About Oxford Area Transit Services ...
OATS initially formed in the fall of 2007 when the need for a viable Public Transportation Service for the Borough of Oxford, Pennsylvania, its surrounding communities (including those of Northeastern Maryland) and the Southern Chester County region of Southeastern Pennsylvania was identified through the investigation of population trends, traffic flow analysis, and extant infrastructure availability within the area. Through the efforts of C. John Stevenson, M. Walter Saranetz, Richard L. Hansen, Stephen A. Burch, and Robert Eastwood, a preliminary Needs Analysis, based upon the above investigation, was presented at a meeting with Councilmen C. Randy Teel and Greg Duke, Mayor Geoffrey L. Henry, and Chief of Police John Slauch, of the Borough of Oxford. At this meeting, it was suggested that the information be delivered to Council President John Ware IV along with the full compliment of Oxford Borough Council members at the next regularly scheduled workshop meeting on Monday, November 12, 2007. It was during this workshop meeting that the Ad Hoc Committee for Railroad Infrastructure and Economic Development Research was formed, to consist of the same individuals listed above, and charged with continuing the research into the social, economic, and political viability and impact of implementing a rail-based commuter system and tourist attraction within the Borough and surrounding communities.
During the course of this continuing research, it was found that a large number of business and community leaders, politicians, and private citizens, not only from within the Borough of Oxford, but throughout all of Southern Chester County and Northeastern Maryland, enthusiastically welcomed the idea of bringing enhanced (both passenger and freight) rail-based service back to the area, and have pledged their support to make this idea become a reality.
In order for enhanced rail-based service to once again become an economic driving force for the region, upgrades to its existing physical plant need to be considered. Monies for these upgrades are available from the local, county, state, and federal levels of government; however eligibility for receiving these funds is afforded only to state, county, and local governments, municipal authorities, and Not-For-Profit corporations. Therefore, it was agreed by the members that the Ad Hoc Committee form the Oxford Area Transit Services, a 501 (c) 3 Non-Profit Corporation, in order to coordinate and facilitate with all parties involved (both public and private) in the funding acquisition process, to provide a centralized entity for the organization, coordination, and potentially the operation of the Excursion and Commuter segments of the service, and, finally, to provide a single "point-of-contact" of information for other individuals and organizations who are in the process of instituting, or are planning to institute, a revitalization of their rail-based infrastructure.
Who We Are...
C. John Stevenson, RA --- Chairperson, Oxford Area Transit Services c.john.stevenson@oatrains.org
Mr. Stevenson has worked in the Field of Architecture since 1965. Mr. Stevenson graduated from Oxford Area High School in 1963, Temple University in 1965, and from Drexel University in 1975 with a BS in Architecture. He has been a Registered Architect since 1977 in Pennsylvania and in Maryland. Mr. Stevenson worked for the Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL) from 1980 to 1996. He was the System (Corporate) Architect for Conrail for more than 10 years until its sale to NS and CSX in 1996. Mr. Stevenson in the past has served as the Chair of the West Chester Regional Planning Commission where he served for 6 years and the Chair of the Thornbury Township Planning Commission where he served for 10 years. He is currently a Member of the Oxford Borough Planning Commission and the Oxford Regional Planning Commission. Mr. Stevenson is the Co-Founder of the OATS Team and is involved in several other community activities.
M. Walter Saranetz --- Vice-Chairperson, Oxford Area Transit Services m.walter.saranetz@oatrains.org
Research; Funding Acquisition; Operations; MIS and Database Administration; Web Page Design
Mr. Saranetz has over 30 years of experience in the Biological and Computer Sciences, with emphasis on the application of Statistical Analysis and Computer Modeling as a method of problem-solving., A significant portion of his work involved Document Creation and Preparation with respect to replying to RFP's and submitting Grant Applications to various US Government agencies. He has held positions in the Scientific, Medical, and Defense fields in the Public and Private sectors, both as an employee and as a consultant, at two major universities, a defense contractor, and various private industries. Mr. Saranetz also works as an educator. He is one of the founders, and has recently been voted into the office of the Chairperson, of the Borough of Oxford Town Watch Association.
Contact info:
C. John Stevenson, Chairperson <c.john.stevenson@oatrains.org>; M. Walter Saranetz, Vice-Chair <m.walter.saranetz@oatrains.org>
Oxford Area Transit Services, 5 Mt. Vernon Street, Oxford Pennsylvania 19363 (610) 932-9670