Got Transit?
Transcript of Got Transit? video
A team of individuals, Robert Angle, Marleen Durfee, Merlyn Frederick, Michael Jackson, and Debbie Schebe, who participated in Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR) of 2009 chose transportation from among several suggested topics, with a specific focus on mass transit, for its class project. Members of the team were aware of the current mass transit system but wanted to fulfill a sense of deep obligation to do whatever it could to increase the awareness of the importance of mass transit in the Region. The passion for the topic was so apparent to all members that it soon turned into an action plan to increase community awareness and support for mass transit. It was very important to the team to inform individuals on how mass transit can transform Richmond and our Region and how it has done so in cities like Charlotte, NC, and Cleveland, Ohio, who have benefited greatly by having mass transit in their areas.
The team got quickly to work and used “Got Transit?” as it is initial project name and decided to develop a viral video as one way to inform the public. Of course the team wanted the project to be successful and have great impact on our Richmond Region but more importantly, the team emphasized that the project have “life” beyond fulfilling a class assignment. It shall be noted that not all individuals on the team brought expertise to the table and in order to bring the kind of success expected from the team it became imperative to partner with the appropriate organization – GRTC Transit System. GRTC became our partner that not only provided the professionalism and direct expertise but defined ridership and transit and its impact on so many issues. The LMR team and GRTC identified two key issues, the economy and the environment, on which transit has an impact on our community. Over the next several months the LMR/GRTC partnership worked on a strategic plan to provide a viral video with this particular focus. As mentioned previously, the video was only one way to increase awareness of mass transit and then work was underway to develop “TransitTalk.com” a website, etc.
