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Planning District Commissions Celebrate 40 Years of Regional
Planning
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Above: Linwood Holton, Former Governor of Virginia
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The Virginia Association of Planning District Commissions
(VAPDC) recently celebrated 40 years of regional planning at
its 2008 Winter Conference in Richmond. To mark the occasion,
the Association honored former Governor Linwood Holton (pictured
at left) for his vision in signing Executive Order Fifteen in 1972, which strengthened regional
cooperation in Virginia by recognizing the value of coordinating
statewide planning with the regional planning performed by the
Commonwealth's Regional or Planning District Commissions.
In attendance to help honor Holton were Governor Timothy Kaine and First
Lady Anne Holton.
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Planning District Commissions were established by the
General Assembly in 1969, and today number 21 across the state; like RRRC,
made up of elected, appointed, administrative, and citizen representatives of
member local governments.
The purpose of the Commissions is to help facilitate cost-effective and
coordinated regional solutions to problems of region-wide significance.
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Drought Preparedness and Response Info
Available Via RRRC Website
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According to the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ)- Office of Water Supply Planning, this
year's weather and groundwater conditions are very similar to the winter of
2001 leading up to the 2002 drought. The conditions consist of low stream
flows, limited to no ground water recharge, and projections for warmer than
normal temps and lower than normal precipitation. DEQ representatives
stated that 1" of rain every couple weeks is needed this spring and
summer to avoid problems.
The dry conditions have resulted in increasing fire dangers throughout the
state and across the 5- county, 7-town R-R Region.
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US
Drought Monitor - Virginia
As of 4/1/08, a moderate drought was indicated for the R-R Region, with
severe drought indicated for the southern part of Orange County.
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According to the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF),
since the beginning of the year, 1,433 fires have consumed 14,462 acres,
which is about 4,000 acres more than burned in 2007. In addition, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture has declared 78 counties and 34 independent cities
primary natural disaster areas because of losses due to drought and high
temperatures throughout 2007. Farmers in these counties are eligible for
low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency.
To deal with current and impending drought issues, DEQ recommends that local
governments take the following actions:
•Develop local triggers and response plan
as part of your required Water Supply Plan
•Establish a community advisory body to
make recommendations regarding actions that should be taken
and when
•Enact summer surcharges as appropriate
•Focus resources on public education
Additional information regarding this important issue is available via the
Commission's website at: www.rrregion.org/drought, or by contacting RRRC Regional
Planner, Matt Criblez, at mdcriblez@rrregion.org.
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Virginia Regional Transit Opens New
Transit Facility in Culpeper
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On November 8, 2007, State of
Virginia, Town of Culpeper, and Culpeper County officials joined
representatives from Virginia Regional Transit for a ribbon-cutting to
celebrate the opening of Phase I of the new VRT transit facility off Old
Brandy Road. A keynote speaker at the occasion was Delegate Edward T. Scott
(30th District), who represents Culpeper and Madison and part of Orange
counties.
When Phases I and II are complete, the transit facility will provide VRT bus
transit support services for vehicles serving the Rappahannock-Rapidan
Region, including the Culpeper Connector, Town of Orange Transit, and
Warrenton Circuit Rider.
VRT is also planning to offer support maintenance for the buses operated by a
variety of human service providers and private agencies. As many as 50
employees and jobs will be based out of the facility.
For links to more information on area transit services and routes, please
visit the Commission's website at: www.rrregion.org/transit.
Above: Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new
Virginia Regional Transit facility in Culpeper.
(L-R): Darrel Feasel, DRPT; John Marsh; Charles Grant, VRT Chairman; Lanny
Horton, PTAC Chairman;
Joe Todd; Delegate Ed Scott; Robert Lassiter; Mark McGregor, VRT
President/CEO
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Fauquier-Warrenton Bicycle &
Pedestrian Loop Completion Master Plan
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On January 25th, Fauquier County, the Town of Warrenton, RRRC,
VDOT, and consultant Toole Design Group kicked off the development of the Fauquier-Warrenton
Bicycle & Pedestrian Loop Completion Master Plan. This project is a
collaborative initiative between the Town of Warrenton, Fauquier County and
the Regional Commission for improving bicyclist and pedestrian mobility and
safety, with broader goals of assisting tourism, enhancing area quality of
life, strengthening the land use/transportation connection, and creating a
more healthful alternative for in-town/county commuters.
The Master Plan effort will map and evaluate the existing network of
sidewalks, bikeways and trails (existing, ultimately envisioned, or in the
pipeline) around the perimeter of the Town of Warrenton, with strategic
radial internal and external linkages; identify gaps and/or opportunities for
enhancing the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians; and improve connectivity
to targeted destinations, e.g., schools, parks, retail areas, and transit;
with extensive input from the public, and in coordination with the Fauquier
County Connections Plan.
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RRRC Commuter Services Launches New
Website
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RRRC Commuter Services is pleased to announce the recent
launching of a new website at www.rrcommute.org, complete with expanded
links, and other timely information for area commuters.
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The initiative was made possible with assistance gratefully
provided by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)
and Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission.
Please pay a visit to the new site the next time you are on the Internet, and
let us know what you think!
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An Update on Recent Disability Services
Board Activities
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The Culpeper County Disability Services
Board, Rappahannock-Rapidan Disability Services Board and Fauquier County
Disability Services Board held a joint meeting on March 18th at the Culpeper
campus of Germanna Community College.
Topics of discussion included
regional transportation issues, ongoing initiatives, and the Needs Assessment
reports produced every three years by all Disability Services Boards
throughout Virginia.
Future joint meetings will be
held to discuss and dissimenate information on best practices used by each
DSB and opportunities for collaboration on future projects.
Click the following links for meeting announcements and other information
regarding the Culpeper or Rappahannock-Rapidan
Disability Services Boards, or contact Patrick Mauney at plmauney@rrregion.org.
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PD9 Land Use and Environment Committee
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The RRRC Land Use &
Environment Committee, comprised of planning and administrative
representatives from PD9 member counties and towns has been meeting on a
quarterly basis to discuss key issues of local, regional and state land-use
and environmental significance.
Meetings to date have focused on Virginia's proposed new stormwater
regulations and their implications for local erosion and sediment control and
stormwater programs, erosion and sediment control at wetland mitigation
banks, Virginia's tributary strategy, and the state's Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL) development and implementation planning efforts.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for April 29, from 10am to 1pm at the
Regional Commission offices in Culpeper.
Additional information
available at: http://www.rrregion.org/envcmte.
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Then & Now: Across the
Rappahannock-Rapidan Region
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Madison Arcade
Building, Town of Madison
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1978
Source: RRRC Annual Report, 1978 (Click for
larger version)
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2008
Source: Tucker Hill (Click for larger
version)
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Today, the well-known 1830's structure, situated along Main
Street in the Town of Madison is home to the Madison Historical Society and
thei popular museum with rotating and permanent exhibits. These include
archaeological materials from the excavation of the mid-nineteenth-century
Kemper Mansion, home of Governor James L. Kemper, and Native American
artifact collections of Claude Yowell and Don Strode, frequently cited as one
of the more significant such exhibits in the entire state. The building also
houses a small gift shop.
The museum is open: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For group visits, please contact the Madison
Historical Society at (540) 948-5488.
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Regional Stat: U.S. Census Bureau
Releases 2007 Population Estimates
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The United States Census Bureau recently released its annual
population estimates for July 1, 2007. Those estimates are provided with the
2000 U.S. Census populations for each of the five Rappahannock-Rapidan Region
counties. Additional data indicators are available via the Regional
Commission's website, including the recently updated PD9 Regional Data
Summary att www.rrregion.org/data.
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2000
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2007 (Estimated)
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CHANGE
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CULPEPER
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34,262
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45,723
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+ 11,461
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FAUQUIER
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55,139
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66,328
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+ 11,189
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MADSION
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12,520
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13,719
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+ 1,199
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ORANGE
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25,881
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32,492
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+ 6,611
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RAPPAHANNOCK
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6,983
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7,199
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+ 216
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R-R REGION
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134,785
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165,461
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+30,676
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