Central Virginia Planning District Commission

Central Virginia Planning District Commission
Name	Central Virginia Planning District Commission
Abbreviation	CVPDC
Formation	1970s
Type	Regional planning commission
Region served	Central Virginia
Headquarters	Lynchburg, Virginia
Leader title	Executive Director

Central Virginia Planning District Commission The Central Virginia Planning District Commission coordinates regional planning among localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, facilitating collaboration among municipalities such as Lynchburg, Virginia, Bedford County, Virginia, Amherst County, Virginia, Campbell County, Virginia, and Appomattox County, Virginia. It provides technical assistance on transportation, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 460, water and wastewater infrastructure, and economic development strategies tied to entities like the Federal Transit Administration, Virginia Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and regional education partners including Liberty University and Central Virginia Community College.

Overview

The commission serves as an area-wide planning body between localities including City of Lynchburg, Town of Altavista, Amherst, Town of Brookneal, and Appomattox, working with state agencies such as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, federal programs like the Economic Development Administration, and nonprofit partners including The Nature Conservancy and United Way of Central Virginia. It acts as a regional technical assistance provider for projects involving Interstate 81, legacy rail corridors like the Norfolk Southern Railway, and efforts tied to the Appalachian Regional Commission and Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation.

History and Formation

The commission was formed in the context of statewide regionalization efforts following directives related to the Virginia Planning Districts Act era and broader policy trends after the Great Society initiatives. Localities such as Bedford, Virginia (town), Campbell County, Virginia, and municipal governments in Lynchburg sought coordinated responses to challenges from industrial restructuring tied to companies like Dan River, Inc. and Westvaco, and infrastructure needs paralleling projects like U.S. Highway 29 improvements and federal programs administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Over time the commission expanded programmatically to include transportation planning consistent with Metropolitan Planning Organization requirements and regional hazard mitigation linked to the FEMA framework.

Membership and Governance

Member jurisdictions include counties and towns such as Amherst County, Virginia, Appomattox County, Virginia, Bedford County, Virginia, Campbell County, Virginia, and the City of Lynchburg, each represented by appointed supervisors and mayors who work alongside staff and committees modeled after structures used by commissions like the Northern Virginia Planning Commission and the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission. Governance involves coordination with the Virginia General Assembly initiatives, compliance with standards from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and engagement with regional economic development organizations such as the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.

Programs and Services

The commission administers programs in transportation planning under guidance from the Federal Highway Administration, transit planning related to agencies like the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company, water and wastewater planning aligned with the Clean Water Act objectives, and environmental planning in concert with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. It provides grant writing and administration for funding from sources including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund, and capacity-building partnerships with organizations like the National Association of Regional Councils and the Local Government Insurance Cooperative (VA). Technical assistance extends to corridor studies affecting Interstate 64 and rail assets connected to the Norfolk Southern network.

Planning Areas and Projects

Regional projects have addressed highway corridors such as U.S. Route 460 in Virginia, multimodal connections involving the Appomattox River, resilience projects referencing Hurricane Agnes-era flood control lessons, and downtown revitalization efforts tied to Lynchburg’s Riverfront. The commission has facilitated comprehensive plans for member localities paralleling initiatives in the Richmond metropolitan area and coordinated with utilities overseen by the Virginia State Corporation Commission for wastewater treatment and potable water supply upgrades funded through state revolving loan funds administered by the Virginia Resources Authority.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams combine dues from member localities, project grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, planning grants from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and cooperative agreements with entities like the Appalachian Power Company and regional foundations such as the Robertson Foundation for Government. The commission partners with academic institutions including University of Virginia and James Madison University for research, with federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency on brownfield remediation, and regional economic bodies like the Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development for workforce and site development.

Impact and Regional Initiatives

The commission's work has influenced land-use decisions across jurisdictions comparable to outcomes in the Richmond Regional Planning District, supported transportation projects connected to the National Highway System, and advanced regional hazard mitigation compliant with FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program priorities. Initiatives have promoted regional collaboration among counties and towns, leveraging federal programs such as the Economic Development Administration to support workforce retraining parallel to efforts at institutions like Virginia Tech extension programs, and fostering regional strategies for sustainable development similar to those pursued by the Chesapeake Bay Program member localities.

Category:Organizations based in Virginia Category:Regional planning commissions in the United States