TJPDC e–News—Winter 2004

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.

After completing the Phase 1 exercise to identify practical improvements to the Hydraulic/250 Bypass intersections of the US-29 corridor, we are conducting Phase 2. 29H250 Phase 2 is examining the study area in more depth, extending on each end of the 29 corridor to the 250/Barracks Road Exit to the west and Greenbrier Drive to the north.

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation, City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization recently hosted a public workshop to kick-off Phase 2 efforts. We received valuable feedback on important considerations for alternative designs during Phase 1.

A public workshop was held in January to give the public an opportunity to review the preliminary analysis and concepts, meet the team, and provide additional feedback. Detailed technical analysis will be completed on design concepts and presented to the public for review and comment on Wednesday, February 4 from 4pm-9pm at the Holiday Inn-Emmet Street. Be looking for more details.

For more information, contact Harrison Rue at (434) 979-7310 x110 or or Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979-7310 x330 or .

2004 Homeless Census Conducted in late January

The Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) and the TJPDC is conducting the 2004 Homeless Census January 20-22. The Census is an annual effort to understand homelessness in the region and is coordinated with the statewide efforts of the Virginia Coalition for the Homeless. As was done last year, teams of volunteers will conduct anonymous surveys over the three-day period. Through the Homeless Census, we count as nearly as possible the number of people homeless in the region, support the Continuum of Care application for HUD Homeless Assistance funds, collect demographic information and measure services offered in relation to real needs.

The 2003 Homeless Census found, among other things, that 31% of those homeless were homeless for the first time. 36% were employed. 24% were homeless with their dependent children.

For more information, contact Evan Scully at (434)979-7310 x440 or For more on the 2003 Homeless Census, visit the TJACH website.

Regional Solid Waste Management Plan Being Prepared

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is requiring all localities in Virginia to prepare and submit a comprehensive solid waste management plan by July 1, 2004. In recognizing the cost benefits of regional planning and the need to coordinate solid waste facilities and programs, the six member localities have asked the TJPDC to take the lead in preparing this Plan.

The public will be involved through a Citizens Advisory Committee and through a series of public forums to be held in the spring. Public input also is being sought through a survey about waste and recycling services, which can be found here .

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

The 2004 TJPD Legislative Program, which highlights regional positions on issues such as education funding, the Comprehensive Services Act, the environment, and land use and growth management, has been finalized. The text of the program is available here .

Also, beginning in mid-January, you can check out the Legislative Liaison page on the TJPDC website for information about local government issues that are being debated at the General Assembly, which runs from January 14 to March 13. Major issues and action will be highlighted in a legislative newsletter published every 7 - 10 days.

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

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization hosted a Regional Open House November 20th to unveil the national award-winning UnJAM 2025 Plan (United Jefferson Area Mobility Plan).

An overview of the Plan was presented and participants were able to meet with staff and officials to discuss details, as well as give suggestions for final revisions to the Plan. Staff from each TJPDC department and partner agencies were on hand to talk more about UnJAM 2025. Review the UnJAM Plan and project listings .

For more information on UnJAM, contact Rhonda Edmunds at (434) 979-7310 x330 or .

The MPO was recently recognized by the National Association of MPOs as the Overall Excellence award winner for small MPOs for the UnJAM 2025 Plan. Noted for extensive public involvement efforts, the MPO was particularly commended for combining the MPO long-range plan with that of the rural localities in the planning district.

Housing Data Being Collected

The TJPDC, in partnership with the City of Charlottesville and the Piedmont Housing Alliance, is in the process of gathering information to be included in the region's Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice. The report will include data, analysis and proposed methods of promoting fair housing choice in our area. TJPDC hosted a community planning session in mid-December to discuss actions that restrict housing choices based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status and national origin, as well as fair housing laws and protections, discriminatory lending practices, housing patterns and accessibility.

For more information about the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, see our Fair Housing Section .

The One-Stop Centers in Workforce Area VI have "gone live" with an electronic data collection system. This system will link the One Stops with each other and with their partners. New customers are being entered and it is expected that jobseekers forward from July 1, 2003, to the present will be entered by mid-March. The data then will be presented to the Local Workforce Investment Board in April.

View a complete listing of the One Stop Center locations .

For more information on the system, contact Heather Foor at (434) 979-7310 x 240 or .

Greene County Enhancements Being Identified-Workshop Planned

The TJPDC is working with both Greene County and the Town of Stanardsville to identify improvements that would offer additional amenities for both residents and tourists. Possible improvements to the Town include additional sidewalks and relocating utility lines underground. For the County, a trail or similar link between the Blue Ridge Parkway/Appalachian Trail and Stanardsville has been discussed.

For more information, contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310 x 390 or .

There will be a Stanardsville Community Planning Workshop on Saturday, January 31st from 10-1 at Stanardsville Town Hall to generate plans for improvements to pedestrian, bicycle, historic, and tourism aspects of the town. The workshop and plans will be the basis for a series of Transportation Enhancement and VDOT grant applications. The public is encouraged to attend this workshop and assist with the efforts.

For more information on the workshop, contact Chris Gensic 979-7310 x 260 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.