Archive: Around Town

TCAT yesterday celebrated a major award from the Washington, D.C.-based American Public Transportation Association that recognizes TCAT as the best public transit system of its size in North America.

The celebration was at TCAT’s facility with music was provided by the popular Ithaca‑based band “Radio London.”

A free round‑trip shuttle from Green Street Station to TCAT was offered for the general public.

TCAT won in its category (under 4 million annual trips) and the award was based on both quantitative and qualitative data for 2008, 2009 and 2010. Quantitative data includes record annual ridership, which in 2010 was nearly 3.58 million. Statistical data also included TCAT’s financial and maintenance history over the past three years. A six‑page qualitative report included TCAT’s dynamic history and its origins from three separate transit agencies operated by Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca and Cornell University. That report also illustrated TCAT’s unique contract with Gadabout Transportation Services Inc., which provides paratransit services to the community by using a pool of volunteer drivers as well as paid drivers.

“This is a huge honor, not only for TCAT and Gadabout, but for the entire Tompkins County community that has long provided strong support to our operations,” said General Manager Joe Turcotte. “We hope the community turns out to celebrate with our excellent team of bus operators, mechanics, bus handlers, board members, local government representatives and administrative staff.”

Speakers included Turcotte, Gadabout Executive Director Judy Willis; TCAT Board Chairman Hank Dullea; representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey and U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna; Tompkins County Administrator Joe Mareane; Joe Lalley, Cornell University Senior Director of Facilities Operations; City of Ithaca Acting Mayor Eric Rosario; and Scott Montani, former UAW International representative and now a federal mediator.

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