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Western Flyer to Fly No More

Western Loudoun's Western Flyer was hailed as an inexpensive mode of transportation for residents of Purcellville and Lovettsville to commute to Point of Rocks and the MARC train. However, as of September 1st, the Flyer will no longer be in service.

The service, which is funded mainly by Federal funds, also received much needed funding from the Town of Purcellville, $10,000/yr and $8,000/yr from the Town of Lovettsville. Virginia Regional Transit Authority (VRTA), a non-profit organization based in Purcellville, ran the Flyer for eighteen months. According to Purcellville Councilmen Greg Wagner, Purcellville worked closely with VRTA in developing this service and thanks to Lovettsville, they were able to bring the concept to reality.

Wagner stated the decision by the Council to not allocate further funding for the Flyer was a "tough call," but that it was required due to actions taken by the Board of Supervisors and Catoctin's Sally Kurtz. In a motion by Kurtz, the Board of Supervisors voted to suspend an agreement with the Town over gas tax revenues. A portion of the gas tax collected throughout Loudoun is allocated to Leesburg and Purcellville. The amount that each Town receives differs based on size and number of gas stations. Funds are returned to each Town for transportation improvements. Both Town's budget these funds and have come to rely on these funds for a wide array of transportation projects. Purcellville was to receive over $170,000 this year.

The motion to suspend the gas tax agreement, according to Wagner was a "unilateral" decision and the Board of Supervisors has refused to assist in funding the Western Flyer, calling it "disappointing." The gas tax funds that were to go to Purcellville were moved to Kurtz's electoral district for the purposes of developing a park outside of Lovettsville. Future funds from the gas tax to both Leesburg and Purcellville will cease to exist next year, as all gas tax funds will go towards funding for the future metro rail in eastern Loudoun.

Despite the cancelation of the Western Flyer, Councilman Wagner says that he hopes that it will be resurrected and that he looks forward to working with any willing partners. Both Round Hill and Hamilton have declined in the past to participate in the program. However, Wagner calls on all residents to "press the other Western Towns, Supervisors Burton, Kurtz and York and the County Administrator and Director of Transportation to step up to the plate as well in rallying to bring this much needed and growing service back to Western Loudoun."

Mark McGregor, CEO of VRTA, indicated the cancelation of service was due to many factors. "Ridership never rose above 400 riders a month," below what was needed to make the Flyer and workable service. "With the slowdown in housing construction and the delay in the Lovettsville Town Center, there just were not enough riders to justify the Flyer when the resources could be better used elsewhere," said McGregor. He then stated that if the Towns of Round Hill and Hamilton participated in the program, it could have helped increase ridership, making the program more worthwhile. He said that VRTA is prepared to resume service at anytime, but that perhaps it needs to be shelved until there is a greater demand.

Mayor Elaine Walker of Lovettsville also noted the low ridership. "We are only three miles from the MARC train, many residents tend to drive." One reason for possible bus users to drive their own car may be due to the MARC trains tendency to be late. "CSX has priority over the rail lines, which sometimes causes the commuter trains to be late. The Flyer, however, is not late but must maintain its scheduled route, leaving some riders stranded when the trains are late," said Walker. Town Manager for Lovettsville, Keith Markel, said that once Woodgrove High is fully operational, perhaps there may be an increased need for the Flyer to return as students in afterschool programs could use the Flyer to return back to Lovettsville.