Editor’s Note – March/April 2025

Nominations are open for Busline Magazine’s annual “Women To Recognize In Busing” award, which spotlights female leaders and executives whose accomplishments set a foundation for women in all levels of service to the bus industry. Entries are due August 1, 2025, and can be made by visiting buslinemag.com/women-to-recognize-in-busing/. Post-award coverage will take place in the September/October 2025 issue of Busline, as well as at www.buslinemag.com, and in our Busline enewsletter.

This award is open to all female leaders in both the private and public bus transportation systems. Those eligible to be nominated are executives, operators, managers, bus drivers, back-office workers and more. If a female nominee works in the bus industry, she is eligible. Nominees can be located anywhere in the USA. Applications are free; there is no charge/fee to apply. Individuals can self-nominate. Nominations can also come from suppliers, vendors, motorcoach/tour companies, mass transit systems, customers, co-workers, PR/marketing firms and/or the companies themselves. Nominees working for PR/marketing firms/agencies are not applicable. Honorees will be vetted by the Busline editorial staff. More information is available by visiting buslinemag.com.

Last year’s award winner was Suzanne Thornburg, President & CEO of Alabama-based Capital Motor Lines DBA Capital Trailways and Colonial Trailways.

The cover story for the March/April 2025 issue of Busline Magazine focuses on Alexandria (VA) Transit Company (DASH). Founded in 1984, the main service area of the transit system encompasses 15 square miles within Alexandria plus transportation to and from the Pentagon, located six miles to the north. Transportation services provided by DASH are fare free. The fleet includes 14 battery-electric buses.

“We currently transport more than 5.3 million passengers per year and have experienced substantial ridership growth as of late,” DASH General Manager and CEO Josh Baker said, during a recent interview. “We serve a community with a very dense population and congested roadways, which help with our growing ridership numbers. Many people rely on DASH, including choice riders who choose to make use of our transit system rather than owning automobiles.”

There are also some great Thought Leadership articles in this issue that focus on a variety of bus-related topics. That includes the use of alternative fuel buses from both the private motorcoach and transit bus perspectives; the value of participating in bus associations; and tips for successful dispatching.

The latter article is written by Michelle Petelicki, President of Panorama Tours, Inc., who also took part in a panel education session involving the dispatching topic during the recent 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO.

She noted in the article, “Dispatching is often described as the heartbeat of transportation operations. It’s where logistics, customer service, and crisis management converge to keep buses moving efficiently and safely. While dispatching has always required sharp problem-solving and adaptability, today’s bus companies face new challenges and opportunities that shape the future of the industry.”

I would like to thank all industry experts who write Thought Leadership articles for our publication. Their participation brings added insights into the different issues, challenges and opportunities that people and companies involved with public transportation and private bus/motorcoach operation face.

I would also like to thank everyone for their overall support of Busline Magazine. Please send news items and story ideas to: harrellk@rdgmedia.net.

Harrell Kerkhoff

Editor, Busline Magazine