TJPDC e–News—Fall 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.

The TJPDC will present the UnJAM 2025 Plan (United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan) at a Regional Open House on November 20 from 3pm-9pm. As part of the public involvement process for the creation of this plan, public workshops have been held where citizens could come and get their hands on the plans and make significant feedback. This feedback has been incorporated into the draft long-range plan document, which defines projects that will be built in our region over the next twenty years.

The UnJAM Plan identifies and prioritizes regional transportation needs and provides data on costs, benefits, and impacts for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, including the localities of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. It is coordinated with land use and development plans and must be updated every five years. Be looking for more information on the Open House on our website. more >>

If you have questions, please contact Harrison Rue or Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979-7310 or or .

The draft 2004 TJPD Legislative Program will be discussed and voted on by the TJPD localities during November. The program stresses efforts to preserve critical state funding in areas such as education, the Comprehensive Services Act, public safety and the environment, as well as addressing tax reform and land use and growth management issues.

The Commission, our localities, and their staffs all have helped shape this program, which will inform our legislators and help guide lobbying efforts for the 2004 General Assembly session. Also, the TJPDC will host a legislative luncheon for our state representatives on November 24 (additional details will be available at a later date). more >>

If you have questions about the draft 2004 TJPD Legislative Program, please contact David Blount at (434) 979-7310 x350, or .

RideShare Implements Virginia's First SchoolPool Program

The TJPDC's RideShare program is the first in Virginia to implement a SchoolPool program. A SchoolPool is similar to RideShare's commuter carpool program in that it links up parents who are interested in sharing rides to and from the same school -- on a daily basis, occasionally or in an emergency. And while informal carpool programs already exist at most schools, RideShare makes it possible for schools to offer a formal, sophisticated program at no cost to the school. SchoolPool benefits include reduced environmental impacts and improved safety from having fewer cars on the road and around the school, as well as helping parents save time and money. For more information visit www.rideshareinfo.org or call RideShare at (434) 295-6165.

The Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium celebrates its ten-year anniversary of providing affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents in the planning district. The Consortium was formed ten years ago by member governments in the planning district and is administered by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.

Over the past 10 years, the Consortium has brought over $8,000,000 to the region in support of safe, affordable housing for needy families and individuals living in substandard conditions. Although there is still much to be done to ensure that all residents in the planning district have a safe and affordable place to live, the HOME Consortium has made substantial progress in helping low and moderate income families secure housing over the years. more >>

You can contact Shae Garwood at (434) 979-7310 x360 or

Staff from VDOT, TJPDC, Charlottesville, and Albemarle gear up for the second phase of the study that identified practical improvements to the Hydraulic/250 Bypass intersections of the US-29 corridor.

The first phase focused on design, feasibility, modeling, and economics issues, which were developed with consideration given to the extensive public input received through focus groups and a hands-on workshop.

The second phase will expand on the previous work and address those issues outlined in the full report (Questions Remaining/Further Study) which can be viewed on our website. more >>

The official kick-off for this study will be late fall and the Scope of Work can be found here (in PDF format). Be sure to check our website for future updates.

For further information, please contact Harrison Rue or Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979-7310 or or .

Workforce Investment Funding To Assist Local Displaced Workers

Piedmont Workforce Network - Local Workforce Investment Area VI has received funding from the Department of Labor to assist local displaced workers. Help has arrived for those who have recently been laid off from Technicolor located in Charlottesville and Ruckersville, Keller Manufacturing located in Culpeper and VF Jeanswear located in Page County. The Department of Labor has awarded a grant of up to $558,880 to Piedmont Workforce Network - Local Workforce Investment Area VI and Shenandoah Valley - Local Workforce Investment Area IV to aid these workers.

For more information, please contact Merry Hanson at (434) 979-7310 x250 or .

Work on the Moore's Creek Fecal Coliform TMDL Implementation Plan is now beginning. The plan will outline specific strategies to remove Moore's Creek from Virginia's list of impaired waters. Moore's Creek drains parts of Albemarle County and the City of Charlottesville and forms much of the southern boundary of Charlottesville. The creek has been listed since 1998 for levels of fecal coliform bacteria which indicate that it is unsafe for swimming and fishing.

A public meeting will be held in the winter to provide more detail on what the plan will involve and to enlist the help of residents, businesspeople, farmers, agency/group representatives, and other interested folks in crafting the plan.

More information on Moore's Creek, including a map of the watershed can be found on our website. more >>

You can contact Rochelle Garwood at (434) 979-7310 x320 or .

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board (DSB) recently completed a Needs Assessment, which assesses the needs of people with physical and sensory disabilities in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. Completed every three years, this information is used to guide the activities of the DSB and the Jefferson Area Disability Awareness Team, inform local officials of needs within their jurisdictions, and advise state agencies.

Based on needs identified in the Needs Assessment, the DSB submitted and received funding for a competitive proposal on behalf of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) for a Rehabilitative Services Incentive Fund grant for FY04. This funding will provide $15,000 in scholarships for people with disabilities at the new Greene JABA Senior Center from August 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004. more >>

For more information, contact Billie Campbell at (434) 979-7310 x230 or .

The Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), a required document of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is now available. It highlights the success of projects funded by federal funds, including HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds in the Planning District and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the City of Charlottesville over the last fiscal year. One hundred percent of the funds went to projects serving low and moderate-income individuals and families in the form of assistance to first-time homebuyers, development of affordable rental units, rehabilitation of substandard housing and a wide variety of community development projects. more >>

For more information, contact Shae Garwood at (434) 979-7310 x 360 or .

TJPDC's 2nd Greenways Forum Provides Valuable Information

About 30 attendees came to the Ivy Creek Natural Area in August to discuss the future of greenways and trails in the region. Presenters from Arlington County, VA discussed the history and future of the extensive system they have. Many local and state agency staff shared ideas on how to benefit from the experiences of others while creating a unique system for regional residents and visitors. Some issues to explore further include lighting details, how to allow motor vehicle access when needed (emergencies), and funding for trail construction.

For a map of regional trails and information on greenway development in general, click here.

For more information, contact Chris Gensic at (434) 979-7310 x260 or .

Coming Soon-- Design Manual for Small Towns

The "Design Manual for Small Towns: Transportation and Land Use Strategies for Preserving Small Town Character" is a practical "how to" handbook for residents of small towns, their elected officials, and the local government staff who support them. It is organized in a fashion that shows the community how to work together to better understand the existing conditions, to identify current transportation problems, and to articulate desirable solutions.

Developed through support from the Virginia Department of Transportation, this manual is useful for both incorporated and unincorporated towns and emphasizes solutions to many of the problems faced by small towns. It is particularly useful for towns whose Main Street is also a route for through traffic and for creating new growth that supports the character of small towns.

For more information, contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310 x390 or .

HMIS Program to Assist Homeless Nears Implementation

TJACH (Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless) in cooperation with the TJPDC has selected MetSys of Sacramento, California to provide the region's Homeless Management Information System. Homeless service providers in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District will begin using this powerful computer system to streamline client services and improve service delivery. Two groups of users will each complete a 2-day training October 14-17, with the network fully implemented on October 20.

The system was launched when TJACH and the TJPDC as lead agency were awarded a 3-year supportive housing grant by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Workforce Area VI stakeholders are also evaluating utilizing this database in conjunction with VWN3, the statewide Workforce Network system.

For more information about the HMIS please contact Evan Scully at (434) 979-7310 x440 or .

We are pleased to announce the launch of RideShare's new website, updated and expanded at www.rideshareinfo.org. You'll find the latest information on carpools, vanpools, Guaranteed Ride Home Program, schoolpools, biking, walking, employer transportation programs, and other travel demand management strategies for the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. As with most new sites, it is a work in progress and we welcome your feedback.

The site was designed by Deke Shrum with text contributed by Michael Laskoe. Comments and suggestions on the site can be forwarded to Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 295-6165 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
(434) 979-1597 (fax)
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info@tjpdc.org (email)
www.tjpdc.org

Regional planning
linking transportation,
land use, economy, & environment.