Iowa DOT News

Burlington and Atlantic-based transit systems honored


AMES, Iowa – June 25, 2012 – Transit systems from Burlington and Atlantic have been honored by the Iowa Department of Transportation for their accomplishments during the 2011 fiscal year. 

Each year at the Iowa Public Transit Association Conference and Annual Meeting, the Iowa DOT recognizes one regional transit system and one urban transit system for the highest percentage increase in ridership, coupled with a decrease in cost per ride. 

Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA), also known as Region 13, provides demand-response and subscription services in Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie and Shelby counties. SWITA, based in Atlantic, received the award for “Most Improved Regional Transit System of the Year.”  

The Burlington Urban Service (B.U.S.), owned and operated by the city of Burlington, received the award for “Most Improved Urban Transit System of the Year.”   

The awards were presented in Waterloo during the annual awards banquet, cosponsored by the Iowa Public Transit Association and Iowa DOT. 

SWITA, headed by Transit Director Steve Anderson, posted a 14.26 percent gain in ridership. This helped reduce the cost per ride by 5.63 percent during fiscal year 2011. Anderson explained that ridership increased due to expanded transit usage in sheltered workshop programs, service to and from Cass County Memorial Hospital during a remodeling project, and service to and from the Glenwood Resource Center. This is the third time SWITA has received the award. The last time was in 2009. 

Ridership on B.U.S. increased 18.15 percent, while the cost per ride dropped by 16.27 percent. Doug Roelfs, transit manager with B.U.S., attributed the 2011 gains to a general increase in demand for transit service and loyal riders. This is also the third time Burlington has received the award, the first time being in 2009. 

#

Media contact: Ryan Ward, 515-233-7877 or [email protected]

 

 

 

NOT FINDING WHAT YOU NEED? WE CAN HELP.

©  Iowa Department of Transportation.  All rights reserved.