HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 2026 Minutes GREATER ROANOKE TRANSIT COMPANY
March 16, 2026
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Greater Roanoke Transit
Company was called to ord r by President Joseph L. Cobb on Monday, March 16, 2026,
at 12:30 p.m., in the in the R Learning Center, located in Room 309, Third Floor North,
Noel C. Taylor Municipal Bui ding, 215 Church Avenue, S.W., Roanoke, Virginia, pursuant
to written notification by the ecretary of the Corporation.
PRESENT: Director Matthew Crookshank, Dwayne D'Ardenne, Karen Michalski-
Karney, Richard Peters, Jr., Vivian Sanchez-Jones and President Joseph L. Cobb-6.
ABSENT: Maxwell Dillon-1.
Also present were almarie Turner, Vice-President of Operations; Cecelia F.
McCoy, Secretary; Laura 1 arini, General Counsel; Drew Harmon, Municipal Auditor;
Kevin L. Price, General Ma ages, Valley Metro; and Ronnie Parker, Assistant General
Manager, Valley Metro; Cor y Alshouse, Interim Director of Finance, Valley Metro.
President Cobb decl red the existence of a quorum.
MINUTES: Without objection by the Board, President Cobb advised that the
reading of the minutes of th regular meeting held on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, would
be dispensed with and app owed as written.
(See copy of Minutes on Fil in the Secretary's Office.)
ELECTION OF OFF CER:
An Election of vaca cy on the Board of Directors to replace Timothy R. Spencer
as General Counsel and R gistered Agent:
"Article v, Officers, o i the by-laws of the Greater Roanoke Transit Company, states
vacancies among th officers shall be filled by the directors for the unexpired term
of any such vacancy."
Laura M. Carini wa placed in nomination as General Counsel and Registered
Agent of the Greater Roa oke Transit Company by Director Sanchez-Jones to fill the
unexpired term of Timothy . Spencer ending June 30, 2026. Director Michalski-Karney
seconded the motion.
There being no furither nomination for appointment of General Counsel and
Registered Agent, Laura I . Carini was appointed to replace Timothy R. Spencer, as
General Counsel and Regi tered Agent for the Greater Roanoke Transit Company to fill
the unexpired term of offic , ending June 30, 2026, by the following vote:
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AYES: Directors Crookshank, D'Ardenne, Michalski-Karney, Peters, Sanchez-
Jones and President Cobb- .
NAYS: None-0 — (Dir ctor Maxwell Dillon was absent.)
GENERAL MANAGER:
MANAGEMENT UPQATE: The General Manager submitted the Management
Update dated March 16, 2026, regarding the following items:
The General Manager, Mr. Price, briefly advised the Board regarding the Walmart
Transit Stop (Update). He reported Novak Construction conducted a site visit at the
proposed bus stop locatio at the Walmart property. Valley Metro recommended a
shopping cart corral and I rger bus shelter for the project. Following feedback from
Directors Sanchez-Jones, Michalski-Karney, and D'Ardenne, the report was well
received.
Mr. Price gave an pdate on February 12, 2026, Transit Passenger Advisory
Committee (TPAC) virtual eeting. The committee discussed updates on transit bus
shelters, winter weather r sponse, transit ridership updates, and MetroFLX. Staff
provided responses to que ions from TPAC.
(See TPAC Meeting Notes rom February 12, 2026, in the secretary's office.)
Mr. Price stated Rid rship has remained relatively stable, with a slight year-over-
year decline that is not considered concerning. MetroFLX is very popular for riders and
may consider expanding in the future.
President Cobb inquired about the vacancies on TPAC; wherein, Mr: Parker
advised there were three vacancies at this time. Director D'Ardenne mentioned the
additional riders during the recent Fare Free Transit Day (approximately 2,000 additional
riders).
After a brief discussion highlighting the benefits and positive reception of Fare Free
Days, President Cobb reco mended that Valley Metro offer them on the following dates:
• April 21, 2026 — Sp cial Election Day
• August 4, 2026 —Vi ginia Primary Election Day
• November 3, 2026 General Election Day
Director Michalski- arney moved that the Board provide Fare Free Days on the
abovementioned dates. T e motion was seconded by Director D'Ardenne and adopted
by the following vote:
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AYES: Directors Cr okshank, D'Ardenne, Michalski-Karney, Peters, Sanchez-
Jones and President Cobb- .
NAYS: None-O. (Dire 'tor Dillon was absent.)
APPOINTMENT OF BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE: The General Manager
requested the appointment f two members of the Board of the Greater Roanoke Transit
Company and two officers of the Greater Roanoke Transit Company to serve as the Fiscal
Year 2027 Budget Review ommittee to review the proposed budget.
Director Crookshank placed in nomination the following by name and title: Vice-
President Vivian Sanchez-J nes and Director Karen Michalsky-Karney as the two Board
Member representatives, nd Edena Reese-Atmore, Board Treasurer and Angelia
O'Brien, Assistant Vice-Pre ident of Operations as Officers of the Company. The motion
was seconded by Director atthew Crookshank.
There being no furth r nominations, Ms. Sanchez-Jones, Ms. Michalsky-Karney,
Ms. Reese-Atmore and Ms. O'Brien were appointed to serve as members of the Fiscal
Year 2026 — 2027 Budget eview Committee by the following vote:
AYES: Directors C ookshank, D'Ardenne, Michalski-Karney, Peters, Sanchez-
Jones and President Cobb-
NAYS: None-O. (Dir ctor Dillon was absent.)
GRTC FINANCIAL EPORT:
Mr. Corey Althouse, Interim Finance Director, provided a briefing to the Board on
GRTC's Statement of Reyenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position, and the
Statement of Net Position (Assets, Liabilities, and Net Position).
President Cobb also thanked Mr. Alshouse for the financial update.
AUTHORIZATION 110 SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS ON A REVISED PASSENGER FARE SCHEDULE, WHICH INCLUDES
FARE INCREASES: The General Manager requested authorization for a Public
Hearing:
Director Michalski Karney offered the following resolution authorizing a
Public Hearing.
(For full text, see resoluti•n on file in the Secretary's Office.)
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Director Michalski-Karney o ered the following resolution:
"A RESOLUTION A THORIZING A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE PUBLIC
COMMENTS ON A REVIS D PASSENGER FARE SCHEDULE, WHICH INCLUDES
FARE INCREASES IN ORDER TO OFFSET INCREASED PURCHASED
TRANSPORTATION, LAB R AND RELATED BENEFITS, AND OTHER COSTS FOR
GREATER ROANOKE TRA SIT COMPANY (GRTC).
(For full text, see resolution n file in the Secretary's office).
Director Michalski-Karney moved the adoption of the resolution. The motion was
seconded by Director Sanchez-Jones and adopted by the following vote:
The Resolution was adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Directors Crookshank, D'Ardenne, Michalski-Karney, Peters, Sanchez-
Jones and President Cobb-:.
NAYS: None-0. (Dire tor Dillon was absent.)
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
NEXT MEETING:
President Cobb anno nced that the next GRTC Board of Directors meeting would
be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., in the HR Learning Center on the Third
Floor North, the Noel C. Tay or Municipal Building, 215 Church Avenue, S.W.
There being no further business, the President declared the regular meeting
adjourned at 1:13 p.m.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
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J eph L. b Cecelia F. McCoy
President Secretary
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