OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Transit Advisory Board Business Meeting - May 19, 2025

Commissions & Advisory Boards — Monday, May 19, 2025
BodyLoudoun County, Virginia
SessionCommissions & Advisory Boards
DateMonday, May 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:25:16

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Should be recording.

0:04

Okay.

0:05

Well first let's call this meeting to order.

0:11

Um first I want to just say that I'm happy that we have this great turnout.

0:17

Fortunately that we we didn't get a good turnout at the last meeting because of you know life, I guess.

0:26

People have commitments, but I'm happy that you know you took time to be here tonight.

0:33

Um first would we like to introduce the new member?

0:40

I think so.

0:41

Yes.

0:43

Um we have a new member who's gonna be replaced in um Ron Lawson.

0:50

Mr.

0:51

Anwin, would you like to introduce yourself?

0:54

Yes, um I'm Alan Wynn, uh retired.

0:57

Used to work in the Loudon County for Department of Transportation.

1:02

Uh, but now I'm retired and sitting here as uh representative for Broad Run.

1:07

Um I have a long background on transit operations, transit management, equally divided over 50 years with public and private sector.

1:19

Uh I was uh assistant general manager in the transit administration in Maryland.

1:26

Um also headed up all the statewide local operator transit systems in Maryland.

1:33

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.

2:06

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.

2:18

So here I am, and I'm I'm glad I'm I'm honored that um uh supervisor glass.

2:26

Um to be a member and um forward to attend them.

2:31

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.

2:45

Well, thank you.

2:46

Just want to say Ronnie's not here, right?

2:49

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.

3:06

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.

3:23

Well, we will see what happens.

3:25

I don't have travel orders yet, but inshallah.

3:31

Do you have anything to say?

3:32

Uh it's been unreal privilege for the last gosh.

3:38

How two years?

3:40

It's it's gone by very quickly.

3:43

Uh y'all have put up with my um wide-eyed enthusiasm uh for public transit, especially the commuter bus.

3:55

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.

4:06

So hopefully that will uh actually happen.

4:10

And but this has been an absolute privilege.

4:15

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.

4:31

Um I will be I am sad to leave.

4:35

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.

4:43

Um, so the feet are definitely itchy.

4:46

Um given that there is 50 miles of roadway at the top overall in Greenland.

4:55

I'm pretty sure that uh but they they have mass transit for the 20,000 people in the capital.

5:05

Then just think of me when you see Greenland in the headlines.

5:11

Well I appreciate all the assistance that you provided, all the guidance, all the inputs that you have done.

5:22

And wish you all the best.

5:24

Please send us a postcard.

5:27

I'll do my best not to get eaten by polar bears.

5:32

And make sure you give whoever whoever is taking over from you a good turnover.

5:37

That is good.

5:38

Appreciate that.

5:40

Um we have any more introductions.

5:43

Uh we do have a guest, and so um introduce him tonight or right now, or um wait till the uh presentation.

5:55

Well, unless you would like to introduce whatever.

5:59

Okay, let's just quick introduction and then we can when we do that.

6:04

All right, hello everyone.

6:05

My name is Kevin Potter.

6:07

I'm the planning director for a nonprofit organization by the name of NovaTrack.

6:13

Some of you may have heard of us already, but just in case you haven't.

6:17

I'm not gonna go in the whole spiel because I do have a presentation later, but we want to build a rail with trail along the W O D trail is our is the basis of our idea, and I'm here to present that idea tonight.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transportation█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Procedural█████████████20%
Technology and Innovation███5%
Community Engagement███4%
Transportation Safety█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Transit Advisory Board Business Meeting - May 19, 2025

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.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of November 13, 2024, Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously by voice vote.
  • Approval of Regular Meeting Schedule through January 2026: Approved unanimously. Meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month (July 9, September 10, November 12, 2025, and January 14, 2026) at the Transit & Commuter Services Office.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during the meeting.

Discussion Items

Officer Elections

  • Chair: Ray Delpesche was nominated and re-elected by acclamation.
  • Vice-Chair: Vlad Ovchynnikov was nominated and elected by acclamation, replacing outgoing Vice-Chair Suzi Wilson (who is departing the board).
  • New member Alan Wynn (Broad Run District representative, retired transit professional) introduced himself.

NOVA-TRAC Presentation – Rail-with-Trail Concept

  • Kevin Potter, planning director for NOVA-TRAC (a nonprofit), presented a proposal to build a rail line along the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail from East Falls Church to Purcellville, using half of the 100-foot-wide right-of-way. The concept aims to provide a faster, express rail alternative to the Silver Line, with estimated travel times of 45 minutes from Leesburg to D.C. and 1 hour from Purcellville.
  • Board members raised numerous concerns:
    • Alan Wynn noted institutional agreements (e.g., with WMATA) and the need for extensive feasibility studies, safety and utility issues, and the proper order of engagement with DRPT (Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit).
    • Other members questioned the compatibility of a high-speed rail with the trail, potential noise, community opposition, environmental impacts, and the concept's viability given the existence of successful commuter bus service.
    • Several members suggested that light rail or bus rapid transit might be more suitable alternatives.
  • Kevin Potter clarified that the request was for a non-financial endorsement (to be listed as a supporter). No formal vote was taken; the board expressed that the concept is too early in development to endorse at this stage.

Staff Updates

  • Commuter Bus Ridership & Service: Sarah Kleckner (filling in for Scott Gross) reported that commuter bus ridership surged in March 2025 due to federal return-to-office mandates. On May 5, 2025, two additional morning and two afternoon commuter trips were added. Retiming of all commuter trips is underway to reflect increased traffic, effective July 1. Potential for new routes (e.g., Navy Yard, East Side) is being explored, but ridership data is needed.
  • Local Bus Ridership: Weekend service expansion (April 1) on legacy routes significantly increased ridership: Saturdays jumped from ~400 to ~700 riders, Sundays from under 100 to ~400 riders. Local fixed-route daily ridership surpassed 2,000 riders every weekday in May.
  • Microtransit Pilot: A microtransit pilot in Leesburg is set to launch July 1, 2025, operating Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. It will use the Rideco app (branded as LCT On Demand) with virtual stops and call-in booking. The service will complement existing fixed routes; no changes to those routes initially.
  • Bus Stop Improvements: Shelter installation is in design/land acquisition phases; ADA improvements ongoing. Real-time data enhancements (GTFS-RT feed) are being developed to improve rider information via Google Maps and other platforms.

Key Outcomes

  • Officer Elections: Ray Delpesche re-elected Chair; Vlad Ovchynnikov elected Vice-Chair.
  • Minutes and Schedule: Approved unanimously.
  • NOVA-TRAC Proposal: No endorsement; board encouraged the group to complete feasibility studies, community engagement, and environmental analysis before returning.
  • Commuter Service: Additional trips implemented; retiming set for July 1. Future expansion depends on ridership demand.
  • Microtransit Pilot: Launch confirmed for July 1, 2025, in Leesburg.
  • Next Meeting: Scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Transit & Commuter Services Office, 209 Gibson St. NW, Suite 100, Leesburg, VA.

Meeting Transcript

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.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com