[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 39 (Monday, March 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALEXANDRIA TRANSIT COMPANY AND 
                            DASH BUS SYSTEM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2014

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the honoring of the 30th 
anniversary of the Alexandria Transit Company's (ATC) and the 
initiation of the city's DASH bus system.
  Mayor Charles ``Chuck'' Beatley was the champion and father of DASH, 
and had a vision over 30 years ago of a bus system that would serve the 
local transit needs of the community and provide high quality transit 
service to the residents, workers, and visitors of the City of 
Alexandria. The ATC Chairman of 22 years, Mr. William `` Bill'' B. Hurd 
shared the Mayor's vision and helped to create the organization that 
became so successful under his leadership; and who fostered a back-to-
basics approach of operating safe and reliable service with clean buses 
and friendly and courteous drivers.
  The DASH transit plays a vital role in the city of Alexandria by 
providing clean, safe, affordable, and reliable transportation service 
every day to thousands of commuters, city residents, workers, and 
visitors. The total ridership over the past 30 years has increased by 
over 360%, with a total annual ridership of over four million, an 
average of 14,500 passengers riding DASH every weekday and 12,000 
passengers riding on the weekends; and expanded service from 582,000 
miles in the first full year of service to over 1.6 million miles 
today.
  I am pleased to say that DASH contributes to the quality of life and 
preserving the livability of Alexandria by mitigating traffic impacts, 
improving circulation and mobility throughout the city, and providing 
easier access to local businesses, retail and employment centers, 
residential developments, and to the regional Metrorail and the 
Virginia Railway Express commuter rail systems. Over the past four 
years, DASH has been purchasing environmentally friendly and low-floor 
hybrid electric buses and trolleys, which have provided great benefits 
including: reduced air pollutant emissions, reduced fuel consumption, 
increased transmission and brake life, and reduced engine noise, while 
improving accessibility and dwell times, and providing a smoother ride 
overall.
  Metro Magazine named DASH one of the ``10 Great Transit Systems to 
Work For,'' and the Alexandria Commission for Women recognized the DASH 
General Manager, Sandy Modell, with the Salute to Women Leadership in 
Business and Career Development Award.
  On behalf of the residents of the 8th Congressional District of 
Virginia, I congratulate the entire DASH bus system, its employees, and 
the Board of Directors, for their efforts and significant contributions 
to the Alexandria community to improve mobility and accessibility 
throughout the city, and for their achievements that have been 
recognized both nationally and by the Commonwealth of Virginia, in 
providing the highest quality of transit service to Alexandria 
residents, workers, and visitors, and in helping to make Alexandria a 
truly Livable, Green, and Prospering City.

                          ____________________