1998 Transit Award Winners in Virginia

VTA Annual Awards

Williamsburg Visitors Shuttle Claims VTA's Innovation Award
The Williamsburg Visitors Shuttle represents a partnership among James City County Transit, Peninsula Transportation District Commission and Tidewater Transportation District Commission (These last two systems have merged to form the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads.) An initial planning committee included additional partners from the public and private sectors. Officials from the three transit systems emphasize the partnership that led to the success of this service, saying, "We have completed our second season doubling ridership and meeting our objectives of decreasing congestion along Route 60, decreasing parking in downtown Williamsburg and enhancing the visitor's experience."

GRTC Receives Outstanding Urban Public Transportation Award
The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC), the primary mass transit carrier in the metropolitan Richmond area was once known mainly as "the City's bus company." GRTC now offers a comprehensive, coordinated and centralized location for virtually all ground transportation service in the region, according to company officials. This has been accomplished by merging with Ridefinders to offer vanpooling and carpooling services, providing paratransit service and providing oversight of taxicabs in the region. GRTC also worked with local social service agencies to develop the Central Virginia Area Network System (C-VANS) to transport welfare-to-work clients.

GRTC prides itself on being able to implement technological advancements and maintain efficiency while not raising fares, according to company officials. "GRTC has not raised fares since 1993," officials said. "No other urban system in the commonwealth and very few others in the entire nation can make that claim."

JAUNT Receives Outstanding Rural Public Transportation Award
JAUNT, Inc. is the regional public transit agency providing Charlottesville and surrounding counties with paratransit and rural public transportation services. JAUNT initiated several changes over the last 18 months to improve access to jobs and services in response to local needs. One major initiative was the introduction of commuter service on Route 29 North, known as BIG BLUE. The project is the area's first attempt to coordinate and create links between four different public transportation systems and commuters who carpool to park and ride lots.

A second initiative responded to transportation needs developing from Welfare Reform. With a grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services, JAUNT expanded employment-related transportation options for participants in the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW). The options include expanded service for rural participants, weekend and evening services for urban residents, bus passes and driver education for rural participants for whom public transportation would be least efficient.

A third initiative offered night and weekend transportation service for passengers with disabilities in the Charlottesville and Albemarle County. This project was implemented in coordination with the VIEW service.

JAUNT was founded in 1975. It is owned by the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Nelson, Louisa and Fluvanna counties, and is governed by a board made up of members appointed by each locality.

Kaufman Named Outstanding Public Official
Fairfax County Supervisor Dana Kaufman has received the 1998 Outstanding Public Official Award. Virginia Railway Express (VRE) nominated Kaufman for the award, citing his contributions to public transportation. The nomination highlighted Kaufman's efforts to bring transportation options to the 95,000 residents of Fairfax's Lee District, which includes the Springfield interchange, also referred to as "the mixing bowl."

"Mr. Kaufman saw the need for expansion of VRE and Metro to the mixing bowl area," VRE officials said. "The result of his efforts was the Joe Alexander transportation facility, which serves several thousand VRE and Metro riders every day of the week."

Kaufman has held positions with some of the largest transit organizations and planning organizations in Northern Virginia, including Alternate on the Council of Governments Transportation Planning Board, Vice Chairman of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, Vice Chairman of the Virginia Railway Express Operations Board, Member of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority and Member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Coordinating Committee.