Archive: Around Town

Public transportation representatives from all over the continent recently gathered at a ceremony in New Orleans to celebrate the achievements of TCAT and two other transit agencies in North America that have been deemed the “best of the best.”

TCAT was named the 2011 Outstanding Public Transportation System in North America by the Washington, D.C.‑based American Public Transportation Association (APTA). TCAT won in its category (under 4 million annual trips) and the award was based on both quantitative and qualitative data it submitted last April to APTA for 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Collecting the award for TCAT at a ceremonial breakfast in New Orleans on Oct. 4 were TCAT General Manager Joe Turcotte, TCAT Board Chairman Hank Dullea, and TCAT Assistant General Manager Alice Eccleston, who is also TCAT’s manager of human resources.

“As the ‘best of the best,’ the 2011 APTA award winners serve as role models of excellence to everyone in the public transportation industry,” said APTA’s outgoing President William Millar. “Their work in public transportation has made lasting contributions, not only for transit riders, but for the entire transit industry.”

In 2010, TCAT reported record ridership with 3.58 million trips a 7.8 percent increase from the 3.31 million annual trips in 2008. Year‑to‑date data shows that TCAT’s ridership is up by around 13 percent.

Both Dullea and Turcotte attributed the win to TCAT’s “hard working, dedicated and professional” bus operators, mechanics, bus handlers, and custodial and administrative staff. They also applauded the relationship and partnership TCAT has with its three principal local funders, Cornell University, Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca, whose transit systems consolidated beginning in the early 1990s to eventually become TCAT, Inc., and a not‑for‑profit corporation in 2005. Turcotte said TCAT is fortunate to have a board of directors comprised of individuals recommended by the three entities.


“I am constantly amazed at the level of professionalism and talent demonstrated at TCAT,” Turcotte said. “This incredible honor bestowed upon us by the American Public Transportation Association validates what we do day in and day out at TCAT, and gives us even more incentive to continuously work at giving the Tompkins County region the best public transit system possible.”

In a June 30 community celebration at TCAT, Turcotte also praised Gadabout Transportation Services Inc., which provides paratransit services to the community through a contract with TCAT and with whom it shares space at the Willow Avenue Ithaca Tompkins Transit Center. Turcotte said that his colleagues in the industry leaders are stunned to learn that Gadabout provides 2.77 rides per hour – an incredible feat for a system its size. Gadabout’s unique ability to attract and retain volunteer drivers has translated into enormous cost savings, Turcotte said.

In a statement released earlier, U.S. Sen. Charles E Schumer, D‑New York, said: “It’s my honor to congratulate TCAT for receiving this national recognition. TCAT’s effective policies in safety, workforce training and customer service have earned them this great distinction. The hard‑working men and women of TCAT are well deserving of this great honor.”

Other transit agency winners include: Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, Santa Monica, Calif., (more than 20 million annual trips) and Sun Metro, El, Paso, Texas, (more than 4 million but less than 20 million annual trips).

v7i40