During the National Regional Transportation Conference, Kelly Hitchcock shared Central Virginia's approach to transportation and economic development planning and implementation.

1. C
National Regional Transportation Conference 2019
National CEDS Forum
Columbus, OH
June 18, 2019

2. Planning Serendipity = Opportunity
Region 2000 Regional
Commission (PDC)
Update the Regional
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy
Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Required Strategic Plan
- Target Sectors
- Workforce Training
- Program Delivery
Secretary Transportation Shannon Valentine

3. Workforce Development Board

4. Guiding Agency Oversight Structure
Image, identity
Growth &
expansion in
business
community
Educate & develop
sustainable workforce
Invest connectivity
Support diverse
communities/downto
wns

5. An in-depth study, the first of its kind in Virginia, to consider how the region’s transportation
connectivity – road, air, transit, multimodal - impacts the region’s economic vitality,
competitiveness.
• State & regional agency collaboration.
• Developed in coordination with the CEDS.
• 18 – month technical, data-driven study.
• Identifies challenges, assets, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Presents strategies to improve connectivity →→ regional economic vitality.
Lynchburg Regional Connectivity Study

6. Lynchburg Regional Connectivity Study
Interviews: Regional Experts, Transportation Service Providers, Businesses
Data Driven: Economic trends & transportation use patterns, Travel & TREDIS Economic Model
Peer City Review: Similar size/economic composition (College Station, TX; Merced, CA; Wilmington, NC)
Source: OIPI; http://oipi.virginia.gov/documents/lynchburg-connectivity-final-report-3-2-17.pdf

7. CEDS Implementation Action Plan
Roadmap to guide, monitor, measure, the effectiveness by which th region
is advancing the CEDS economic vitality objectives.
Three Guiding Principles:
1. Support the CEDS: Serve as “catalyst for regional economic development
(CEDS pg.2);
2. Cast the Net: Recognize/capitalize on existing pgms reduce duplication
and expand participation avenues; and
3. Be Pragmatic: Present feasible strategies with quantifiable metrics.
Roadmap to guide, monitor, measure, the effectiveness by which the
region is advancing the CEDS economic vitality objectives.
Initiative Councils: Knowledgeable, day-to-day practitioners.
• Compile information of existing programs and partners;
• Establish impactful and realistic activities, programs, and partners to
advance the CEDS key initiatives;
• Propose and assist in establishing metrics;
• Serve as the day-to-day worker bees that advance the Implementation
Action Plans; and
• Assist in monitoring and reporting implementation status.

8. Transportation : Strategies & Actions
Theme: Labor Market & Intra-Regional Connectivity
1. Placemaking Create livable, vibrant, connected community cores.
2. Local Bottlenecks Enhance & maintain network reliability
3. Transit & TDM Transportation options to access major employers
Theme: Inter-Regional Connectivity
4. Intercity Passenger Rail Lynchburg as rail hub
5. Air Service Department Consolidate support for regional services
6. Access on Key Highway Corridors Maintain & improve key access corridors
7. Cargo-Oriented Development Readiness to respond to freight/rail development
Theme: Broadband Connectivity
8. Broadband Development* Advance quality broadband coverage throughout region

9. The Strategy – Follow the Plan
Theme: Labor Market & Intra-Regional Connectivity
1. Placemaking 6 Create livable, vibrant, connected community cores.
2. Local Bottlenecks 1 Enhance & maintain network reliability
3. Transit & TDM 5 Transportation options to access major employers
Theme: Inter-Regional Connectivity
4. Intercity Passenger Rail 4 Lynchburg as rail hub
5. Air Service Department 4 Consolidate support for regional services
6. Access on Key Highway Corridors 3 Maintain & improve key access corridors
7. Cargo-Oriented Development 3 Readiness to respond to freight/rail development
Theme: Broadband Connectivity
8. Broadband Development* 2 Advance quality broadband coverage throughout region

10. Lynchburg Regional Connectivity Study
Theme: Labor Market & Intra-Region Connectivity
Transit & Transportation Demand Management (TDM)
Build support for alternative transportation – transit, carshare, bike, pedestrian,
vanpools – by encouraging collaboration, communication and problem-solving
between employers, regional commuters, and transit operators.
• Expand business community outreach to support programs – RIDE Solutions, the
Region 2000 Workforce Development Board;
• Hold commuter reward programs;
• Promote employer vanpool program development;
• Expand transit, vanpool, biking, carpool participation incentives.

11. Our Plan
Community Pride
Residents are aligned in the desire to promote a healthy river and watershed environment that supports economic
growth.
5 objectives, 11strategies (activities) that:
• Local pride in rivers & watersheds breeds effort to preserve & maintain;
• Proactive & transparent management to protect area water quality;
• Community awareness of river/watershed value to economic vitality;
• Serve as socio-economic equalizers providing family friendly active & passive outlets to all; and
• Community connection to the waters that advance social, economic, cultural well-being.

12. CEDS - Monitoring Activities
Audience: Initiative Councils, Steering Committee, Policy Boards

13. Take Aways
Planning Process
• Build on Foundation;
• Common Threads;
• Better understanding decision-making
process;
• Adjusted the lens;
• Context for diverse participation; and
• Outcomes
Moving Forward
• Managing expectations;
• Mentoring and blessing partners
actions;
• Messaging;
• Maintaining momentum (currently
not a direct funded program).
Seek designation;
• Correcting what’s missing – plan
integration

14. Thank you.
Kelly Hitchcock
Planning & Development Director
kelly.Hitchcock@CVPDC.org