Celebrating 35 Years! A Reflection on GVF's Founding in 1990

GVF is celebrating our 35th Anniversary in 2025 and we would love to hear from you! Do you have a GVF Memory to share? Or a quote about why you are involved with GVF? Email Kaitlin at KValliere@gvftma.com.

Sarah Oaks worked at DVRPC in the early 1990s and sent in the below perspective on GVF's early years.

"One of my jobs in the early 1990s was to manage the Federal Employer Trip Reduction Program (ETRP), a policy that led to the formation of TMAs in the greater Philadelphia area. TMAs weren't developed here, but Peter Quinn, who for SmithKline at the time, knew about them and had the connections to convince others in Southeastern PA that since TMAs were business-based organizations, they would be better placed to encourage employers to implement this commuting change requirement than a government agency imposing regulations. PennDOT then agreed to fund TMAs. The Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association was the first TMA formed in this region, and Peter left SmithKline to become its first Executive Director. 

Because of his leadership, other TMAs formed here, too. When ETRP was repealed, Peter took a leadership position again to demonstrate the value of the TMAs, and the DVRPC Board decided to put state air quality funds into the program to replace the federal funds that expired.  So, his legacy is a not only a strong and vibrant GVF, but also the other the TMAs in the region that continue to this day." - Sarah Oaks, President, OAKSDIRECT, Inc.