2000 Transit Award Winners in Virginia

VTA Annual Awards

2000 Outstanding Contribution by a Public Official (two awards)

Presented to: Delegate Flora Crittenden, Delegate Phillip Hamilton and Senator Kenneth Stolle in recognition of their successful team effort during the 2000 General Assembly Session. Their collective perseverance led to increased funding for Hampton Roads Transit in order to improve and expand existing services. These increased services will appeal particularly to "choice" riders and will help reduce congestion in this busy area.

Flora Crittenden	Phillip Hamilton	Kenneth Stolle

AND

Delegate Kenneth Plum and Delegate Vincent Callahan for their successful team effort on behalf of the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Program. Both legislators demonstrated dedication and perseverance to launch this important new transit project. The Dulles Corridor -- a heavily commercial area with tremendous growth -- is emerging as a global technology mecca.  Connecting the corridor with high quality transit is a massive undertaking that will considerably benefit both the residential and commercial areas.

Kenneth Plum	Vincent Callahan

2000 Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award

Presented to: Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission for their accomplishments in promoting public awareness of their expanded Omni-Link service and increasing ridership. PRTC’s marketing plan was well thought-out and focused, specifically targeted to the populations they serve and successfully implemented by staff at all levels in their organization. They used tried and true methods and also came up with innovative approaches, such as hosting events at local shopping malls, giving away gift bags, and enlisting operators and PRTC Commissioners to wear "Ask Me" buttons and distribute information.

Presented to: Hampton Roads Transit for their accomplishments in collaborating with diverse non-transportation groups to assist area youth through their "Community Partnerships for Youth" program. The program helps area youth to access crisis services and educational opportunities, as well as raising awareness of public transit. HRT’s efforts to reach out to Hampton Roads youth demonstrates that public transit systems do more than provide transportation, they play integral roles in improving communities.

VDRPT 2000 Outstanding Achievement Award to a Public Transportation Provider -- Non-Urban Area

Bay Transit was founded in 1996 in Gloucester County, and since then has aggressively expanded and increased ridership. Since its inception, Bay Transit's service has grown from one bus to 15 vehicles and provides more than 5,000 rides per month in this rural area of northeast Virginia. In addition to the public transit service, Bay Transit has also been involved in providing Welfare Reform "journey to work" public transportation services and coordinating with "Ride Share" programs.

VDRPT 2000 Outstanding Achievement Award to a Public Transportation Provider -- Urbanized Area

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has gone through a phenomenal period of growth in the past year with monthly ridership increases of 15-20% over the previous year. VRE is the second fastest growing commuter rail operation in the country. VRE is also a customer-oriented organization that has introduced several innovative programs to compensate passengers for late trains. This is rarely necessary due to VRE's excellent record for being on time. VRE reached the 90% on-time percentage in July. VRE has also recently purchased state-of-the-art equipment that doubles the capacity per coach while increasing the comfort for the commuter.

2000 VTA Legislative Awards

Senator Colgan, a long time transit supporter, and Delegate May successfully sponsored budget amendments dedicating a larger share of federal transportation funds for transit in Virginia. This success continues the important shift in the General Assembly’s approach to funding transportation — the recognition that transportation is more than just roads alone.

VTA 2000 Transportation Leadership Award

Senator William C. Wampler, Jr.

Senator Wampler’s dedicated leadership on public transit issues earned him this award. Over the past five years, he has worked to expand public transit and rail in order to provide citizens with alternatives in transportation.

VTA 2000 Multimodal Transportation Legislative Award

Delegate John A. Rollison, III

Delegate Rollison spearheaded an ambitious plan for transportation in the House of Delegates. His early leadership and tenacity on this issue helped pave the way for a successful compromise package that included many significant transit projects.

2000 Other Transit Awards

Town of Orange Wins 2000 VML Achievement Award for Exceptional Transit Services : "TOOT" Improves Quality of Life for Seniors and Indigent.
Since November 1998, the Town of Orange Transit (TOOT) has operated two shuttle buses for the elderly, poor and handicapped. The Town of Orange has been recognized by the Virginia Municipal League (VML) for providing to the disenfranchised and elderly an opportunity to take part in the growing community around them. Read more.

Lenna Moore Award announced: New Award Honors Transit System Innovator
Four community organizations come together to create a new service award. Bob Stuart of Blacksburg is the first recipient ... (Read entire article in the Roanoke Times, October 8, 2000.)

Alexandria Transit Company Wins National Bus Safety Award
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) presented its "Gold Award" for bus safety to the Alexandria Transit Company (ATC) at its National Bus Conference held recently in Houston, Texas.

With more than 100 transit systems competing from the United States and Canada, Alexandria Transit had the best overall safety record and program during 1999 for its competitive category. According to APTA, this is the highest award given out for bus safety.

"We are very proud of our safety record," stated Sandy Modell, ATC general manager. "New operators of our DASH buses attend the Smith System professional driving course before hitting the road, and all of our operators attend refresher training every year. In addition, we reinforce safety on a daily basis through monthly slogans that are read by our dispatchers in the morning, afternoon and evening."

CTAV Recognizes Transit Leaders and Elects New Board Members
Congratulations to Mr. Neil Sherman of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) and Ms. Donna Shaunesey of JAUNT, Inc. who received this year’s President’s Award at the CTAV Expo. Both of these individuals have demonstrated distinguished and unselfish service and support in the area of community transportation for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mr. Sherman has been employed by VDRPT for the past 15 years and has been in charge of the Section 5310 Program and the Job Access and Reverse Commuter Program most recently. Through his efforts, VDRPT was able to obtain the fifty percent local match from the Department of Social Services that was required to fund this program.

Ms. Shaunesey has been employed as Director of JAUNT, Inc. for the past four years, two years as Grant Coordinator for the City of Charlottesville, twelve years as JAUNT’s Assistant Director. She is also the Virginia representative for the Community Transportation Association of America. Donna was recognized for her hard work and efforts as Chairperson of the By-Laws and Nomination Committee.

The CTAV President, Curtis Andrews, also presented an award to the Office of Community Service of the Virginia Department of Social Services for their support with the Job Access and Reverse Commuter Program. Mr. Mark Grigsby of the Department of Social Services accepted the award.

The President, on behalf of the Association, recognized Ms. Kathy Finniff of Loudoun Transit for her service as Treasurer, Ms. Kathy Vesley of Bay Transit and Ms. Joan Hughes of the Richmond Red Cross for their service as Board members.

CTAV Elections to the Board

• President -- Curtis Andrews, RADAR-UHSTS, Inc.
• Vice-President -- Mark McGregor, Loudoun Transit
• Secretary -- Darrel Feasel, VRPT
• Treasurer -- Chris Ward, Loudoun Transit

Mark McGregor selected as the CTAA’s Transit Manager of the Year
The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) has selected Mark McGregor, CEO of Loudoun County Transportation Association (LCTA), as the Transit Manager of the Year.

Mr. McGregor has been employed by Loudoun Transit since 1996 and has fifteen years of transit management experience. Before coming to Virginia, Mark worked as Director of Operations for the ARC of Monroe County in New York.

As his nomination form describes, the kind of leadership Mark McGregor exemplifies toward the employees of LCTA is that of a teacher. He is a source of knowledge to all who have the desire to gain information in the transportation field. He is ready to assist or answer any questions that may arise from within the organization or from the public. Since McGregor joined LCTA, ridership has increased from 24,000 one-way trips annually to a projected 100,000 trips this year. He has also negotiated public/private partnerships with many companies, including AOL, Dulles Town Center, Leesburg Premium Outlets, Notre Dame Academy, and others.

CTAA presented this award at their annual conference, held on June 3-9, 2000 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Again, congratulations to Mr. McGregor for his accomplishment.