2003 Transit Award Winners
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.

The Public Transportation Distinguished Legislative Service Award is being presented to three retiring legislators who have been transit leaders and advocates over the course of their legislative career. They have given transit much of their time and energy and we deeply appreciate their championing transit. They have generously shared their time and energy to support public transportation.

Delegate Almand has served the 47th House of Delegates District in Arlington since 1977. As an attorney specializing in will, trusts and estates he served as Chairman of the House Courts of Justice, Committee. He also served on the General Laws, and Finance Committees. He served on the State Crime Commission and the Committee on Law and Justice of the National Conference of State Legislators. Most recently, he was a member of the Judicial Council, the Committee on District Courts, the Southern States Energy Board and chairs the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program Commission.

In addition to everything else he always had time to championed transit and transportation-related issues including drunk driving, pedestrian safety and child safety seat laws. He previously served on the Northern VA Transportation Commission (NVTC) from 1986 to 1994 and returned to serve NVTC in July, 2000.

During the 2002 session he introduced a bill to increase the gasoline sales tax used by NVTC to support transit. Del. Almand's bill included in the Code language to 95% the state share for transit. Now we just need the funds to accompany the language. He fought to increase the number of transit projects in the referendum last fall.
Over the years, transit advocates could always count on Delegate Almand to introduce and speak up for bills and budget amendments to advance transit.

Just last week Governor Mark Warner named Del Almand to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Arlington. We will he will be terribly missed, but we wish him luck in his new role as a judge and we are certain that he will approach this new venture with the same zeal and energy that he has in his many roles as state legislator.

Two other legislators will receive this award, however sent their regrets that they are unable to attend.
Delegate Crittenden has represented the 95th District, parts of the City of Hampton and Newport News in the House of Delegates since 1993. She serves on the Transportation, Education and Rules committees and previously served on Privileges and Elections and Chesapeake and it's Tributaries committees. She came to the General Assembly after a successful career as an educator, so successful that a school bears her name.

During her legislative career, Delegate Crittenden has been a devoted and passionate advocate of public transportation and education. For years she was one of only a handful of transit leaders and advocates from outside of Northern Virginia.

She has sponsored many successful bills and budget amendments on behalf of VTA. She has been tireless in her effort to expand and secure adequate funding for transit. In the Hampton Roads region she part of a small group of policymakers who hammered out the merger of Pentran and TRT that created a truly regional transit system- Hampton Roads Transit. Delegate Crittenden has done much for public transportation and she will be sorely missed.

Delegate Darner has represented the Arlington citizens of the 49th District for almost 13 years. She is a member of the House Transportation committee, also the Health, Welfare and Institutions; Claims; Chesapeake & its Tributaries; and Education Committees. She is a member of the Virginia Commission on Youth. Delegate Darner served on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) from 1994 – 1999.

She has been a true friend to public transportation and a strong advocate. She worked tirelessly with a team of like-minded legislators and local officials from her home county of Arlington and other adjoining cities and counties. She could always be counted on her support for transit and she will be greatly missed.

This year it is our privilege to recognize Senator John Watkins as VTA 2003 Legislator of the Year. Senator Watkins has served in the Senate since 1998 representing the 10th Senate District, portions of Chesterfield, and Powhatan Counties and the City of Richmond. Prior to 1998 he represented Chesterfield County in the House of Delegates for 16 years. He currently serves on the Senate Commerce and Labor and the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committees. He also chairs the Virginia contingent of the Virginia- North Carolina High Speed Rail Commission. Over his career Senator Watkins has tenaciously and courageously led efforts to increase regional cooperation. VTA especially appreciates his leadership to expand bus service throughout the Richmond Region. Over several years he successfully secured funding to start the Chesterfield Link bus service, overcoming local obstacles to expand GRTC transit system to suburban Chesterfield County. In funding the Link Service the General Assembly created an important precedent that should be broadened to other transit systems, that is 100% state funding for transit service. Increasing the state share of funding for transit would reduces one of the major local barriers to expanding transit service. Senator Watkins recognized that transit service needs to be regional and it needs strong state support.

He has also taken the lead in creating the High Speed Rail Commission and has secured funding establishing the foundation for higher speed passenger rail service from Washington to Richmond. His commission is reviewing plans to link with High Speed Rail along the Eastern Seaboard with intercity connections to Hampton Roads and Central and Southwest Virginia.

The Outstanding Contribution by a Public Official Award is presented to a local or appointed official who has made an outstanding contribution to public transportation in Virginia. The VTA is pleased to Honor the accomplishments of two individuals whose time, energy and dedication are making a real difference in mobility and air quality in the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. Metro Area.

Our first Honoree is Christopher Zimmerman. In 2002, Christopher Zimmerman simultaneously chaired the Arlington County Board, The Washington Metro Board, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. While chair of these three major entities he organized a transit conference at the National Building museum which examined less capital intensive forms of transit and relationships with better land use. He is also an appointee to the newly created Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, he serves on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Transportation Planning Board and he is an alternate on the VRE Operations Board. To help improve the regions air quality, he lead the drive to purchase compressed natural gas buses for Arlington County. He has been a strong advocate for the reintroduction of streetcars, Bus Rapid transit and Bike to work. He is a strong advocate of transit oriented development and smart growth. Arlington County is nationally recognized as a shining example of the ultimate "Urban Village". When it comes to transit and land use the Arlington's legislative delegation, local officials and County staff work as a team and lead the way!

This year our 2nd recipient of this award is Mr. Kenneth Kling. Mr. Klinge is President of JKK Associates. He is the Northern Virginia Representative on the Commonwealth Transportation Board since 1998, Chairman of the new Northern Virginia Transportation Authority , Chairman of the Dulles Corridor Task Force and is past Chairman of Governor Gilmore's Commission on Transportation Policy. A prior commitment kept Mr. Klinge from being with us today but we are pleased to recognize his service in transportation, his strong support for transit and his dedicated and tireless work to keep the Dulles Corridor Project on track and moving forward.

Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (Small System)
Arlington Transit (ART): Lunch Loop
In September 2002, Arlington Transit Launched the ART 67- Ballston-Virginia Square Lunch Loop. ART 67 is a public/private partnership designed to quickly and easily transport riders to area restaurants and shops during lunch hours. The route is free and runs weekdays from 11 am to 2 pm.
The marketing campaign utilized a wide variety of elements including: logo inserts, specially painted busses, bus stop and route/schedule signs, schedule brochures, flyers to area businesses, and tent signs in area restaurants. Additionally, posters were placed in Ballston Common Mall, polo-type t-shirts were made, and a website was established at www.lunchloop.com

Ridership has steadily increased from 317 riders in September 2002 to 1316 riders in April 2003. Based on the success of the ART 67 Lunch Loop, two other business alliances approached the County about the possibility of starting similar public/private lunch shuttles in their areas. Consequently, ART 91- South 23rd Street Restaurant Row Shuttle started in December 2002, and ART 66- Clarendon-Court House Lunch Loop started in March 2003. Since ART is a relatively small system, adding the Lunch Loop has greatly increased its overall visibility in the community.

Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (Large System)
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission:
To increase public awareness of available local transit services, PRTC redesigned 22 route schedules and maps, created its first system map, installed16 new bus shelters, posted route-specific timetables and maps at more than 75 bus stops, and produced and distributed an instructional, 4-minute "How-to-Ride" video in both English and Spanish.

Though brand recognition was high, PRTC determined in a 2001 general public awareness survey that knowledge about its transit services was low. This marketing strategy was designed with a unified theme and appearance to compliment each other while raising public awareness about PRTC's commuter bus service (OmniRide) and it's local service (OmniLink).

Judged by several standards, the marketing campaign has been successful. In 2002 as the strategies were being put into place, ridership on OmniRide surpassed 1 million and ridership on OmniLink surpassed 640,000, and increase of 21% over a one year period. Additionally, telephone inquiries jumped by 14% as the marketing plan was underway, and the trend continues as calls to customer service jumped by another 21% in the first three months of 2003 compared to last year.

Honorable Mention
Hampton Roads Transit: Park It. Ride It. Use It. VB Wave
The Hampton Roads Transit Trolley Service Comprehensive Plan, including the VB Wave marketing study was the catalyst for a comprehensive change in the way HRT operated its trolley service at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront with increased ridership revenue the overall goal.

Among the tasks implemented: 1) Operating periods were changed because it was determined that inconsistent times and dates caused passenger confusion. 2) A new marketing identity was developed with future service improvements in mind, considerations for messaging and optimal brand identity. 3) A fare study was conducted to maximize revenues while causing greater convenience for passengers and easier-to-market fare prices. 4) Discount fare cards, electronic fare boxes and fare card dispensers are being introduced to increase pre-paid revenue and offer a highly marketable reduced price. 5) Market research benchmarks are used as the cornerstone for change and are the measurement device for determining the effectiveness of the impending changes.

Honorable Mention also goes to Virginia Railway Express. The folks at VRE really know how to celebrate a birthday, or in this case a decade of Service. The 6 month celebration included a print ad radio campaign, two large public events complete with station visits, banners anniversary posters and memorabilia, allowing VRE to increase public awareness and media attention for their commuter rails service, thank their customers and have fun too. VRE's ridership has increased 13% since last summer!

VTA's Innovative Program Award recognizes significant, innovative programs that improve the service or management of a VTA transit systems. An award is given to a small system and a large system. The 2004 Small System Innovative Program Award goes to Williamsburg Area Transit! 2002 was a terrific milestone for regional transportation in the Williamsburg, James City County area with an 80% expansion in transit service, remaking and remarketing of the transit system to a regional service that carry Williamsburg, William and Mary college and James City County riders and Williamsburg tourist on routes in the region and connects them with HRT service in Hampton Roads. WAT was able to jump start their service by acquiring 10 new buses without having to wait and rely on local funds. They developed a new name and image for their system, a customer friendly website and established a new centralized transfer point. Seasonal services and William and Mary college service were integrated with seamless year round service.

Innovative Award- Honorable Mention goes to JAUNT, Inc. for by applying trip scheduling and dispatching technologies and on board mobile data computers for each of the systems vehicles. The exact location of each vehicle can now be tracked by dispatchers. A comprehensive database allows for improved tracking of complaints and suggestions. Congratulations to Jaunt for effectively adapting technology to improve customer service and system efficiency in an urban, suburban and rural transit service. Increased security has become an urgent and expensive new requirement for transit systems. The winner of the Innovative Award for a Large System used a lot of ingenuity to tackle this problem. Imagine using existing your riders to expand your security force! Our winner of the Innovative Program Award for a large system, Virginia Railway Express did just that. VRE began a program that uses law enforcement officers who live and work and ride in VRE's service area. They ride the train for free as plain clothed officers in exchange for agreeing to respond to any felony in progress on board VRE trains or stations, when alerted by using a coded broadcast. 70-80 officers are enrolled in the program which is modeled after the Sky Marshall program. Participants must go through an application and screening process to qualify. All officers are volunteers so no additional funds were required.

The Technology Award is given for the best use of technology to improve customer service and increase ridership. The recipient of this award is Arlington County Transportation Partners. They are launching CommuterPage.com mobile services which will transmit ART- Arlington Transit and Arlington metrobus schedules and commuter news to hand held PDA's. ART and Arlington Metrobus were the first systems in the region and one of the first in the nation to provide this service. This service accounts for about 7% of the total traffic of CommuterPage.com. Once Again Arlington County staff and officials are at the cutting edge.

The Outstanding Public Transit Service Award recognizes outstanding service over many years by a transit professional. This year's winner is Helen Hamilton Poore of the Charlottesville Transit Service.
Helen has worked for the City of Charlottesville since 1973. In 1981 she was appointed the first full time Transit Manager of Charlottesville Transit Service where she continues to serve. In addition to Charlottesville transit she manages the city school systems pupil transportation.

Helen has received national recognition for her leadership in Charlottesville. Several years ago, Helen was voted on of the Top 10 most respected Transit Managers in the U.S. and Canada by METRO magazine. The only woman chosen for the honor, she was cited for her management skills, providing dependable service and consistently increasing CTS ridershp.

Under her leadership Charlottesville Transit service has experienced tremendous growth. In 1998 CTS had 7 bus routes and 8 peak hour service vehicles Under Helen's leadership by 2001 CTS had 16 routes with 19 peak service vehicles, had expanded service to the urbanized areas of Albemarle County had new trolley service in Charlottesville. Ridership had increased 38%.

Helen has been a trailblazer, CTS was one of the 1st small systems in Virginia to install bike racks on all buses. Under her leadership, CTS secured funding and has renovated the Greyhound station, manages Greyhounnd ticket sales and established a storefront marketing office for CTS. She envisioned and implemented a successful trip reduction plan for the City of Charlottesville resulting in 43% of its employees using alternatives to driving alone to work. She has successfully worked to create community partnerships including; joint alternative transportation regional marketing efforts, work with the Charlottesville Area Bicycling Allinace and the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation. Helen's contributions to our organization the VTA, the Virginia Transportation Safety Board and Jaunt over the last 25 years earned her industry recognition.