2003 Transit Awards -- Program Notes

Virginia is fortunate to have an extensive and diverse public transportation system ranging from public transportation to commuter rail to commuter assistance programs, providing transit service in urban and rural areas. Thanks to the work and dedication of our transit professionals, a growing number of Virginians are served by public transportation.

The VTA awards recognize the leadership, dedication and service of individuals who have worked for years to expand and improve public transit in Virginia, and outstanding programs by public transportation systems.

This year the VTA had the special privilege of presenting awards to a number of individuals whose leadership and advocacy on behalf of transit has spanned decades. Public Transportation in Virginia would not be where it is today without their dedication and persistence.

The Outstanding Public Transit Service Award
Helen Hamilton Poore

This award recognizes the career achievements of transit professionals for outstanding service in public transportation.

Helen Hamilton Poore has worked for the City of Charlottesville since 1973. In 1981 she was appointed the first full time Transit Manager of Charlottesville Transit Service, a post she continues to serve in. In addition to Charlottesville transit she manages pupil transportation for the city school systems.
Helen has received national recognition for her transit leadership in Charlottesville. Several years ago, she 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 ridership.

Under her leadership Charlottesville Transit service has experienced tremendous growth. In 1998 CTS had 7 bus routes and 8 peak hour service vehicles; 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, and ridership had increased 38%.

Helen has been a trailblazer, CTS was one of the first small systems in Virginia to install bike racks on all buses. Under her guidance, CTS secured funding and renovated the Greyhound station, manages Greyhound 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. And, she has successfully worked to create community partnerships including: joint alternative transportation regional marketing efforts, work with the Charlottesville Area Bicycling Alliance and the Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation. Helen's contributions to the VTA, the Virginia Transportation Safety Board and Jaunt over the last 25 years have earned her industry recognition. VTA is fortunate to have Helen's expertise, creativity and leadership in public transportation.

In addition to outstanding transit professionals, the VTA is also fortunate to have dedicated policy makers who work to ensure that funding is available to continue and expand public transportation service.

The Public Transportation Distinguished Legislative Service Award
Delegate Jim Almand
Delegate Flora Crittenden
Delegate L. Karen Darner

This award was presented to three retiring legislators who have been transit leaders and advocates over the course of their legislative career. They have generously devoted much of their time, energy and clout to the advancement of public transportation.

Delegate Jim Almand served the 47th House of Delegates District in Arlington from 1977 to 2003. He served as Chairman of the House Courts of Justice, Committee. He also served on the General Laws, and Finance Committees, the State Crime Commission and the Committee on Law and Justice of the National Conference of State Legislators. He was a member of the Judicial Council, the Committee on District Courts, the Southern States Energy Board and chaired the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program Commission.

In addition to all of this, he always had time to champion 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 from July 2000 to the present.

During the 2002 session he introduced a bill to increase the gasoline sales tax used by NVTC to support transit. Del. Almand's bill successfully added language to the Code requiring the state to fund 95% to the state local transit share. He was instrumental in increasing the number of transit projects in the 2002 NOVA transportation referendum.

Over the years Delegate Almand could always be counted on by transit advocates to introduce and speak up for bills and budget amendments to advance transit, and in May 2003, Governor Mark Warner named Delegate Almand as judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit Court in Arlington.

Delegate Crittenden has represented the 95th District, parts of the City of Hampton and Newport News in the House of Delegates since 1993. She last served on the Transportation, Education and Rules committees and before that, served on Privileges and Elections and Chesapeake and it's Tributaries committees. She came to the General Assembly after a long career as an educator; a career so successful that a school bears her name.

During her legislative career, Delegate Crittenden was a devoted and passionate advocate of public transportation and public education. For years she was one of only a handful of transit leaders and advocates from outside of Northern Virginia. She sponsored many successful bills and budget amendments on behalf of VTA and was tireless in her effort to expand and secure adequate funding for transit. In the Hampton Roads region she helped secure the merger of Pentran and TRT, creating a truly regional transit system- Hampton Roads Transit. Delegate Crittenden has done much for public transportation and her shoes will be hard to fill in the General Assembly.

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

She was 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 to advance public transportation. VTA could always count on her support for transit and she will be greatly missed.

VTA 2003 Legislator of the Year
Senator John Watkins

Senator Watkins has served in the Senate since 1998 representing the 10th Senate District, including 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 state and local obstacles to expand GRTC transit system to suburban Chesterfield County.

Senator Watkins recognized the importance of regional public transportation and the local funding barriers that prevent regional service. He pieced together a program to begin to overcome these established barriers.

Additionally, he has also taken the lead in creating the High Speed Rail Commission, and has secured funding to support the establishment of 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.

Outstanding Contribution By A Public Official
Christopher Zimmerman
J. Kenneth Klinge

This award for is presented to a local or appointed official who has made an outstanding contribution to public transportation in Virginia. This year, VTA is pleased to honor the accomplishments of two individuals whose time, energy and dedication continue to make a real difference in mobility and air quality in the Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. Metro Area.

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.

In an effort to help improve the regions air quality, he led 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! The Arlington County tradition continues. We appreciate his strong Leadership to improve air quality and transit and provide innovative transportation solutions and good land use at the local level. VTA is proud to recognize his work with this award for 2003.

Mr. Klinge is the President of JKK Associates. He has served as the Northern Virginia Representative on the Commonwealth Transportation Board since 1998; he is 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. He also chaired the Northern Virginia Transportation Coordination Council from 1998 to 2002 and guided the development of the NOVA 2020 Regional Transportation Plan. He has advanced Virginia's largest public transportation project ever- the Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project- to the brink of implementation. All the while developing and sustaining federal, state and local support for a transit project that many people doubted could ever be done.

VTA Marketing Awards
Arlington Transit- Small System Award
PRTC- Large System Award
Hampton Roads Transit- Honorable Mention
Virginia Railway Express- Honorable Mention

Marketing transit service is a critical component to building Ridership. The VTA Marketing Awards are coveted and highly competitive award among transit systems.

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 included: logo inserts, specially painted busses, bus stop and route/schedule signs, schedule brochures, flyers to area businesses, tent signs in area restaurants, posters in Ballston Common Mall, and a website. Ridership increased from 317 riders in just eight months. 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. Congratulations to ART for creatively adapting transit service to customer needs with marketing that's memorable, fun, and effective.

PRTC has redesigned its routes, schedules and maps to increase customer convenience; they have posted maps at over 75 bus stops, and have produced and distributed a 4-minute "how to ride" video in English and Spanish. Too often we assume that prospective transit customers know how to read a transit map and the in's and out's of riding. PRTC takes the guesswork out and makes their customers feel comfortable. Consequently, Omnilink and Omniride have had a ridership increase of 21% in one year!

Hampton Roads Transit revamped their Virginia Beach Trolley service to better meet customer needs and effectively marketed system including an easier to use fare system and operating times.

The folks at Virginia Railway Express really know how to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, or in this case a decade of excellent Service. The 6-month celebration included a print ad radio campaign, two large public events complete with station events, banners, art deco anniversary posters and memorabilia. This campaign allowed VRE to increase public awareness and media attention for their commuter rail service, thank their customers, and have fun too. Since the celebration, VRE's ridership has increased 13% since last summer!

Innovative Program Award
Williamsburg Area Transport-Small System Award
Virginia Railway Express-Large System Award
JAUNT, Inc.-Honorable Mention

VTA's Innovative Program Awards recognize significant, innovative programs that improve the service or management of a transit system.

2002 was a terrific milestone for regional transportation in the Williamsburg-James City County area with an 80% expansion in transit service. This mammoth undertaking involved remaking and remarketing the transit system to create a regional service that could carry Williamsburg, William and Mary College and James City County riders and tourists on routes within the region and connect them with HRT service in Hampton Roads.

Williamsburg Area Transport was able to jump start their service by acquiring 10 new buses with federal and state funding. 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. This kind of expansion is a tremendous and complicated undertaking and Williamsburg Area Transport made it appear effortless.

By applying trip scheduling and dispatching technologies, and on board mobile data computers for each of JAUNT Inc.'s vehicles, dispatchers can now track the exact location of each vehicle. A comprehensive database allows for improved tracking of complaints and suggestions. Jaunt effectively adapted technology to improve customer service and system efficiency in a combination urban, suburban and rural transit services.

Since September 11th, increased security has become an urgent and expensive new requirement for transit systems. The winner of the Large System Award used a lot of ingenuity to tackle this problem. Imagine using existing your riders to expand your security force! Virginia Railway Express did just that. VRE began a program that uses law enforcement officers to enhance their security. Modeled after the "Sky Marshall" Program, The 70 to 80 officers enrolled in the program ride the train for free in exchange for agreeing to respond to any felony in progress on VRE trains or at VRE stations. Participants are alerted to a scene by means of a coded broadcast system, and must go through an application and screening process in order to qualify. All officers are volunteers so no additional funds were required. Now that's thinking "outside the box" and making the most of what you have!

Technology Award
Arlington County Transportation Partners

This award is given for the best use of technology to improve customer service and increase ridership.

The 2003 recipient of this award was Arlington County Transportation Partners. Arlington County launched Commuter Page.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 Commuter Page.com. Once Again Arlington County staff and officials are at the cutting edge.