Present: Bruce Drees, Carolyn McPherson, Carolyn Caywood, Dan Koach, Emily Fisher, Mike Aschkenas, Nancy Craft, Todd Solomon. Guests: Jim Spore, Mark Schnaufer, Ray Amoruso, Alesia Cain.

Next meeting Monday, March 5, 5:30pm, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation office, 2400 Potters Road, Suite 300.

Carolyn McPherson introduced us and explained how we grew out of Envision Transportation.

Nancy Craft created a Powerpoint of our research and discussions. Dan Koach presented it and general conversation followed.

Dan emphasized that our strategy is to attract new ridership that chooses public transit. We see young people as the most likely demographic and technology as what will attract them. The Powerpoint spells this out.

Present: Bruce Drees, Carolyn McPherson, Carolyn Caywood,  Dan Koach, Emily Fisher, Mike Aschkenas, Nancy Craft, Todd Solomon

Next meeting Nov. 7, 5:30pm, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation office, 
2400 Potters Road, Suite 300.  

HRPTA & HRTPO
Carolyn explained that these two regional organizations need Virginia Beach members.  We think both meet less than monthly. 

The HR Public Transportation Alliance, http://hrpta.com/  chaired by Randy Wright, is a non-governmental group pursuing education and advocacy for public transit.  It was very involved with the Tide

The HR Transportation Planning Organization, http://www.hrtpo.org/  headed by Dwight Farmer, has representatives from the region's cities and decides on the local uses of federal transportation funding.   It has a Citizen Transportation Advisory Committee which includes Ray Taylor who talked about how much that group had worked on becoming educated on transportation.  

Present: Bruce Drees, Carolyn McPherson, Carolyn Caywood,  Dan Koach, Mike Aschkenas, Nancy Craft, Todd Solomon

Next meeting Dec. 5, 5:30pm, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation office, 
2400 Potters Road, Suite 300.  

Tentatively the January meeting will be on the 4th, pending the City Manager's availability.

Our intent is to talk with Mark Schnaufer, then with Planning and Public Works and Jim Spore.  

 

Present: Bruce Drees, Carolyn McPherson, Carolyn Caywood,  Dan Koach, Mike Aschkenas, Nancy Craft

Next meeting WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4, 5:30pm, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation office, 2400 Potters Road, Suite 300.  February meeting tentatively Monday Feb.6, 2012, depending on the City Manager's availability.  Mike will check with Mr. Spore.  

We will use the January meeting to refine, organize and prioritize what we've learned in preparation for the meeting with the City Manager.  Look for instances where what we want is happening so we can say positively, build on this success.    We observed that since state and federal regulations are loosening, the critical question is how committed the city is on its own without regulatory prodding.  

Present: Carolyn McPherson, Carolyn Caywood,  Dan Koach, Mike Aschkenas, Nancy Craft, Emily Fisher

Next meeting Monday, Feb. 6, 5:30pm, Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation office, 2400 Potters Road, Suite 300.  We will meet with Jim Spore, Mark Schnaufer, and Ray Amoruso.  Dan will organize and present our recommendations.  Nancy offered to make a powerpoint.  Carolyn C will write a paragraph about the group's work since we first met with Mr. Spore and provide a roster.

By Carolyn Caywood - Project Fellow

In attendance: Henry Ryto, Carolyn McPherson, Daniel Koach, Bruce Drees, Nancy Craft, Carolyn Caywood, Mike Aschkenas.

Mark Schnaufer, VB Transportation Planning Coordinator ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) joined us to explain how bus service decisions are made. Travis Campbell is another member of the VB staff who works on public transit. HRT does the primary route planning with City input. HRT then proposes a budget to the City with routes and prices and including suggestions for new services. For example, City staff has requested HRT look at a new route serving the base, the industrial park, and the corporate center. For FY2012, HRT proposed making a new route 28 express from Oceanfront to the Newtown LRT station for $600,000, now they're looking at alternatives for FY2013. The City makes the ultimate decision about the level of service.