The Voice of Public Transportation in Virginia
Virginia Transit Systems Transit Awards
2003 Transit Awards
The Virginia Transit Association hosted its 2003 Awards Luncheon on May 30th to honor the individuals, organizations, and programs that are so integral to the extensive public transportation system enjoyed by the state of Virginia. For more information, see the press release or read the full program notes.
2003 Legislator of the Year Award
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Senator John C. Watkins |
Senator John C. Watkins of Senate District 10 received the 2003 Legislator of the Year Award and is well known for his leadership efforts to increase regional transit cooperation. Senator Watkins has worked tenaciously to expand bus service throughout the region by securing funds to start the Chesterfield Link service of the GRTC transit system. He also chairs the Virginia contingent of the Virginia - North Carolina High Speed Rail Commission and is working to link with High Speed Rail along the Eastern Seaboard to include intercity connections to Hampton Roads and Central and Southwest Virginia. Read more
Public Transportation Distinguished Legislative Service Award
The VTA also presented the Public Transportation Distinguished Legislative Service Award to Delegate James F. Almand (House District 47), Delegate Flora D. Crittenden (House District 95), and Delegate L. Karen Darner (House District 49).
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Delegate James F. Almand |
This award is presented to three retiring legislators who have been transit leaders and advocates over the course of their legislative career. They have all generously shared their time, energy, and clout to advance public transportation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Delegates Almand and Darner both served on the Northern VA Transportation Commission during their careers, while Delegate Crittenden was vital in the creation of the Hampton Roads Transit. Read more
Outstanding Contribution by a Public Offical Award
The Hon. Christopher Zimmerman and Mr. J. Kenneth Klinge received the Outstanding Contribution by a Public Official Award. The award is presented to a local or appointed official who has made an outstanding contribution to public transportation in Virginia. Both individuals have worked to expand public transportation and improve air quality and quality of life in Northern Virginia.
In 2002, Christopher Zimmerman simultaneously chaired the Arlington County Board, The Washington Metro (WMATA) Board, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. He is also an appointee to the newly created Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Transportation Planning Board and is an alternate on the Virginia Railway Express Board. He led the drive to purchase clean air compressed natural gas buses for Arlington County, reintroduce streetcars and has pushed for Bus Rapid Transit and Bike to Work initiatives. He is a strong advocate of transit oriented development and smart growth. Read more
J. Kenneth Klinge, President of JKK Associates, was recognized for his work to expand public transportation, especially the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project, in Northern Virginia through his work as the Northern Virginia Representative to the Commonwealth Transportation Board, since 1988, his leadership as Chairman of the new Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, Chairman of the Dulles Corridor Task Force, Chairman of the Northern Virginia Coordination Council from 1998-2002 which guided the development of the NOVA 2020 Regional Transportation Plan. Read more
Virginia Transit System Program Awards:
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (Small System)
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Arlington County Transit (ART) representative |
Arlington County Transit (ART) received this award for its Lunch Loop marketing campaign designed to increase ridership to area restaurants and shops during lunch hours. The private/public lunch shuttle campaign included: logo inserts, specially painted buses, route and bus stop signs, brochures, tent signs, and a website. Read more
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (Large System)
The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission received this award for its campaign to increase customer convenience and ridership. They redesigned routes, maps, and schedules to take the guess work out of riding and even distributed videos in English and Spanish to increase customer understanding and comfort with the PRTC. Read more
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Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission representatives |
Honorable Mentions Hampton Roads Transit revamped their Virginia Beach Trolley to gain an Honorable Mention Award and Virginia Railway Express launched a campaign to celebrate a decade of service that led to a 13 percent increase in ridership since last summer. Read more
Innovative Program Award (Small System)
Innovative Program Awards recognize significant, innovative programs that improve the service or management of a transit system. Williamsburg Area Transport earned this award after an 80 percent expansion in transit service and the acquisition of 10 new buses in 2002.
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Williamsburg Area Transport representative |
These events created a regional service that carries Williamsburg, William & Mary College, and James City County riders and tourists along routes within the region and connects them with HRT service in Hampton Roads. Read more
Honorable Mention JAUNT, Inc. received honorable mention for their implementation of onboard computers, dispatching technologies, and vehicle tracking devices to improve the security and service of all of their vehicles. Read more
Innovative Program Award (Large System)
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Virginia Railway Express representative |
Virginia Railway Express received this award for a program that improves railway security by allowing law enforcement officers to ride for free in exchange for agreeing to respond to any felony in progress aboard a VRE train or in VRE stations when alerted by using a coded broadcast. All officers are volunteers, so no additional funds were necessary. Read more
Technology Award
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Arlington County representative |
The recipient of the 2003 Technology Award was Arlington County's Commuter Services Program.
This award is for the best use of technology to improve customer service and increase ridership. They are launching CommuterPage.com mobile services, which will transmit Arlington Transit and Arlington metrobus schedules and commuter news to hand held PDA's. The web page also offers a wealth of online information for commuters and interested riders. Read more
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Helen H. Poore |
Outstanding Public Transit Service Award
The 2003 recipient of the Outstanding Public Transit Service Award is Helen H. Poore, Transit Manager for the Charlottesville Transit Service. This distinguished award recognizes outstanding service over many years by a transit professional. Helen has served as Transit Manager since 1973 and Charlottesville Transit has experienced tremendous growth under her leadership. Thanks to her dedication, Charlottesville residents and students now have a variety of public transportation from which to choose. Read more