The Thomas Jefferson Planning District (City of Charlottesville and Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson) was named the most sustainable community in the state at the Virginia Sustainable Building Network's (VSBN) Annual meeting held June 9. TJPDC's award noted the 1998 Sustainability Accords, a framework that guides the policies and practices of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Major initiatives in the region cited in the application include:

• Green Building practices of the Thomas Jefferson HOME Consortium
• Green Building Sourcebook of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
• Piedmont Housing Alliance's award for Excellence in Energy Star Performance
• Green Building Practices including Monticello High School's building and site development techniques, the "green roof" of Albemarle County Office Building, and Charlottesville's new Transit Center designed with many sustainable features.
• Blue Ridge Home Builder's Association's adoption of EarthCraft standards and its Parade of Green Homes
• Building Livable Communities: the Eastern Planning Initiative
• Green Streets Conceptual Designs incorporated into transportation plans and small town community plans in our rural communities
• Linking transportation planning and land use practices to minimize the impact of new roads and to maximize the use of walking, bicycling, and transit.

For more information, contact Bill Wanner, 434-979-7310 ext. 390 or wwanner@tjpdc.org.

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In late Spring, TJPDC and Fluvanna, Louisa, and Albemarle Counties, began work to create a transportation plan for the northwest Fluvanna, Southwest Louisa, Eastern Albemarle Corridor. The transportation plan will support safe, multi-modal transportation options for drivers, transit riders, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Through the planning process, TJPDC and its partners will identify investment strategies and key spot improvements to improve the capacity and safety of existing roads in the corridor. The plan will be incorporated into County Comprehensive Plans. Information about public workshops, tentatively scheduled for early Fall 2006, will be available soon at www.tjpdc.org. For more information, contact Kellem Emanuele at (434) 979-7310 x260 or kemanuele@tjpdc.org.

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The Jefferson Area Disability Board (DSB) spearheaded the application for our region to send a team to the Easter Seals Mobility Planning Services Institute held April 22 through 25 in Washington, DC. Harrison Rue, TJPDC Executive Director, and Neil Sherman, Specialized Program Manager for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT), represented the Transportation and Housing Alliance Steering Committee as part of a grant funded through the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD). They were joined by Donna Shaunesey, Executive Director of JAUNT, Nate Brown, Peer Advocate at the Independence Resource Center (IRC), and Bobby Burke, transit consumer and member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Citizens' Committee. The team developed a vision: All people, all abilities, all ages get where they want to go, when they want to go, safely and affordably. The team's Action Plan is made up of two main items: 1) Regional travel training and transit outreach, and 2) Expand service to fast-growing rural counties. Planning for both projects will start this summer. The team will expand to include relevant partners and applications for funding will be developed for late fall. More information on Easter Seals Project Action can be found at www.projectaction.org.

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The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has officially accepted data calculating a 26% recycling rate for the Thomas Jefferson Solid Waste region, including the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson. The 2006 rate reflects a 1.9% increase over 2005, and the first rise in the regional recycling rate since 2002. The growth in the regional recycling rate comes as a result of increases in reported recycling rates from nearly every locality in the region. Analysis by the TJPDC staff indicates that the improved recycling rate is the result of a combination of factors, including improved recycling, better reporting, and reduced waste. State law requires that each locality or region maintain a 25% recycling rate for the calendar year. For more information, contact Rochelle Garwood at (434) 979-7310 x320 or rgarwood@tjpdc.org.

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RideShare and the Commuter Information Team (which also includes JAUNT, Charlottesville Transit Service, University Transit Service, and Greene County Transit) co-sponsored Clean Commute Day 2006 with the American Lung Association. This event, held May 6 at Washington Park in Charlottesville, was an opportunity for the community obtain information on how they can become a cleaner commuter. Information on carpooling, vanpooling, taking transit, biking, and walking was provided. For more information on options available to make you a cleaner commuter, visit www.rideshareinfo.org.

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The Piedmont Workforce Network Youth Council hosted the Piedmont Youth Connections Conference & Job Fair on April 11 for out-of-school youth ages 16-24. Dr. George Tilson, Senior Vice President of TransCen and a George Washington University Professor was the keynote speaker and provided a motivational message to the youth prior to the Job Fair. Employers participated in a panel discussion with employment service providers during the conference. This event provided an opportunity to connect out-of-school youth with employers. For more information, contact Heather Foor at (434) 979-7310 x240 or hfoor@tjpdc.org.

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An in-depth report summarizing action taken on bills at the 2006 session of the General Assembly is now available. The document highlights items of interest to local governments. A summary of relevant budget items will be posted after final approval of the 2006-2008 state budget. The text of the legislative report is available at www.tjpdc.org/liaison/finalReport.asp. If you have questions about items in this summary, please contact David Blount, TJPD Legislative Liaison, at (434) 979-7310 x350 or dblount@tjpdc.org.

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The Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless (TJACH) submitted the 2006 regional Continuum of Care Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May. Throughout this process, TJACH brings over $175,000 of Federal homeless relief funds to the region, funding such key services as the Region Ten Dual Recovery Center, the AIDS Services Group rental assistance program, and the Homeless MIS program. Grant awards from this application are expected early next year. For more information, contact Evan Scully at (434) 979-7310 x440 or escully@tjpdc.org.

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On Saturday, May 20th local citizens worked with Albemarle County and TJPDC staff and the consultant team to plan for the future of the Northern Albemarle Urban Development Area. The day-long workshop was spent reviewing 3 different frameworks for the future of this area. Some of the ideas discussed included developing a mixed-use "Uptown" area, creating a transit corridor that would connect the City of Charlottesville to northern Albemarle, and creating new parallel road networks to alleviate traffic on US 29. Over the summer the project team is working to create a preferred framework which incorporates the public input received to date. Another public workshop will be held in early Fall to review the new framework. Stay tuned to www.tjpdc.org and www.albemarle.org for updates. For more information, contact Harrison Rue at (434) 979-7310 x110 or hrue@tjpdc.org.

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TJDPC staff facilitated the first meeting of the Stanardsville Management Team. At this meeting, the Management Team identified a study area for their Stanardsville Downtown Revitalization Project and began the process of surveying the housing stock in the Town, inventorying the current businesses, and preparing an assessment of Town infrastructure. The goal of the Planning Grant is to prepare for a full CDBG application to make specific improvements to the identified business district. For more information, contact Bill Wanner, 434-979-7310 ext. 390 or wwanner@tjpdc.org.

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Rhonda Edmunds has recently shifted positions and is now TJPDC's Communications Director. Formerly the Transportation Program Manager, Rhonda will now lead the agency's communications and marketing efforts. In her new role, she will be working on increasing awareness of TJPDC's mission, projects, and products. She will also be developing a new service-providing marketing and communications services for non-profits and local governments. For more information, contact Rhonda at (434) 979-7310 x330 or redmunds@tjpdc.org..

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The Piedmont Workforce Network Board has awarded the contract to operate the Charlottesville One Stop System to Culpeper Human Services effective July 1, 2006. The One Stop System provides job seeker services such as job search assistance, resume writing help, and career exploration. Intensive case management and training is available for job seekers that meet certain eligibility requirements. Employer services provided at the One Stop Career Centers include posting jobs, screening job applicants, and utilizing space on-site for recruitment and interviews. The Piedmont Workforce Network covers the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange, and Rappahannock. For more information, contact Todd Palmquist at (434) 979-7310 x250 or tpalmquist@tjpdc.org.

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Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD) has continued to work with stakeholders in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District to create a plan to harvest, mill and dry timber in our area. ASD has been doing a similar program in Southwest Virginia and the demand for their products has exceeded their supply. ASD produces hardwood flooring and cabinet-grade lumber that has been harvested in ways to improve the health of the woodland. A similar project in our region would allow local builders to use truly local materials. For more information contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310 x390 or wwanner@tjpdc.org or visit ASD's web site at http://www.appsusdev.org/

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In partnership with the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA) and the Piedmont Housing Alliance, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission prepared a white paper on Universal Design. Universal Design is the design of products and environments (such as residences and stores) to be usable by all people regardless of their ability or age, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The white paper describes the need for Universal Design, how housing can be designed, and ways to achieve Universal Design in our community. For more information, contact Bill Wanner at (434) 979-7310 x390 or wwanner@tjpdc.org.

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Donald L. Reed CPA joined TJPDC in late May as the new Finance Director. Don achieved certification as a public accountant in 1998 after a career as an electrical engineer. He has served as Business Manager for Virginia NeuroCare Services and provided accounting services for Lakeview Virginia NeuroCare, LLC, after a joint venture was created to take over the operations of Virginia NeuroCare. Don also served as General Accountant for Ridgid Products until 2004. If you would like to personally welcome Don, you can contact him at (434) 979-7310 x220 or fofficer@tjpdc.org.

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