City Council voted Tuesday night to authorize an application to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation for grant funding to expand bus service to Halifax and Pittsylvania counties.
The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center located in South Boston recently partnered with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation to conduct a transit feasibility study for an 11-county area. The final report for the study was completed in May by an outside consultant firm.
The study recommended that service for two corridors with the highest demand should be implemented to begin the process of providing public transportation in the region. The two corridors identified in the study include U.S. Route 29 between Chatham and Danville and U.S. Route 58 between Danville and South Boston.
Additional findings suggested that Danville Transit would be the optimal provider to offer service along these corridors. If federal and state aid is provided, it is anticipated service could begin during the spring or summer of 2019.
In other matters last night, City Council voted to:
- accept four Nissan Leaf vehicles and chargers to be used in partnership with the Fermata Energy project.
- adopt a resolution supporting the Virginia Grocery Investment Program and Fund..
- amend the budget to provide the use of a state grant of $9,839 for litter control and recycling.
- reappoint Sherman Saunders, Fred Shanks and Lee Vogler (alternate member) to the to the Danville Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority.
Also in the business session, Amy Boles of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce provided an update on tourism efforts.
During the open communications segment of City Council’s business session, Warrick Scott, chief executive officer of the Wendell Scott Foundation, presented a petition with more than 700 signatures in support of placing signs at five entry points into Danville that will recognize the NASCAR racing legend.
Danville native Wendell Scott Sr. was a self-taught mechanic who honed his skills in the Army as a motor pool mechanic. He began racing in 1947 after three years of military service and experienced immediate success. He won more than 100 races in the next decade at local area tracks and claimed the 1959 NASCAR Virginia Sportsman championship. On Dec. 1, 1963, at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla., Scott became the first African-American to win a NASCAR premier series event.
Scott died in 1990.
The five entry points would be from Caswell County on N.C. 86, from Martinsville on U.S. 58, from South Boston at U.S. 58, from Lynchburg on U.S. 29 and from Greensboro, N.C., on U.S. 29.
Several City Council members expressed support for the signs. In a work session held later Tuesday night, Mayor John Gilstrap appointed a special committee to study the matter further. Councilman Sherman Saunders will chair the committee, which will include Council members James Bucker, Fred Shanks, Lee Vogler and Madison Whittle.
Council's meeting included a business session followed by a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that may be voted upon in future business meetings.
During last night’s work session, City Council reviewed the latest financial statements and audit results from the last fiscal year, which ended on June 30. Council also discussed a policy on recognitions, including proclamations, certificates, keys to the city, routine letters and formal letters.
River City TV airs live all Council business sessions. The first rebroadcast will be at 8 p.m. Thursday. Watch it on cable (Comcast channel 10 and Gamewood channel 122). The taped broadcast is available now on River City TV’s Facebook page.
River City TV does not air work sessions, but they are open to the public.