

Planning District To Receive $832,000 In Federal Home Funds For Affordable Housing Projects Throughout The Region

Beginning July 1, 2002, the Planning District will receive $832,000 in federal HOME funds to assist with the housing needs of low and moderate-income residents throughout the region. These funds are available only because the Planning District's member local governments collectively adopted a Cooperation Agreement that makes the region an entitlement community under the federal HOME Program. Funds are shared equally among the six participating jurisdictions. The Action Plan sets specific goals for the use of these funds and is available on the Planning District's website at www.tjpdc.org/housing/2002-2003_action_plan.pdf If you would like to know more about this plan, please contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310.

Bicycle, Pedestrian And Greenways Plans Move Forward

The regional bicycle, pedestrian and greenways plan, completed this year, is being considered for adoption in Greene, Nelson, Albemarle and Louisa Counties. Nelson County has approved a draft comprehensive plan (subject to public hearing and final approval), which includes their portion of the regional plan. Louisa County recently adopted a new comprehensive plan and is kicking off a public process to use the regional plan as a basis for developing their County. Greene County is developing their comprehensive plan update, and using the regional plan as a basis. Albemarle County is reviewing the plan and considering amending their existing 1991 plan with the recommendations from the regional plan, which adds some routes to help make connections to other counties.

Once a plan is adopted in each county, these projects become eligible for potential funding from VDOT. For more information, please contact Billie Campbell at 979-7310 x 230 or .

Planning District Awarded Rural Transportation Funds For A Scottsville Land Use/Transportation Plan

Through VDOT's Rural Transportation Planning Grant Program, the Planning District was awarded $40,000 for a one-year project to better integrate transportation planning with future land use policies in the Town of Scottsville. A Fall 2002 series of community workshops will provide input to ensure the new Plan reflects the needs and wishes of Town residents. The Planning District will retain consultants with expertise in transportation and land use planning, who will participate in the Fall workshops and assist in the preparation of the Plan. This Scottville project will serve as a case study for other small towns, especially those with a primary road serving as the town's "main street." The Scope of Work for this project may be viewed at www.tjpdc.org/trans/scottsville_scope_of_work.pdf. If you would like to know more about this project, please contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310.

Jefferson Area Coalition For The Homeless Submits Three Mckinney Act Proposals To Hud

The Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless, which is hosted by the Planning District, submitted applications to expand the housing and service needs of the region's homeless. The Region Ten Community Services Board submitted two applications, one to offer rental assistance to homeless persons with psychiatric and substance abuse disabilities and one to provide transitional housing for homeless recovering addicts. This second project will help compensate for cuts in State funds that have forced Region Ten's Mohr Center to terminate its social detoxification and public inebriate program. In addition, the AIDS/HIV Services Group is requesting funds to provide rental assistance and counseling for AIDS victims and their families. If you would like to know more about these proposals, please contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310.

Town Of Stanardsville Plans Pedestrian Improvements

As construction continues on the new Greene County Library and Senior Center, the Town and County, along with the Planning District and the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging, are developing a sidewalk and pathways plan that will link the new facility to the nearby residents and to the Town generally. The Planning District prepared a regional pedestrian and bicycle plan that includes a sidewalk plan for Stanardsville. This is serving as a strong starting point for this new endeavor. If you would like to know more about this project, please contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310.

Area Organizations Team Up To Make Hillsdale Drive Age-Friendly

JABA CEO Gordon Walker and Harrison Rue teamed with engineers from VDOT and Charlottesville and Albemarle transportation planners to lead discussion on the future of Hillsdale Drive and the effort to make it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Hillsdale Drive faces many safety concerns due in part to the large number of senior citizens requiring access to the street. The hands-on workshop held at the Senior Center identified both short-term and long-term solutions. These potential improvements will be presented for review and prioritization by community members in a September workshop. For more information, contact Harrison Rue at (434) 979-7310 or

Greene County Adopts Regional Economic Development Plan

The Greene County Board of Supervisors recently adopted the proposed Regional Economic Development Plan. "It's wonderful to see the counties adopting the regional plan," said Meredith Richards, Chairperson of the Regional Economic Development committee. If you would like more information about the Regional Economic Development Plan, please click on www.tjpdc.org/draft-economic-development-plan-2002.pdf or contact Harrison Rue at (434) 979-7310 or

Rivanna Kiosk At Darden Towe Park Opening Soon

The long-awaited Rivanna kiosk at Darden Towe Park is nearly complete! The kiosk is located near the picnic shelter and will feature a 3-D map of the Rivanna watershed, a Braille plaque to aid in the interpretation of the map by the blind, and changing exhibits about the Rivanna. The first set of exhibits planned will include displays by the Rivanna Conservation Society, the Lewis & Clark Exploratory Center, and the TJPDC. The kiosk was funded with support from the Charlottesville Ten-Miler, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Foundation, the Perry Foundation, the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund, and the TJPDC. The grand opening is tentatively scheduled for September 12 at 5:30 p.m. Click on www.tjpdc.org for more details as the date draws near.

Piedmont Workforce Network Elects New Chair

The Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB), Workforce Today, elected new leadership at its June 26 meeting. Barbara Kessler, Human Resources Director at SNL Financial in Charlottesville was elected Chair. Kessler served as Vice Chair of the LWIB from September 2001 through June 2002 and previously served as the Chair of the LWIB's One Stop Committee, which develops standards and monitors performance for the One Stop Centers in the region. The LWIB recognized outgoing chair Nancy Cannon, Managing Partner of Cannon Properties in Culpeper, for her service as Chair from September 2001 to June 2002 and as Vice Chair from May 2000 to September 2001. Ronan Lynch, Plant Manager for Ridgid Products in Orange was elected Vice Chair.

Workforce Today Wins Grants

The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, awarded 23 Work Incentive Grants nationwide. In Virginia, Workforce Today joined with five other Local Workforce Investment Boards to apply for funding for Virginia's One-Stop Accessibility Project. The consortium was awarded $974,045 for the two-year project, which has two main goals: 1) To develop comprehensive One-Stop Centers that are valued providers of choice by customers with disabilities seeking workforce assistance and 2) To implement strategies in the One-Stop system in Virginia that significantly increase opportunities for skill training, employment and workforce inclusion of people with disabilities.

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board (DSB), through a Rehabilitative Services Incentive Fund Grant, is providing a part-time Disability Resource Specialist at the One Stop Comprehensive Center at 400 Preston Avenue in Charlottesville. The Choice Group is providing the Disability Resource Specialist to train One Stop Staff, provide direct client services and to promote the One Stop Center to area employers.

Workforce Today has been awarded $200,293 to provide training and workforce services to workers affected as a result of the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001. Workers receiving services under this grant must be residents of Virginia who were regularly working at the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, or employed by a business or industry that provided services to those facilities at the time of the disaster. Affected workers seeking services under this grant should call the One Stop Comprehensive Center at 434-977-2662.

Charlottesville Representative Named To Virginia Workforce Council

Governor Mark R. Warner announced on May 21, 2002 that he had appointed Don Borwhat, Jr. of Charlottesville, a senior vice president of General Electric Co.'s GE Fanuc Automation, Inc. to the Virginia Workforce Council (VWC). The 43-member VWC serves as the state's Workforce Investment Board, implements Virginia's Workforce Strategy and provides comprehensive planning and oversight of the Workforce Investment Act in Virginia. Mr. Borwhat is one of 23 business representatives and the first VWC member from the Charlottesville area.

Executive Director And Assistant Director Attend Congress For New Urbanism Conference

Harrison Rue and Bill Wanner traveled to Miami to attend the Congress for the New Urbanism conference held June 12th through the 16th. Mr. Rue was a panelist for the "Public Process: Parting the NIMBY Curtain" breakout session. Mr. Wanner focused on workshops offering specific information on developing local new codes and ordinances. The Planning District is working with Nelson County and its consultant in the development of new zoning and subdivision ordinances for the County. For more information on the Congress for New Urbanism, check their website at www.cnu.org.

For Sale

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission office is selling its drafting table, which was purchased in 1993 and rarely used. It is an Altek ACP36048-3LS Datatab Pro Precision Digitizer with a base stand. It measures 36 inches by 48 inches and features continuously variable backlighting. Price is $1,000 or best offer. Shipping is not included. To learn more about this item or to make an offer, please contact Chris Gensic at (434) 979-7310 or

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TJPDC e–News is a publication of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and is published as a forum for the latest news and information concerning the programs and projects at the PDC. This newsletter is mailed on a quarterly basis. If you would like to be removed from the distribution list, please contact the TJPDC at info@tjpdc.org or by calling (434) 979-7310.

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