The Voice of Public Transportation in Virginia
Virginia Transit Systems Transit Awards
2007 Transit Awards
The Virginia Transit Association presented the following awards at its 2007 Awards Luncheon on June 13th at Wintergreen Resort in Virginia to recognize outstanding service by individuals and exceptional transit programs, and to advance and expand public transportation in the Commonwealth.
Exemplary Leadership Award
Governor Timothy M. Kaine
Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
Governor Timothy Kaine received the Virginia Transit Association’s Exemplary Public Service Award on July 6th at an event announcing plans for new Hampton Roads Transit Service in Portsmouth. The Award recognizes the Governor for his leadership, persistence and commitment to secure funds for the expansion of public transportation to provide better transportation choices for all Virginians.
While HB 3202, the transportation revenue package during the 2007 Session, was the result of very hard work by many different legislators, the Governor’s amendments provided a historic boost in transit funding, dedicating 20 percent of the total revenues to transit, adding $105 million annually statewide and virtually doubling state funds for the transit program Of this total, beginning in FY08, $45 million more will be dedicated to transit operations.
Further, the Governor recommended and the General Assembly endorsed an additional $70 million in one-time funds for transit capital in FY08. See press release (100k PDF). The Governor's plaque reads:
2007 EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Virginia Transit Association
Recognizes
GOVERNOR TIMOTHY M. KAINE
For His Leadership, Persistence, and Commitment
To Secure Funds for the Expansion of Public Transportation
Providing Better Transportation Choices for All Virginians
Outstanding Contribution by a Local Official
The Hon. Dana Kauffman
Lee District Supervisor, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
For his remarkable and ongoing efforts to sustain and expand public transportation in Northern Virginia and the Washington Metropolitan Area, Dana Kauffman has been honored by the Virginia Transit Association with the 2007 Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Local Official. See press release (256k PDF).
Among his countless contributions, Kauffman is particularly noted for his continued leadership on key transportation initiatives associated with:
Congestion mitigation on the Springfield Mixing Bowl Project and BRAC expansion in anticipation of 20,000 new jobs at Fort Belvoir,
Transit inclusion and connectivity with regard to the Hot Lane proposal,
Creation of the Franconia/Springfield Multi Modal Center,
Establishing the REX (Richmond Highway Express) BRT system in the Route 1 corridor.
Kauffman's award reads:
2007 AWARD
Outstanding Contribution
By A Local Official
Presented to
DANA KAUFFMAN
For outstanding service and leadership to sustain and expand public transportation in Northern Virginia and the Washington Metropolitan Area
Outstanding Service Award
Blacksburg Transit Staff
The staff of Blacksburg Transit was recently honored with a Virginia Transit Association Public Service Award for exemplary emergency response in a crisis.
Working from their main hub on Virginia Tech’s campus during the tragedy of April 16, 2007, the BT staff provided a number of critical services, including the evacuation of thousands of people to safer off-campus locations.
Blacksburg Transit supervisors were among the first officials to respond. At 10 a.m., they notified authorities that “shots were fired on campus” and an operator transported a student to the hospital who had jumped out of a window to escape harm. Over the next 11 hours, BT staff did the work of unsung heroes – critical and crucial moves that helped ensure an effective response, including:
- provided vehicles for police tactical team;
- revised routes for most buses and mobilized two shifts of relief Operators for additional evacuations;
- set-up a command post at BT’s office;
- established and maintained direct communications with both the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech;
- BT staff also established contact with the Medical Command Center and Police Tactical Command Center, and established and maintained transit supervisory posts at various locations on campus.
Outstanding Service Award
Richard Drumwright
Williamsburg Area Transport
In a spectacular three-day span during Virginia’s celebration of the Jamestown 400th Anniversary, the Queen of England, President Bush, Governor Kaine, dignitaries, press and 57,000 visitors visited Williamsburg and Jamestown for the celebration.
One thing was absent -- traffic congestion.
What could have been a bumper-to-bumper, gridlock nightmare was a model in alternative transportation in large part due to the planning and coordination efforts of Richard Drumwright, Transit Director of Planning and Development for Williamsburg Area Transport.
For his flawless planning and execution of a function so vital to the success of this momentous event, Drumwright recently received an Outstanding Service Award from the Virginia Transit Association.
Drumwright worked with others for a year planning shuttle transportation for the event. His regional contacts, expertise in operations and 28 years of service directing James City County transit and now Williamsburg Area Transport were invaluable in the execution of this project. He coordinated the contract with TMS, secured school buses from six school districts and shuttles from seven designated park and rides.
It is being hailed by VTA officials as “a model in special event transportation.”
Innovative Transit Award
Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)
For the Operator Weekend Scheduling Program
The rotating weekend shift schedule lets DASH bus drivers sign up for an assignment that gives them every other weekend. This has not only resolved a longstanding driver reliability problem. The results are a 25% reduction in drivers reporting off for weekends, reduced overtime and increased morale. It also has been helpful in driver recruitment as well as new driver retention, since most operators have had the choice to select one of these work assignments within their first year of employment. This is a win-win program for employees and management. It could easily be replicated by other transit systems.
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (large system)
Potomac Rappahannock Transportation Commission
For the “PRTC 20th Anniversary Celebration” Campaign
This comprehensive and multi-faceted 20th anniversary celebration, “20 Years of Moving Forward.” celebrated the growth, service and value of Omniride and Omnilinks to the community and recognized the collective efforts of elected leaders, PRTC staff and the strong and growing support of citizens and riders. The campaign included one day special fares 20 for 20- that’s 20 cents fare for 20 years of service , a Children’s book drive, a 15 minute video in cooperation with Prince William counties government cable TV channel, bus advertising, newspaper ads, website features, a PRTC staff ice cream social as well as a Founders, Stakeholders and Dignitaries dinner. The celebratory campaign highlighted the growth, service and value of Omniride and Omnilinks to the community. It also recognized the collective efforts of elected leaders, PRTC staff and the strong and growing support of citizens and riders. This is an extensive, highly successful and largely staff produced campaign that could be easily be adapted by other transit systems.
Outstanding Marketing Award Nominee
Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority
For the "Go Green on Metro" Campaign
With gas prices over $3 per gallon and rising concerns about air quality and traffic congestion WMATA earned an Honorable Mention for the Large System Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award for a timely GO GREEN campaign that drove home the value of Metrobus/Metrorail service, which saves two kinds of green – money and the environment. This clever and timely campaign, which is still going strong, will continue to help shift the way people view riding the bus. As awareness of the need to protect the environment grows and more people are willing to make an effort to reduce green house gas emissions, this campaign highlighted for D.C. area motorists the many benefits of riding a bus or train instead of driving alone.
Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award (small system)
Alexandria Transit Company (DASH)
For “The Sweetest Ride” and “Dashing through Alexandria” Campaigns
A good book. A great day of shopping, And an ice cream treat to finish the day.
Alexandria Transit Company gave its DASH transit riders all three, and it did so with more than a dash of style and flair. The exceptional marketing campaign has resulted in ATC winning the Outstanding Public Transportation Marketing Award in the large system category for programs with a budget of more than $2 million.
DASH’s “Sweetest Ride in Alexandria” campaign offered DASH riders a free frozen custard at the Fairy Godmother frozen custard shop in exchange for showing a valid bus transfer.
The October campaign was so successful that nearly 40 local businesses signed on for the “DASHing Through Alexandria” holiday shopping promotion by offering gifts or discounts to anyone who showed a DASH bus transfer. “DASHing Through Alexandria” was a smashing success as the campaign helped alleviate holiday traffic and parking problems, strong relations were formed between DASH and the retail business community, and shoppers cashed in without even lifting a car key.
To complement the campaigns DASH published a user friendly DASH Ride Guide. A cumbersome, large sheet format was ditched for a multi-sheet mini-magazine featuring maps of each route.
Honorable Mention
Loudoun County Transit
For the “Holiday Special” marketing campaign
This campaign promoted a new seasonal mid-morning bus run from Loudon to Washington D.C. from Dec. 26-30 marketed with a theme of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Museums, Monuments and Memories.”
Loudoun effectively created and promoted a service that adapts to rider and family needs as they change with the season.