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ARTICLE FOR PUBLICATION |
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Coalition Members:
We encourage you to print this article in your next newsletter or post it to your Web site.
It's Time!
-Provided by Virginians for Better Transportation-
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In September 2004, transportation industry representatives conducted a series of focus groups in areas across Virginia to determine residents’ opinions about transportation issues and awareness of the transportation funding crisis facing the Commonwealth. The focus groups took place in Northern Virginia, the Hampton Roads and Tidewater areas, Richmond and Southwest Virginia.
The focus group participants expressed a fairly high amount of interest in overall transportation issues, however they indicated little to no awareness about transportation funding across the state. Focus group participants also revealed that they believe transportation and related funding to be a quality-of-life issue for residents of the Commonwealth.
Shortly thereafter, transportation industry representatives, organizations, businesses and interested individuals joined to form Virginians for Better Transportation (VBT) – a broad-based coalition working to inform Virginians about the funding needs for all modes of transportation.
VBT has developed the It’s Time public education campaign. This is an integrated communications initiative incorporating paid advertising, publicity and interactive communications to inform Virginians about the transportation issues the Commonwealth currently faces and those it will be challenged with tomorrow.
To build the coalition, VBT has contacted more than 1,000 groups and individuals across Virginia to explain the focus of the coalition and ask for support. As of July 2005, more than 550 businesses, organizations and individuals have signed on to support VBT.
A working steering committee and an executive council have been formed to help guide the campaign and direct its goals and communications efforts.
VBT also launched the It’s Time campaign Web site – an easily accessible resource that offers up-to-date information about the campaign and access to communications materials including fact sheets, a PowerPoint presentation, candidate’s guide and news releases. Log on to www.itstimevirginia.org and check it out.
The coalition is also organizing regional stakeholders groups in nine regions of the state. These groups consist of local residents who are concerned about transportation issues in their area and will work to communicate about the crisis on the local level. Log on to the Web site if you are interested in joining your area’s stakeholders group.
In April 2005, VBT conducted a public kick-off of the It’s Time campaign and formally launched the coalition, explained its mission, and introduced its executive council and steering committee members. Since then, the campaign has received attention from media throughout the state, including television, print, Web and talk radio outlets. In July, VBT sponsored a two-week radio campaign airing on stations throughout the state to call attention to the transportation funding crisis.
There is a great deal going on, but we still need your help! To demonstrate your support for Virginians for Better Transportation, visit the campaign Web site or contact the coalition at 804.237.1399. Encourage your friends, family member and co-workers to sign on too. Becoming a member means that you support VBT’s mission in calling for a comprehensive, long-term solution to the state’s transportation funding crisis. Becoming a member does not cost anything and through frequent campaign updates, helps you to stay informed about the issue. Consider joining your local stakeholders group, which will address this issue at the local level - and - help increase awareness of the impending transportation crisis by speaking about it to clubs and organizations in your region. Also, contact your elected officials to let them know that - it’s time to find long-term solutions. The transportation funding crisis simply cannot be dealt with tomorrow – it must be addressed today.
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