Mission & History

Virginia Railway Express Photo Credit: VRE

Mission

To foster and support an organization dedicated to achieving a significantly improved transportation system and enhanced business environment through private and public sector activities in the Corporation’s Area of Concern.

To identify and evaluate measures and means that will collectively provide the Association’s Area of Concern with an effective and efficient transportation system, including, but not limited to, the following activities.

1. Actively participate in the public process of allocating funds for transportation facilities and services; and

2. Plan, fund and provide enhanced public transportation facilities and public and/or private mass transit services within or serving the Association’s Area of Concern; and

3. Reduce the traffic through application and coordination of transportation system management (TSM) programs, such as shuttle buses, car pools, van pools, staggered work hours, trails, sidewalks, and people movers.

History

When Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman took office in January of 1996, he had a vision of a flexible, inexpensive bus service that could ferry people from the Joe Alexander Transportation Center to Greater Springfield’s major commercial/retail area. With the Springfield Interchange Project construction taking off at the time, this service provided an alternative for people to using their cars, especially for short errand/shopping runs while connecting retail and commercial areas on both sides of I-95.

In March 1999, the Transportation Association of Greater Springfield (TAGS) was formally constituted with bylaws, elected officers, and articles of incorporation filed with the state. The Board of Directors and Members were and still are comprised of business owners, community leaders and individuals associated with transportation organizations including Fairfax County, Virginia Department of Transportation, Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Virginia Railway Express, Virginia Transit Association. With the support of Congressman Moran’s efforts TAGS was granted a federal Department of Transportation award to purchase six 22-passenger buses for the exclusive use of a newly created TAGS bus route. The service shortly became an effective and convenient way of reducing congestion in the Springfield area, transporting several hundred people weekly. TAGS served to monitor and support congestion mitigation efforts associated with the I-95/395/495 interchange project and during heavy construction of the project developed the Shopper’s Shuttle Program to increase service to the business community during the holiday season.

TAGS also quickly became a support system for transportation services in our community. The association has been a powerful force in the development and redesign of the new Fairfax County South County Bus Service Plan providing faster, more efficient and expanded service with more connections. Working with Employee Services Program, TAGS helps market transit services and alternative commute options to local businesses and employees and hosts programs to educate the community on transportation-related issues. TAGS outreach supports local community events such as the Amherst Bridge Walk, and the Lee District Concert Series.

Greater Springfield continues to grow rapidly, exerting pressure on our county and regional transportation systems. Our objectives are to help to improve mobility, increase safety, and educate the community about transportation choices and projects that enhance the quality of life for area businesses, and revitalization efforts in central Springfield.

TAGS continues our commitment to actively participate in the public process of fund allocation for transportation facilities and services and to act as the transportation advocate for the Greater Springfield community.