June 17 , 2005

For more information contact:
Donna Johnson
donna.johnson@dot.iowa.gov
515-233-7875

DOT announces annual transit system awards

AMES, Iowa – Two transit systems have been honored by the Iowa Department of Transportation at the Iowa Public Transit Association's annual conference held in Cedar Rapids June 9.

The transit system in the city of Council Bluffs was recognized as the most improved urban transit system of the year. Region 9's River Bend Transit (RBT), based in Davenport, was acknowledged as being the most improved regional transit system of the year.

The awards are based on a combination of ridership increase and decrease in the cost per ride from the year before. This is the fourth time RBT has received this award, but the first time for Council Bluffs to be honored.

Claudia Rodenburg, transit manager for the city of Council Bluffs credits its 8.22 percent gain in ridership and 2.62 percent decrease in cost per ride primarily to restructuring their fixed route service. Significant improvements were achieved by reducing mid-day trips between Council Bluffs and Omaha, Neb., that resulted in very little impact to ridership but a noticeable decrease in operating costs. Meanwhile, the city expanded service on the weekend to a newly developed retail business area, which helped to increase ridership.

Council Bluffs contracts with Metro Area Transit (MAT) of Omaha, Neb., for its fixed–route system; and American Ambulance Service, also based in Omaha, Neb. for its paratransit service, which is operated under the name of Council Bluffs Special Transit Services (STS).

During fiscal year 2004 River Bend Transit's management implemented several service expansions, some of which were under the Federal Transit Administration's Job Access/Reverse Commute (JARC) program. RBT's success with these projects, and increased focus on improving subscription route productivity, resulted in an 8.75 percent increase in ridership. Randy Zobrist, RBT's executive director, accepted the award on behalf of the transit system.

RBT serves the rural portions of Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott counties in eastern Iowa, as well as providing paratransit service for the Iowa portion of the Quad Cities metropolitan area.

For more information about Iowa's 16 regional and 19 urban transit systems, visit iatransit.com.

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