In the News

What's New in Transit

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Who's in the News

green dot Women in Transportation-Donna Shaunesey (October 2011)

green dot First Light Rail Service in Virginia is Launched: The TIDE (August 2011)

green dot RADFORD Starts New Transit Service! (August 2011)

green dot VTA Recognizes GRTC Transit System - Outstanding Program Award, Large System (June 2010)

green dot VTA Recognizes Blacksburg Transit System - Outstanding Program Award, Small System (June 2010)

green dot VTA Recognizes Charlottesville Transit Service - Marketing Award (June 2010)

green dot Mayor Ballengee Receives VTA Award for Contributions During Christiansburg Bus Service Startup (June 2010)

green dot DASH General Manager Sandy Modell Honored at 2010 Salute to Women (March 2010)

green dot DASH Wins Top Honors at Virginia State Bus Roadeo (March 2010)

green dot GRTC Transit System Takes Top International Marketing Effectiveness Award (September 2009)

green dot GLTC Receives Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award (June 2009)

green dot John Catoe Named Nation's Top Public Transportation Manager (May 2009)

green dot HRT Hands Out Free Tokens! (July 2009)

green dot DASH Announes No Major Service Cuts or Fare Increase (June 2009)

green dot JAUNT driver brings home the trophy  (May 2009)

green dot DASH Alexandria Transit Announces Launch of Website Redesign (March 2009).

green dot Alexandria DASH Clebrates 25th Anniversary

green dot Michael Townes, Involvement in the Industry... Mass Transit Magazine (November 2008).

green dot One on One with Reggie Smith from Harrisonburg Transit (August 2008) showcases public transit for JMU students.

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Awards

Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) (October 2011 ) won First Place in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Adwheel competition (Direct Mail category) for their "New Rider Kit."

Arlington Transit (ART) (October 2011) won First Place in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Adwheel competition (Promotional Campaign category) for their "Arlington's Car-Free Diet Testimonial Campaign."

GRTC Transit System (Octobeer 2011) won First Place in the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Adwheel competition (Annual Report category) for their "150th Anniversary Annual Report."

The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company Receives Achievement Award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) (June 2009) Click here for news article

John Catoe of WMATA Named Nation's Top Public Transportation Manager (May 2009) Click here for article

Virginia's Own GRTC Transit System is Named the #1 Transit System in North America! Click here for press release (27k PDF)

Harrisonburg Transit (April 2008) was named the overall team winner for the 2008 Community Transportation Association of Virginia Driving Rodeo. This year's event was held on Saturday, April 26 in Williamsburg with Williamsburg Area Transport (WAT) hosting! The event was sponsored by CTAV and DRPT. Drivers from across Virginia came to together to have a great time participating in a driving obstacle course, wheelchair handling assessment and a short written test. If you missed the 2008 Roadeo, plan on attending in 2009. The date will be posted as soon as it is determined. Visit www.ctav.org for more information.

Charlottesville's Downtown Transit Station (March 2008) achieved gold level certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for New Construction from the US Green Building Council. Click here for press release.

Governor Kaine receives Virginia Transit Association’s Exemplary Public Service Award Click here for press release (100k PDF)

Dana Kauffman receives 2007 Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Local Official Click here for press release (256k PDF)

Hampton Roads Transit President Selected for National Transit Post: October 8, 2007
Michael S. Townes, President/ CEO of Hampton Roads Transit, was installed as Chairman of APTA.
www.gohrt.com/aboutus/pressroom/10082007.html

Hampton Roads Transit Wins Award from National Transportation Association: October 9, 2007
HRT won first place in the “Internet Homepage” category of the 28th Annual Adwheel Awards. You can visit the award-winning website by going to www.goHRT.com.

NTI Presents 13th Annual Transit Training Awards: October 9, 2007
The National Transit Institute awarded C-VAN the 2007 Model Program Award. C-VAN is a division of GRTC transit system in Richmond, which provides transportation assistance to the welfare-to-work program.

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New/Extended Systems/Routes

Dulles Rail Project Gets Final Approval
In 1964, the Federal Aviation Administration's master plan for Dulles International Airport recommended a transit line along the Dulles Airport Access Road. More than 40 years in the making, Phase 1 of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project received approval from U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, last week, allowing the $2.6 billion project to move ahead. Secretary Peters' decision sends the project to Congress for a 60-day review period.

This new decision reverses the setback experienced earlier in 2008 due to issues raised by the Federal Transit Administration that indicated serious problems with the project. These concerns were addressed by Governor Kaine and state transportation officials along with  the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the entity building the 23-mile extension of the existing Metro system.

Phase 1 construction from East Falls to Wiehle Avenue on the eastern edge of Reston with four stops in Tysons Corner is slated to start in March 2009. The expected completion date  is July 31, 2013.  A construction date has not been set for Phase 2, which will run from Wiehle Avenue  through Reston and Herndon to Washington Dulles International Airport and on Route 772 (Ashburn)in Loudoun County. The cost of Phase 2 has not been determined.  For more information, go to www.dullesmetro.com.

PRTC Adds Service
A new morning OmniRide trip from Montclair to downtown Washington, D.C., was added in September 2008, as well as an afternoon trip from the Washington Navy Yard to Dale City. For more information, call (703) 730-6664 or visit www.prtctransit.org.

The Tide's light rail construction has pulled into downtown, the area along the 7.4-mile line that is expected to be most disrupted by its construction over the next year and a half. The starter line - from Newtown Road to the Eastern Virginia Medical Center - runs mostly along an abandoned railroad corridor until it hits downtown, where the tracks are being laid within existing streets.

JAUNT started a new evening and Saturday service in Fluvanna County.

Dubbed The Fluvanna Express, the service will run from 3:30 to 9:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. The cost to ride is $1.

The weekday service has 12 stops, and on Saturdays there will be 10 stops, covered by two buses.

For more information, call JAUNT at 296-3184 or go to www.ridejaunt.org.

New Charlottesville Transit Service Begins August 25th
CTS will now have Sunday bus service. Also, CTS has improved service on some of its Routes. And, as of March 24, 2008, CTS is operating new night service to UVA Hospital on Route 22. Guests on Routes 21 and 22 now have transfer-free service between Belmont, Blue Ridge Commons, and UVA Hospital via the Downtown Transit Station. Click on www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=662 and www.charlottesville.org/index.aspx?recordid=533&page=635 for additional information.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) debuted its MAX commuter bus service on June 16, providing city-to-city service among the seven cities in the Hampton Roads region.

MAX, which stands for Metro Area Express, includes five routes that operate at 20- to 30-minute intervals, connecting passengers to park-and-ride lots, transportation centers and major employment destinations.

The service operates with metallic silver and blue buses, equipped with amenities including plush, high-back seats and additional leg room.

HRT noted that federal Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality funds are making the new service possible. MAX operated fare free for its first two weeks, but regular fares of $3 one way or $5.50 for a day pass began July 1. For more information, go to www.gohrt.com

governor kaineKaine Lauded for Expanding Public Transit - Officials Announce Plans for "Portsmouth Loop" - July 7th, 2007
Governor Tim Kaine, along with other dignitaries from Virginia attended an event in Portsmouth on July 6, 2007 to help announce plans for the "Portsmouth Loop," a new shuttle service in Downtown Portsmouth, for scheduled service in January 2008.

HRT and the City of Norfolk Break Ground on Light Rail "The Tide"
On December 9, 2007 Hampton Roads Transit and the City of Norfolk made history in the state of Virginia. The ground breaking ceremony celebrated the beginning of construction on the new light rail system, which is the first of its kind in the state of Virginia. HRT officials were joined by Governor Tim Kaine, Congressional representatives, local officials, and many more.
www.ridethetide.com/pressroom/pressroom.html

Williamsburg, VA System Adds Service to Surry County
Williamsburg Area Transport began service from Surry County back in October. In order to encourage the public to familiarize themselves with the weekday service, WAT offered free fares on the line through December 31. The new service will ease travel by decreasing traffic on state highways between localities, reduce space needs on the Scotland Ferry, conserve fossil fuels, and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gases.

Ride the Tide
The Tide is Norfolk’s (soon-to-be) Light Rail Transit System. Construction on the 7.4 mile long line. The line will run from the Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown to Newtown Road. There will be 11 stations with three park and ride locations. It is expected to be fully operational by 2010. HRT anticipates 7,130 to 11,400 riders a day.
www.ridethetide.com

Peninsula Rapid Transit Project
The Peninsula Rapid Transit Project (PRTP) is a proposal to provide rapid transit service to the Peninsula region of Hampton Roads and connect major activity centers and points of interest. Major activity centers served by the proposed corridor, either directly or by direct feeder bus service, include Ft. Eustis, Patrick Henry Mall, Oyster Point, Hampton Coliseum and Convention Center, Newport News Shipyard, and downtown Newport News. www.gohrt.com/prt/index.asp

Hampton Roads Transit Proposes Universal Shuttle- Virginia Beach Approves Plan: July 17, 2007
Virginia Beach approved a plan to replace its existing fleet of trolleys at the Oceanfront with a fleet of hybrid diesel-electric buses. The new buses are 29 feet long and wheelchair accessible. For additional information, click on www.gohrt.com/services/vbwave.html

New Services for Danville
The Reserve-A-Ride service hours for locations along Highway 58 East have been extended. They are now: 6 am to 8am and 3 pm to 5 pm Monday thru Saturday.

As of April 2nd, passengers can board the #2 Third Avenue bus at Janie’s Hope Apartments but must call 799-5144 in advance to request the driver to come to the apartment complex. When passengers are returning, they should inform the driver to serve this area.
www.danville-va.gov/departments.asp?menuid=2820&sub1menuid=2839&sub2menuid=2963&sub3menuid=3051

New Service Center

Transit Center Opens in Downtown Charlottesville: March 26, 2007
The new Downtown Transit Station is located at 615 East Water Street across the Pedestrian Mall from City Hall. The hours are 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Saturday. For additional information, click on www.charlottesville.org/?page=635&recordid=415&returnURL=%2FIndex.aspx

New Main Bus Facility in Richmond
GRTC transit system acquired land to build a new facility in February, 2006. They plan to finish construction in 2010. The new location is only 5 miles from downtown Richmond and is located at 301 E. Belt Boulevard.
ridegrtc.com/documents/New%20Property%20Overview.pdf

Williamsburg Area Transport Brings Bus Transportation to Surry: October 15, 2007
The service will allow Surry residents to commute to the Williamsburg area for employment, shopping, medical needs, and more.
http://www.jccegov.com/news/news_details-a.php?RECORD_KEY%28news_results%29=news_id&news_id(news_results)=506

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Miscellaneous

DRPT Launches RSS News Feed (February 2009)

DRPT recently launched a new RSS news feed to provide timely rail, transit and transportation demand management news. Subscribe to DRPTs feed and receive up-to-the-minute news and information.  To subscribe, click here.

Ridership Across Virginia is at an All-time High! (June 2008)

  • Since 2003, gas prices have increased 180 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • Based on today's gas prices, a commuter can save more than $670 a month, or $8,000 annually, by taking public transportation instead of driving, according to the American Public Transportation Association's latest Monthly Transit Savings Report.
  • As the price of gas soars, ridership is at a 50-year high nationally, while vehicle miles traveled is down 4.3 percent.
  • Virginia transit systems state-wide have experienced a 12 - 32 percent increase in ridership.
  • Metro is continually setting new records in ridership numbers.Increases in ridership typically seen during special events are now being experienced during daily commutes.

Click here for more fast facts.

Manassas Welcomes Parking Deck: August, 2008

After years of discussion, nine months of construction and an unofficial ribbon-cutting ceremony June 26, a parking garage shared by Manassas and the Virginia Railway Express officially opened Friday night. More...

Some in GRTC Fleet Now Have Capability For Wireless Computers: June 2008

In June, GRTC equipped buses used on its longer express routes with Wi-Fi service.

Hampton Roads Transit Launches Google Transit: October, 2007

Riders can enter their origin and destination online and receive a detailed itinerary using public transportation. Google transit also provides the length of time it takes riders to walk to bus stops, the cost of the trip, and how much they saved using transit vs. driving.
www.gohrt.com/services/tripplanner.html

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Press Releases/Fact Sheets

VTA Press Releases - 2011

VTA Press Releases - 2010

VTA Press Releases - 2009

VTA Press Releases - 2008

Archives (1998-2006)

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Op-Eds/Letters to the Editor

  • Reducing the Cost of Commuting, Op Ed, The Honorable John J. McGlennon, President, VTA,for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 2008.
  • Invest in Transit, Response by Linda McMinimy, Executive Director, VTA, to "Road Solutions" article, Daily Press, May 23, 2008 (click here to read "Road Solutions" article).
  • Transit is growing, Response by The Honorable John J. McGlennon, President, VTA, to "Road Solutions" article, Daily Press, May 23, 2008 (click here to read "Road Solutions" article).

Archives (1998-2006)

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