\r\n\r\n \r\nI am pleased to let you know that the Valdosta Urbanized Area\r\nTransit Implementation Study is well under development and it is\r\ntime to share the draft recommendations with you and with the\r\ncommunity. With your help, we reached over 500 members of the\r\ncommunity through our online survey this Spring! The input has been\r\nvery helpful in the development of the study and in fine-tuning our\r\nPilot Shuttle Program which just received additional funding to\r\noperate through September of this year.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nWe will hold a Transit Implementation Study Open House from noon to\r\n7pm on Tuesday, June 28 at the Lowndes County Judicial and\r\nAdministrative Complex, 327 N. Ashley Street, Valdosta, GA 31601. We\r\nlook forward to\r\n\r\n presenting the draft recommendations and have\r\nplanned for a special shuttle stop on the day of the meeting to\r\naccommodate transit riders interested in participating in the\r\nmeeting! I would like to request your assistance in extending the\r\nmeeting notification to the community.\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nPlease share the attached Press Release and Open House Flyer with\r\nmembers of your organization and your community e-mail lists. If you\r\ncan post these documents to your organization’s website and\/or\r\ninclude this information in your organization newsletters, that\r\nwould be helpful. As always, social media is a great way to spread\r\nthe word. Give transit a “shout out” on your organizational or\r\npersonal social media in June!! A great social media post could\r\nread, “Valdosta is looking at public transit and rideshare\r\nopportunities! Mark your calendar to attend an informational Open\r\nHouse on June 28, noon-7pm to get involved. Visit\r\n\r\nhttp:\/\/www.sgrc.us\/public-transit.html<\/a> for details!”\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nThank you so much for your valuable participation throughout the\r\nstudy process. Your participation is truly appreciated!\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nCorey Hull, AICP\r\n \r\n -jsq\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nAttached were\r\na a PDF flyer<\/a> (images below)\r\nand\r\na press release in Word<\/a> (also inline below<\/a>).\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\nPress Release<\/a> (see also Word version<\/a>).\r\n \r\n\t \r\n \r\nJune\r\n3, 2016<\/b><\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\nFor\r\nImmediate Release<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\nValdosta<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/font>\u2013\r\n<\/span><\/span><\/font>The\r\nValdosta-Lowndes County Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO) is\r\nexploring options for implementation of public transit service in the\r\nValdosta urbanized area. The local community is invited to\r\nattend an Open House on Tuesday, June 28 from noon to 7pm at the\r\nLowndes County Judicial and Administrative Complex, 327 N. Ashley\r\nStreet, Valdosta, GA 31601.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nThe\r\nOpen House will provide an opportunity for the community to review\r\nstudy findings, gain information on the public transportation\r\nalternatives under consideration, and provide input to members of the\r\ntransit implementation study team throughout the day.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nThe\r\nstudy identifies innovative and cost effective ways to implement\r\npublic transit in the community. Alternatives include traditional\r\nbus service as well as transportation rideshare options like Uber and\r\nLyft.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nAs\r\na part of the study, a community survey was conducted during the\r\nSpring of 2016. Of the 512 survey participants, approximately 75%\r\nfeel there is definitely a need for public transit service in the\r\nValdosta area.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n Do\r\nyou feel there is a need for public transit service in the Valdosta\r\nArea?<\/b><\/i><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n The\r\ninterest in exploring the need for public transit is evident within\r\nthe community. This Spring, students enrolled in Sociology 7100:\r\nUrban and Community Life at Valdosta State University produced a\r\nvideo concerning the need for public transportation in the Valdosta\r\narea. When asked about the need for public transportation, Valdosta\r\nMayor John Gayle stated: \u201cWell, yes, I think we have a need \u2026 as\r\nhas been told before, we are the only metropolitan city in Georgia\r\nthat does not have a [public] transportation system.\u201d <\/font><\/font>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\nThe\r\nPilot Shuttle Program, which began in October of last year, has seen\r\na steady increase in ridership over the past six months. The Georgia\r\nDepartment of Human Services (DHS) will continue the Valdosta Pilot\r\nShuttle Program through September 30, 2016. The Southern Georgia\r\nRegional Commission will likely propose a modification to the current\r\nroute based on ridership statistics, survey feedback and timeliness\r\nof the route. Continuation beyond September will depend on additional\r\nfunding from DHS or other sources. <\/font><\/font><\/font>\r\n<\/p>\r\n Pilot\r\nShuttle Ridership, Southern Route<\/b><\/i><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n Month<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t Average\r\n\t\t\t\tDaily Ridership<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t Percent\r\n\t\t\t\tChange<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t April\r\n\t\t\t\t2016<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 21.73<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 36.2%<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t March\r\n\t\t\t\t2016<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 15.96<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 6.8%<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t February\r\n\t\t\t\t2016<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 14.94<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 10.7%<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t January\r\n\t\t\t\t2016<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 13.50<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 7.3%<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t December\r\n\t\t\t\t2015<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 12.58<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 17.9%<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t<\/tr>\r\n\t\t November\r\n\t\t\t\t2015<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t 10.67<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<\/td>\r\n\t\t\t \r\nSource:\r\nSouth Georgia Regional Commission<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\n\u201cWe\r\nare very encouraged by the findings of the Pilot Shuttle Program and\r\nthe transit implementation study. We want to share this information\r\nwith the community during an Open House on June 28,\u201d said SGRC\r\nTransportation Director and study Project Manager, Corey Hull. \u201cTo\r\nensure citizens throughout the community are able to attend the Open\r\nHouse, we have arranged a special shuttle stop at the Judicial and\r\nAdministrative Complex during the meeting. We hope the public will\r\nstop in and learn more about the future of transit in Valdosta.\u201d<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nThe\r\nValdosta Pilot Shuttle will make a special stop near the Lowndes\r\nCounty Judicial and Administrative Complex at the corner of Lee\r\nStreet and Valley Street until 8 pm on Tuesday, June 28.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\nA\r\nflyer advertising the Open House and a map of the route scheduled for\r\nJune 28 is attached and is available at\r\nhttp:\/\/www.sgrc.us\/public-transit.html.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\r\n \r\n![\"June](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/816e24e135bdb6b1a3ba3644275a2105.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\nDear Stakeholders,\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"Bus](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/ab5431cd52a82c983df76dc4c1aa9bf7.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n
\r\nCorey Hull\r\n
\r\nTransportation and Environmental Director\r\n
\r\nValdosta-Lowndes MPO\r\n
\r\n327 W. Savannah Ave.\r\n
\r\nValdosta, GA 31601\r\n
\r\nfacebook<\/a>\r\n
\r\ntwitter<\/a>\r\n
\r\nYouTube<\/a>\r\n
\r\n229.333.5277\r\n
\r\n229.300.0922 (c)\r\n
\r\n229.333.5312 (f)\r\n
\r\nchull@sgrc.us<\/a>\r\n
\r\nwww.sgrc.us<\/a>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n![\"June](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/11b5cba3e87550fabc053995a94dcb37.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n![\"Bus](\"http:\/\/www.l-a-k-e.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/c974f5364a7f5ff71bf724d257c3b11a.jpg\")
<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\n<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Re:<\/span><\/font><\/font>\r\n<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/font>Valdosta\r\nPublic Transit Open House June 28 noon to 7pm<\/font><\/font><\/h1>\r\n
\r\n<\/font><\/p>\r\n
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