Note: The agenda listed this meeting as Wednesday, May 14, 2025, but the transcript indicates the meeting occurred on May 19, 2025 (a Monday). The summary below follows the transcript date.
The Transit Advisory Board (TAB) held a business meeting covering officer elections, a presentation from NOVA-TRAC on a proposed rail-with-trail project, and staff updates on ridership, service expansions, and a microtransit pilot. The meeting was chaired by Ray Delpesche.
Should be recording. Okay. Well first let's call this meeting to order. Um first I want to just say that I'm happy that we have this great turnout. Fortunately that we we didn't get a good turnout at the last meeting because of you know life, I guess. People have commitments, but I'm happy that you know you took time to be here tonight. Um first would we like to introduce the new member? I think so. Yes. Um we have a new member who's gonna be replaced in um Ron Lawson. Mr. Anwin, would you like to introduce yourself? Yes, um I'm Alan Wynn, uh retired. Used to work in the Loudon County for Department of Transportation. Uh, but now I'm retired and sitting here as uh representative for Broad Run. Um I have a long background on transit operations, transit management, equally divided over 50 years with public and private sector. Uh I was uh assistant general manager in the transit administration in Maryland. Um also headed up all the statewide local operator transit systems in Maryland. Uh then I got into consulting and did the same thing, but um traveled all around the country doing that, and um and then uh I retired from Department of Transportation Capital Infrastructure at the county transit um transferred over to uh the general services and um retired during COVID, which was weird. Sit at the dining room table, and the next day I got up and there was this little thing on the chandeliers that happy retirement, and that was it after 50 years. So here I am, and I'm I'm glad I'm I'm honored that um uh supervisor glass. Um to be a member and um forward to attend them. Well, we are very honored to have you in our midst, and we look forward to your inputs and your assistance and helping us do our mission here. Well, thank you. Just want to say Ronnie's not here, right? But we appreciate all his dedication to the board, and uh we wish him all the best more than follow and especially his willingness to continue even after his term had officially expired. And um then we also want to recognize that Susie Wilson will be um departing us, and she's being still haven't signed her exit and uh exit before we need to get that stamped. Well, we will see what happens. I don't have travel orders yet, but inshallah. Do you have anything to say? Uh it's been unreal privilege for the last gosh. How two years? It's it's gone by very quickly. Uh y'all have put up with my um wide-eyed enthusiasm uh for public transit, especially the commuter bus. Uh I hear talk of other uh there, there's at least one other person who has said that they were going to apply for the long-haul commuter representative. So hopefully that will uh actually happen. And but this has been an absolute privilege. Uh I feel like it's it's such a wonderful thing to get to be part of making every making things better for people around the county for everyone around the county. Um I will be I am sad to leave. I'm happy to be in one spot for seven years, which I think is the longest I've been in any spot since I was 18 years old. Um, so the feet are definitely itchy. Um given that there is 50 miles of roadway at the top overall in Greenland. I'm pretty sure that uh but they they have mass transit for the 20,000 people in the capital. Then just think of me when you see Greenland in the headlines. Well I appreciate all the assistance that you provided, all the guidance, all the inputs that you have done. And wish you all the best. Please send us a postcard. I'll do my best not to get eaten by polar bears. And make sure you give whoever whoever is taking over from you a good turnover. That is good.