Newsbrief Archive - Page 23 of 25 - Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission

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Post published:October 10, 2022

Ian Baxter, Regional PlannerIan joined the TJPDC in July 2021 as a Regional Planner, working primarily as the lead staff for the Regional Housing Partnership, and managing state housing grants for the region. Ian is also the program lead for the TJPDC’s Hazard Mitigation program. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from James Madison University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Virginia.Q: How did you end up at the TJPDC?Serendipity, to be honest! After working for a few years in the political campaign/voter registration…

TJPDC Signs Contract on $288 Million Broadband Project; Applies for VATI 2023 Funding

Post published:September 14, 2022

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) has officially signed a contract with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), launching a $288 million fiber internet construction project that will provide access to affordable, reliable high speed fiber internet to more than 36,000 businesses and residences. In December 2021, Governor Ralph Northam announced the award of a $79 million grant to TJPDC and Firefly Fiber Broadband (Firefly) to support rural broadband expansion across a 13-county area, including the five counties that are part of the TJPDC region. The TJPDC…

Meet the Staff: Lucinda Shannon

Post published:September 14, 2022

Lucinda Shannon, Transportation PlannerLucinda has been with the TJPDC for two years, she works on transportation projects and especially loves public transit and pedestrian projects. She manages the Regional Transit Partnership and is the project manager for the Regional Transit Vision Plan and Regional Transit Governance Study.Lucinda’s background includes working for Easter Seal’s Office of Government Affairs providing technical assistance on transportation policy for disability and aging populations. Her master’s degree is in public policy and administration, and she also has work experience in communications, training, and working as a…

Regional Transit Vision Plan Engagement

Post published:September 14, 2022

As the Regional Transit Vision Plan nears completion, the project team has been busy this summer with the public engagement phase of the study. Originally, the scope of work funded two surveys and two public meetings; however, a diverse set of stakeholders requested additional engagement opportunities for several key populations, so the project team designed additional survey tools and engagement opportunities.In addition to expanding the rural component of the project, the project team also focused on people who are transit dependent, underrepresented populations, older adults, people with disabilities, as well…

Watershed News: Minks and Otters

Post published:August 29, 2022

Environmental educator Sophie Allen heading out to look for otter, her kayak decorated by an otter figurehead made during a Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center program for children. (The figurehead is a sea otter looking for his freshwater cousins...) There was a mink sighting at Trevillian’s Creek at the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center at 11 AM on August 17, 2022! Environmental educator Brooke Asher, a retired Albemarle County science teacher, was helping with a stream survey near the Route 20 culvert when she saw the creature dart into the…

Meet the Staff: Sara Pennington

Post published:July 15, 2022

Sara Pennington, TDM Program ManagerSara has been with the TJPDC for 12 years, she first started as Outreach Coordinator for RideShare, a transportation demand management (TDM) program. She now is the program manager and also assists with agency communications, including this newsletter.Q: What led you to working at the TJPDC?A: My background is in Public Relations and previously I worked at Marshall University as a Recruitment Coordinator, which involves visiting schools and college fairs to speak to counselors, students and parents about the academic programs we offered. So when I…