The Voice of Public Transportation in Virginia
Virginia Transit Systems Transit Awards
2009 Transit Awards
Each year, VTA recognizes outstanding leadership and contributions by individuals who are working to advance public transportation in their community; VTA also recognizes innovative, effective programs by our public transportation providers.
The Virginia Transit Association presented the following awards at its 2009 Awards Luncheon to recognize outstanding service by individuals and exceptional transit programs, and to advance and expand public transportation in the Commonwealth.
Public Official of the Year Award
Outstanding Program Awards
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Awards
In addition, Virginia General Assembly legislators were recognized for their support of public transportation:
Senator Mary Margaret Whipple
Senator Richard L. Saslaw
Delegate Joe T. May
Public Official of the Year Award
Jay Fisette was elected to the Arlington County Board in 1997, serving as Chair in 2001 and 2005. Jay has been a forceful advocate of smart growth, sustainability and livable communities at the local, regional, state and national levels. He promotes smart growth principles, such as linking land use and transportation, sound urban design and open spaces, public transportation and pedestrian safety. Jay is an avid cyclist, and was honored to receive an award for visionary leadership from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.
Jay has been a member and served as Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, where he was recently named chair of the newly-created Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee. As President of the Virginia Municipal League in 2007-08, Jay launched the successful “Go Green Virginia” initiative which established a friendly competition among local governments while encouraging them to promote sustainability and reduce their carbon footprint. Jay is also a longtime member of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and an advocate for public transportation
Outstanding Program Awards
Award Winner, Large System: 
Hampton Roads Transit’s Simplify Your Ride campaign was a two-month crusade used to communicate to HRT’s passengers that the agency was streamlining its fare structure. Included in this streamlining were the elimination of free transfer tickets and the introduction of GO passes, which came in 1-, 7-, and 30-day increments. The marketing staff at HRT used interior and exterior bus advertisements, flyers, posters, bus rail hangers, as well as a web video to communicate their key message—that HRT has now “simplified” your ride!
Award Winner, Smaller System: 
In 2008 JAUNT, Inc. launched a major overhaul of its corporate image. Beginning with a new logo that incorporated the star design and blue color that was already in use, JAUNT Inc. developed new brochures, agency stationary, website, print/radio/TV ads and a new bus design. The purpose of this marketing campaign was to give JAUNT an up-to-date image and to better convey its inclusiveness of all riders. Commuter ridership, a specific target area of this marketing effort, increased 14 percent during the first half of FY 2008, which also reflects the addition of another bus to an existing commuter route to accommodate passenger demand.
Honorable Mention:
FREDericksburg Regional Transit received an honorable mention for the Take FRED Instead! campaign. Take FRED Instead! is a weekly ad in the Fredericksburg region’s daily newspaper which places real faces with real stories. This innovative ad campaign is designed to let current riders know they are appreciated and lets the general public see the diversity of FREDericksburg Regional Transit’s customers so that they can be more comfortable riding FRED. This innovative campaign was developed for FRED by the Marketing Committee of its Public Transit Advisory Board (PTAB), along with FRED staff.
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Awards
Award Winner:
Blacksburg Transit System was nominated and won for its Yield It’s Worth the Wait program which was developed to enhance communication between pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists in response to an increase in pedestrian related accidents. The program was funded by a grant from the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation with Transportation Efficient Improvement funds. Four phases were developed and implemented over the course of two years, culminating in the Yield It’s Worth the Wait public service video. As a direct result of this program, awareness between pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists has improved and pedestrian related accidents have decreased from a high of 18 in 2005 to seven in 2008.
Honorable Mention:
Greater Lynchburg Transit Company received an honorable mention for their College Campus on the Move program. To meet a growing student population, GLTC and Liberty University developed a partnership to reduce traffic congestion. The College Campus on the Move plan included a new bus route, bus stops and a pre-paid Universal Pass program to include easy off-campus transportation access for all students, faculty and staff. The system went from the planning phase to full implementation in only three months and in FY 2008 the system had over 1.75M on-campus passenger boardings. GLTC is projecting over 2M passenger boardings by the end of FY 2009. The record weekly passenger boarding count is over 94,000 which is outstanding given the total on-campus population is just over 11,000 students. According to Liberty University’s Director of Financial Research and Analysis, Richard Martin, the University has seen a dramatic reduction in on-campus vehicle traffic. Martin estimates a reduction of 3,300 vehicle miles per day on campus.
The Virginia Transit Association recognized Senator Mary Margaret Whipple for her outstanding leadership and steadfast support for public transportation.
Throughout the course of her tenure in the Virginia Senate, she has played a critical role in efforts to support, maintain and expand public transportation.
Recognizing the difficult fiscal situation of public transportation systems in Northern Virginia and across the Commonwealth this year, she led efforts in the Senate and sponsored a budget amendment to give transit systems the flexibility to use a portion of their capital funds to maintain operations.
She also sponsored Senate Bill 1511 amending the Metro Compact, allowing the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to receive additional dedicated federal funds.
Senator Whipple previously received the VTA Distinguished Legislative Service Award Year Award in 2005.
The Virginia Transit Association recognized Senator Richard L. Saslaw for his outstanding leadership to fund transportation across Virginia.
Over the 31 years that he has served in the General Assembly, he has been a strong advocate for transportation. As the Virginia Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Finance Transportation Subcommittee, he has played an instrumental role in seeking to provide additional funds for both transit and roads.
During the 2008 Special Session II, Senator Saslaw sponsored Senate Bill 6009, allowing for critically needed new funds for transportation.
The Virginia Transit Association recognized Delegate Joe T. May for his strong leadership and support for public transportation.
Delegate May has been a strong advocate for expanded public transportation and rail, and has played an instrumental role in securing funds to maintain and expand public transportation.
During the 2009 General Assembly session, he recognized the difficult fiscal situation that transit systems faced this year and introduced a House budget amendment to give transit systems the authority to use a portion of their capital funds for operations.
Because of this outstanding leadership for public transportation, Delegate May has previously received the VTA Legislator of the Year award in 2000.