Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

12/21/2022

The PDC and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization teams had a friendly door decorating contest this year, and WOW! We have some talented people under one roof! You've raised the bar for next year!

12/20/2022

Study: Suffolk is only city in Virginia to crack top 100 fast-growing US cities

Did you see the great news about City of Suffolk, VA? They were the ONLY Virginia city in the Top 100 Fastest Growing US Cities list, according to SmartAsset! See more here:

Dubbed “boomtowns,” these cities have seen some of the largest growth over the last five years, according to a new study.

12/19/2022

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

12/15/2022

Happy holidays from our team to you! Click below for a special message from HRPDC/HRTPO Executive Director Bob Crum: https://online.fliphtml5.com/ruevh/hcnt/

12/14/2022

The holiday season is upon us – and along with turkeys, twinkle lights, and maybe the return of office holiday parties comes something else – shopping. And, in recent decades: online shopping. As holiday packages are delivered to the front steps of homes all over the country, have you ever wondered how e-commerce sales have changed over time? Learn more in this month's Economic Monthly!https://www.hrpdcva.gov/uploads/docs/Economic%20Monthly%20Dec_2022.pdf

12/13/2022

2023 Regional Legislative Priorities

The HRPDC/Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization have approved the 2023 Regional Legislative Agenda for the Hampton Roads region. This Regional Legislative Agenda expresses our regional priorities for the upcoming General Assembly session. We encourage you to review the Regional Legislative Agenda at the following link:

2023 Regional Legislative Priorities for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization

12/12/2022

The PDC and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization teams had a great time volunteering with The Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command Christmas Depot today! Thank you to all of our team who volunteered!

12/09/2022

We had an excellent Community Advisory Committee meeting yesterday, with great presentations from our friends with Virginia Department of Transportation and The Port of Virginia. If you missed it, check out the live stream below!

12/08/2022

HRPDC/HRTPO Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting December 8, 2022

The December 8 meeting of the Community Advisory Committee.

12/07/2022

As the news of Virginia potentially leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) continues to play out, this seems like a good time to share a reminder about what RGGI does for our region. From the below letter, dated October 20, 2022, and addressed to Ms. Karen Sabasteanski of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, HRPDC Chair Andria McClellan writes:

"Crucially, the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) does not consider that Virginia's proceeds from RGGI auctions fund both the Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency program and the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). RGGI auctions have provided nearly $430 million to these programs since March 2021, funding that would not have been possible without Virginia's participation in RGGI.

The Hampton Roads region is significantly vulnerable to both current and future flooding. The CFPF is the only significant source of state funding for local resiliency initiatives and projects."

12/06/2022

Editorial: Through another storm season

From The Virginian-Pilot Editorial Board: "Not only should investment in resilience be a top priority for the commonwealth, but residents here should make clear to officials that any efforts to undermine proven programs — such as pulling out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — are wholly unacceptable."

The 2022 hurricane season spared Hampton Roads, but residents cannot trust that good fortune will ensure our future safety.

12/06/2022

Tomorrow is the last day to register for this important conversation about housing in Hampton Roads! What barriers do you see? What challenges are you experiencing? Bring that input to this meeting and help improve housing in our area!

12/05/2022

Happy ! Here are our upcoming meetings!

EDIT: Please note that the previously scheduled December 7 Transportation Technical Advisory Committee meeting is canceled.

12/03/2022

How do YOU go green during the holidays? Our friends at askhrgreen.org want your help by sharing some of your favorite ideas in the comments!

We're working on our 2022 Green Holiday Guide and want to know how YOU go green during the holiday season. American households generate 23 percent more waste in December than any other month. We would never recommend becoming a scrooge because there are lots of ways to have the seasonal cheer without the wastefulness! Here are a few of our favorite ways!

Let's crowdsource more amazing ideas to share with each other! Comment below with your favorite earth-friendly holiday tip or tradition.

12/01/2022

Looking for a new home for the holidays? Here's how Hampton Roads home sales have fared against the National Mortgage Rate:https://www.hrpdcva.gov/uploads/docs/Economic%20Monthly%20Nov_2022%20-%20FINAL.pdf

As basic expenses like those for transportation and shelter increase due to rising interest rates, consumers might cut spending elsewhere. They might eat out less at their favorite restaurant, put off home renovations or skip a vacation. But what does that mean for other areas of life in Hampton Roads? Find out in the Economic Monthly!

12/01/2022

Virginia Beach lands a spot on travel magazine’s list of best vacation destinations in U.S.

Some great recognition for our friends with Virginia Beach City and Visit Virginia Beach! Congratulations!!!

The city's upcoming festivals, hotels and art district get a shout-out in Condé Nast Traveler's "23 Best Places to Go in the U.S. in 2023."

11/29/2022

This Giving Tuesday, share the gift of water to those in need with a donation to Hampton Roads Help to Others Program (H2O). Help us keep families connected to this vital service.

Donate now at https://shareh20.org/donate/

11/29/2022

Virginia Rep. Donald McEachin, recently reelected to 4th term in US Congress, dies at 61

We are sad to hear of the passing of Representative McEachin. We want to thank Rep. McEachin for his significant contributions to Virginia and the Hampton Roads region. We send our condolences to his family, friends, and staff, as they mourn this loss.

Tara Rountree, McEachin’s chief of staff, said in a statement late Monday: “Valiantly, for years now, we have watched him fight and triumph over the secondary effects of his colorectal cancer from 2013. Tonight, he lost that battle.”

11/28/2022

Here are your upcoming meetings for this .

11/23/2022

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11/22/2022

On Friday, the PDC and Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization teams got together to celebrate GIS Day with a building-wide scavenger hunt. The clues led the GIS sleuths to puzzle pieces that, when assembled, showed a location in Hampton Roads. The first team to assemble their puzzle pieces and identify the location was the winner of the challenge. This was the culmination of the week-long GIS events, including daily trivia, and was a great experience for our staff.

11/21/2022

No meetings left this week, but we've got some coming up. Here's your for a holiday week!

11/19/2022

Affordable housing is getting harder to find in Hampton Roads, but there are solutions, experts say

ICYMI: Here’s a fantastic article on the Hampton Roads Community Foundation event, which featured one of our team members, Shernita, as she discussed adequate housing options in the region and where we should go from here.

For-sale starter homes, particularly for buyers with low and moderate incomes, are disappearing in the region, much like in the rest of the country, said Jonathan Knopf of Housing Forward Virginia.

11/18/2022

We had a fantastic Planning District Commission meeting yesterday, but one of the highlights was the opportunity to recognize and thank some of our Commissioners who were serving at their final PDC meeting.

Thank you to:
Mayor McKinley Price of Newport News, who has served 12 years on our Commission;
Councilmember David Jenkins of Newport News, who has served 4 years on our Commission;
Mayor Frank Rabil of Franklin, who has served 2 years on our Commission;
Councilmember Delceno Miles of Virginia Beach, who has served 2 months on our Commission;
Councilmember John Moss of Virginia Beach, who has served 1 year on our Commission; and
Councilmember Guy Tower of Virginia Beach, who has served 3 years on our Commission.

We are grateful for your dedicated service and leadership as we have navigated the expected and unexpected. Your focus on our regional success has made it so, and will continue to pay dividends well into the future. Thank you all.

11/17/2022

Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) Meeting November 17, 2022

The November 17, 2022 of the HRPDC

11/15/2022

Happy America Recycles Day! Thanks to our friends askhrgreen.org for the work they do, and to James City County for this awesome graphic!

Happy America Recycles Day! James City County is a proud partner of the .org Start Smart, Recycle Right campaign. The Start Smart, Recycle Right campaign encourages Hampton Roads residents to be smart consumers and savvy recyclers. Starting smart means avoiding single-use products and purchasing products in recyclable containers. Recycling right means knowing what’s accepted in your home’s recycling bin starting with the basics of paper, plastic bottles, and metal cans. Learn everything you need to know about smart waste disposal in Hampton Roads at askhrgreen.org/gtk-gtd/start-smart/ 🇺🇸 ♻️

11/14/2022

We've got a busy week, so here's your ! You can tune in to our livestreamed meetings here or on our YouTube page by searching for "The Regional Connection."

11/14/2022

Carnival Cruise Line expanding services to and from Norfolk

Very exciting news from our friends at City of Norfolk and Carnival Cruise Line today! Congratulations, friends!

Carnival Cruise Lines is expanding its service for Norfolk starting in May 2023. It will then be six months of cruises. Then, it will be year-round starting in 2025.

11/12/2022

What’s recyclable in your community? Do you know? This week is National Recycling Week and a PERFECT time to remind you to bookmark our popular recycling look-up tool for Hampton Roads communities.

♻️ Do you know what’s accepted in your curbside recycling service? We have the answer.
♻️ What are the appropriate recyclables that can be dropped off? We have the answer.
♻️ Do you know what to do with household hazardous waste? We have the answer.
♻️ What can you do with the other stuff like yard waste, electronics and plastic bags? We have the answer.

For more information about what you can and can’t recycle, use our handy-dandy recycling lookup tool at
https://askhrgreen.org/recycling-lookup/

11/11/2022

As we celebrate Veterans Day, we'd like to highlight two members of our team who are veterans, Rob C. and Chris V. Thank you both for your service, and thank you to all veterans for your service!

11/10/2022

Today, Andria McClellan, Chair of the HRPDC, sent a letter to Governor Glenn Youngkin demonstrating the HRPDC's support of Jefferson Lab's pending request to build and house a future High Performance Data Facility. See the letter below.

11/09/2022

Subsea cables and digital highways: Hampton Roads’ involvement has not been by accident

What's on the horizon for Hampton Roads? Subsea cables! Take a look at this great write-up on why Hampton Roads and what it means to our region (and the greater Richmond/757 megaregion!).

Giant data users like Facebook, Microsoft and Google have developed subsea cables that land in Virginia Beach. Three connect the region to Europe and South America, and a fourth cable under development will soon connect the region to South Africa.

11/08/2022

Whatever you do today, don’t forget to vote!!! 🗳🗳🗳

11/07/2022

We've got a few meetings coming up for the remainder of this month. Enjoy today's

11/07/2022

Virginia Beach gets Instagram shoutout from Justin Timberlake

WOW! Did you know that the majority of Justin Timberlake's "Justified" was written and recorded in Virginia Beach thanks to The Neptunes!?! We're not saying there's something in the water, but...

20 years after "Justified" was released, the superstar posted a video shouting out Virginia Beach and the integral role the city played in jump-starting his career.

11/04/2022

ICYMI: The new Hampton Aqualplex is now open. The Aquaplex is the largest aquatic facility of its kind in Virginia. The facility includes a competition pool, a recreational pool and a splash park scheduled to open in 2023. For details on its activities, go to: https://www.hamptonaquaplex.com. Congratulations Hampton, VA - Gov! Amazing new asset in the region!

11/03/2022

Huge news for the region! Welcome home, Pharrell Williams!!!

SOMETHING IN THE WATER is back in the 757 for 2023 🌊

3-Day Passes go on sale Saturday, November 5 at 12 PM ET at somethinginthewater.com

The VA Locals Only sale for Virginia residents takes place 10 AM - 5 PM ET in-person at the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach Box Office. More details at somethinginthewater.com

11/03/2022

Thank you to our friends from James City County for hosting yesterday's Chief Administrative Officers meeting in New Town!

The CAOs focused on many topics including resilience design standards, the Elizabeth River Crossings Toll Relief Program from Virginia Department of Transportation, and the proposed Regional Housing Assessment!

11/02/2022

Affordable Housing and the Region's Future

Do not miss your chance to hear from housing experts on the region's future at the Hampton Roads Community Foundation's virtual event happening on Wednesday, November 9, from 6-7:30pm. Register for free at the link below!

Discover the state of affordable housing and its impact on our region and learn about potential innovative solutions to address the crisis.

11/01/2022

Citing flood fund, Hampton Roads localities send letter opposing Gov. Youngkin’s planned withdrawal from RGGI

ICYMI: Here's an article from our friends at WHRO Public Media on our letter opposing the planned withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

In the letter submitted through public comments, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission said the region relies on funding through RGGI for flood resilience work.