TJPDC e–News—Spring 2003

30 Years of Regional Planning, Linking Transportation, Land Use, Economy, & Environment

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.

TJPDC Offices Closed April 30 for Staff Retreat

On April 30, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission staff will hold their annual retreat off-site. Ms. Bev Wann will facilitate the group and lead discussions on strategic planning for the coming year including brainstorming on interdepartmental collaboration, working across programs, promoting from within, examination of workflow, staffing needs, and staff development. Normal operations will resume on May 1.

Creating Successful Mixed Communities - Action Agenda Now Available

Creating Successful Mixed Use Communities, held at the Omni Hotel March 18th, 2003 was a huge success. Housing advocates, Realtors, bankers, developers, planners, architects, and concerned citizens worked together to develop creative solutions to the most pressing housing needs in our region. Breakout sessions covered topics such as design, affordability, codes and zoning, financing, special needs, and rural growth issues. At the end of each session, participants worked in small groups to identify impediments to implementing creative mixed use projects and possible solutions to overcome those obstacles. The end-of-day priorities were compiled to create a Housing Action Agenda. To view speakers' presentations, photographs, and comment on the DRAFT Housing Action Agenda, see Mixed Use Communties on the TJPDC website under Housing and Human Services.

For more information, contact Shae Garwood at (434) 979–7310 or .

US-29/Hydraulic/US-250 Bypass Intersections Study Draft Report Available

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, along with VDOT, City of Charlottesville and County of Albemarle staff recently completed a technical workshop studying the Hydraulic Road and 250-Bypass intersections of the US-29 corridor. The jointly-defined goals of the 29H250 study are to develop specific intersection design concepts that address vehicular, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit movement for improved mobility, safety, and development opportunities within the US-29, Hydraulic, and 250-Bypass area, while protecting existing tax base, businesses, neighborhoods, and employment.

An active public involvement program solicited direct input to identify concerns and potential solutions and included both focus groups and public workshops. The draft report will be presented to Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on April 16, Commonwealth Transportation Board on April 17, and City Council on April 21. The draft report can be viewed on the TJPDC Website in the Transportation section.

For more information about the study, please contact Harrison Rue or Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979–7310 or or .

TJPDC Hosts Walkable Community Workshops

Come out and learn how to make your streets safer to walk and bicycle on. Learn from nationally acclaimed experts and local agency staff. These exercises are "feet-on" with approximately mile-long group walks scheduled for each workshop in different settings to cover many neighborhood and development types over the course of a week. Each workshop will have applicability where you work, live, shop, or play. We encourage you to attend at least one!

Tentative schedule:

April 21: East Rio Rd. (Northside Library) 1:00-5:00pm Locust Grove (Mount View Baptist Church) 5:30-9:30pm

April 22: Agency Staff Workshop (TJPDC) 9:00am-3:00pm Hydraulic Road Workshop (High School Cafeteria) 4:00-8:00pm

April 23: Emergency Responders workshop (TJPDC) 9:00-11:00am Mobility impaired workshop (TJPDC) 4:00-6:00pm

April 24: Rural studies: Town of Louisa (County Bldg.) 9:00am-1:00pm Fork Union (Community Center) 3:00-7:00pm

April 25: Belmont (TJPDC) 9:00am-1:00pm

If you have questions, contact Chris Gensic at (434) 979–7310 or .

TJPDC's Executive Director Appointed to EPA's National Advisory Council

TJPDC's Executive Director Harrison Rue has recently been appointed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman, US EPA Administrator, to serve as a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT). The National Advisory Council consists of experts who represent a wide range of interests and is responsible for offering policy advice and counsel to EPA's senior leadership, and to help identify emerging environmental trends for Agency consideration. In addition, the Council oversees several EPA subcommittees. Rue will serve a two-year term effective immediately.

If you would to like to personally congratulate Harrison, you can reach him at (434) 979–7310 or .

Rural Round 2 UnJAM Workshops To Be Held in May

As part of the public involvement process for the creation of the UnJAM 2025 Plan (United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan), public workshops are being held where citizens can come and get their hands on the plans and offer significant feedback. Round 1 workshops were held last spring and summer, and we are currently gearing up for Round 2 workshops for the rural areas to be held in May. All interested parties are invited to join us as we help develop practical solutions to our region's transportation problems that encompasses land-use and development issues. Check our website for more details as we get closer to those dates.

For more information on UnJAM, click here or contact Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979–7310 .

TJPDC's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Program Will Host Vendor Demonstrations

Three vendors will present demonstrations in the final step before selection of the HMIS system. The HMIS system is a computerized data-collection tool to collect information over time on the characteristics and service needs of men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. Each vendor will review and demonstrate their product, and answer questions. All providers of services to the homeless are encouraged to attend to participate in the selection of their new computer system. All demonstrations will take place at the TJPDC.

April 21: MetSys by MetSys, Inc.; 1:00pm-3:30pm

April 23: Service Point by Bowman Internet Systems; 10:00am-12:00pm

April 24: ClientTrack by Data Systems International; 1:00pm -3:30pm

These demonstrations are open to the public.

Contact Evan Scully at (434) 979–7310 or with your questions, or if you plan to attend representing an organization not already involved in the planning process.

Click here for more information.

MPO's FY04 Work Program Being Developed

The Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization is currently developing its 2004 Fiscal Year United Planning Work Program. This Work Program outlines the activities of the MPO for the year. The draft document will be available shortly, at which time it will be posted on our website and available for review at various libraries in the area. A public hearing will be held on May 12 at 5pm as part of the regularly scheduled MPO Policy Board meeting, which will begin at 4pm. For information, contact Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979–7310 or .

TJPDC Announces New RideShare Outreach Coordinator, New Housing and Community Development Planner

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Laskoe as its new RideShare Outreach Coordinator, effective April 7, 2003. He replaces Deke Shrum, who has been appointed to the newly created position of Graphic Designer/Webmaster. Mr. Laskoe holds a BS in Mass Communications from Virginia Commonwealth University and comes to the Planning District with marketing and communications experience that includes more than 10 years as Advertising Manager for Crutchfield Corporation.

If you would like to contact Mr. Laskoe personally to welcome him to the Planning District, he can be reached at (434) 295–6165.

Shae Garwood has been working with TJPDC for several months in a temporary position coordinating the Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium and recently joined the staff as a Housing and Community Development Planner. Shae recently relocated to Charlottesville from Sacramento. She has several years of experience working on a variety of community development issues and holds a masters degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virgina.

If you would like to contact Ms. Garwood personally to welcome her to the Planning District, she can be reached at (434) 979–7310 or .

2003 Consolidation Plan In Development

Along with the City of Charlottesville, the Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium is in the process of developing the 2003 Consolidated Plan. This 5-year plan sets affordable housing goals for the region and specifically guides the use of Consortium HOME funds in the region and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the City of Charlottesville. In February we began meeting with planning commissions, housing directors, and holding public hearings to shape the goals and priorities of the Consolidated Plan.

Beginning July 1, 2003 the region expects to receive $1,034,421 in federal HOME funds to support housing programs for low and moderate-income citizens in Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. Possible uses of HOME funds include the rehabilitation of substandard housing, assistance to first time homebuyers, and support for affordable rental property. A second public hearing on the plan is scheduled for May 1 at 7pm at the TJPDC office.

Applications Being Accepted For Transportation Enhancement Funds

VDOT has announced that a new round of applications are being accepted for Transportation Enhancement (TE) Funds. The Transportation Enhancement program fosters more choices for travel by providing funding for sidewalks, bike lanes, and the conversion of abandoned railroad corridors into trails. Communities may also use the program to revitalize local and regional economies by restoring eligible historic buildings, renovating streetscapes, or providing transportation museums and visitor centers.

Many communities also use the program to acquire, restore and preserve scenic or historic sites. Any local government, state agency, group or individual may initiate a TE project. Prior to submission, all projects require formal endorsement by a local jurisdiction or public agency, and a duly advertised public hearing. Projects that are within a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) area also require the endorsement of the appropriate MPO.

Applications are due July 1. VDOT is hosting a workshop in Lynchburg on April 29 at 10am to review the details of the program and provide information on how to apply. For more information, contact Chris Gensic at (434) 979–7310 or .

TJPDC's Chris Gensic Elected Chair of BikeWalk Virginia

Chris Gensic was elected Chair of BikeWalk Virginia at its April conference. The organization is dedicated to promoting bicycling, walking and trails in the Commonwealth through education about the benefits of these modes of travel.

For more information on BikeWalk Virginia, visit www.bikewalkvirginia.org. If you would to personally congratulate Chris, you can reach him at (434) 979–7310 or .

VDOT Announces Policies on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations

Secretary of Transportation Whitt Clement has released a memo that instructs VDOT to upgrade the status of bicycle and pedestrian considerations in all transportation projects, from planning to design and through construction, and to eliminate biases in funding that may hamper efforts to create multi-modal networks. This is very exciting news to people who have been waiting for full recognition of the needs of people who walk and cycle. We will continue to track this positive shift in policy and thank all those at VDOT who have worked to see this through.

TJPDC's Executive Director Appointed to Tech Committee for Statewide Long-Range Transportation Planning Committee

Harrison Rue has been appointed to the Technical Committee for VTRANS 2025, the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Planning Committee. Rue will meet monthly with representatives from all state transportation agencies, and will represent the interest of the state Planning Districts and MPOs. He will focus on improving public involvement and linkages to land use and local planning efforts.

Rue also recently addressed an Urban Land Institute (ULI) forum on pedestrian-oriented development. The forum, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was focused on developing best practices and implementation strategies to incorporate walkability into every day life.

HOME Consortium to Receive Increased Funding

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced next years' allocations for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, including a substantial increase in the amount of funds aimed at expanding the supply of decent and affordable housing for low and very low income people in the region. The Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium, administered by TJPDC, anticipates receiving $1,034,421 next year (from July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004). This is up from last year, when the Consortium received $832,000. With these funds, Consortium members will offer homeowner rehabilitation, homebuyers' assistance, rental development and rental assistance to low income residents in the planning district.

For more information about the Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium, click here or contact Shae Garwood at (434) 979–7310 or .

About this email

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.

For more information about the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, please contact us or visit our website:

Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
300 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1505
Charlottesville, VA 22902-1505
(434) 979–7310
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Regional planning
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