Ridership Increases in Town and Country Transit

Town and Country Transit (TACT) General Manager Patti Lynn Baker announced ridership increases to municipality directors last night during their monthly meeting. Statistics are gathered through the first three months of the 2011-12 fiscal year - July 1-September 30 - and compared with those of first three months of the 2010 fiscal year.

by Jonathan Weaver

According to recent statistics, county ridership numbers have increased in both phases within a local transit authority.

During yesterday’s monthly meeting of Town and Country Transit, General Manager Patti Lynn Baker told municipality representatives that ridership in the first quarter of the 2011-12 fiscal year has increased on both fixed-route and shared-route routes. The first quarter ran from July 1-September 30.

Statistics are compared with the first quarter of the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Fixed-route service as a whole increased 16 percent, with nearly 2,000 more fare-paying passengers riding with Town and Country Transit through the end of September compared with the previous year’s first quarter.

The increase in fare-paying passengers resulted in a 37 percent increase, which impressed Baker.

“That’s a big increase in the quarter,” Baker said.

Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) ridership also increased by 15 percent, or 73 trips. These particular routes are only between the morning work travel hours (5:30-9AM) and evening hours (8:30-10:30PM).

Shared-ride passengers also increased in the first quarter by 18 percent, with the Rural Transportation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) program bus drivers taking more than 300 more trips for a 35 percent increase.

The largest increase in ridership was within residents over 65-years-old who took 970 trips in the first three months, a 292 percent increase.

Baker explained why that percentage increased so drastically.

“Part of the reason for that increase is that we started different shopping trips to different locations and people really like that,” Baker said. “That’s the main reason for that: people have liked that and gravitated toward it, and that’s awesome.”

New trips are made to the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills in Tarentum twice per month and Clearview Mall in Butler twice per month.

Subcontractors are also performing fewer trips.

Baker also announced an upcoming route change.

Starting Monday, October 31, a new block will be added to the fixed-route service on the Yellow Line.

“In an effort to include everyone we possibly can in the fixed-route area, since the Kittanning Cottages are now open and we have people living there, we’re going to be expanding our service area to swing by North McKean Street,” Baker said. “Basically, it’s just a big block detour from our current route.”

Baker said she has seen new neighbors move into the complex.

“I think they’ll be beneficial to the people in the area,” Baker continued. “Every time I go home, there seem to be more cars or more decorations in the windows, so they seem to be starting to fill up.”

The next meeting of the board of directors will be held Wednesday, November 16 at 4PM.

Money Flowing Back to TACT in Reimbursements

Board of Directors for Town and Country Transit reviewed financial documents last night at their regular monthly meeting. It was announced that state transportation leaders approved reimbursing the transit authority more than $1.1 million in both fixed-route and shared ride operating expenses.

by Jonathan Weaver

The local transit authority will start receiving an influx of state funding next week.

Town and Country Transit leaders announced at their public meeting last night that they will begin to receive more than $1.1 million in reimbursement after approval by federal and state transportation programs.

The amount includes approximately $500,000 from the state Act 44income tax audit and approximately $200,000 from PennDOT for fixed-route services, based on operating expenses.

General Manager Patti Lynn Baker announced the operating reimbursement to directors Wednesday afternoon.

General Manager Patti Lynn Baker also said Financial Manager Lisa Midla will be able to invoice upwards of $361,000 for shared ride and $90,000 for the Rural Transportation for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) project monthly.

“We’re able to invoice now for the Shared Ride and PwD programs at the end of every month when we’re closed,” Baker said.

Within the Consolidated Operating Award, $361,000 is awarded by PennDOT for the Shared Ride program and $90,000 awarded to go toward PwD.

The funding for the 2011-12 fiscal year was officially awarded August 30, but will start arriving to TACT next week because of flooding conditions in Harrisburg.

Baker said that one local municipality helped expedite the reimbursement.

“On the 18^th of August, Kittanning did get me their resolution, so our operating application did go in and was submitted in its entirety. So, we don’t have any holds on that,” Baker said. “We appreciate Kittanning doing that, as well as all of you getting your resolutions and grant agreements in on time.”

The transit authority receives applications from six local boroughs – Kittanning, West Kittanning, Applewold, Manorville, Ford City and Ford Cliff –and two participating townships: Manor and East Franklin.

Baker said the funding will help ease current financial burdens.

“It’ll be nice to start getting the money in,” Baker said.

Board members also approved for Baker and Operations Manager Gerry Miller to attend two training seminars later this year. They will attend the Penn State SAFTI (State Association for Travel Insurance) Tuesday, September 27 and Wednesday, September 28. Expenses would include fuel costs and a meal.

“What is good about the training is sometimes the training you go and listen to is really good, but sometimes you gain a lot of knowledge from what you hear other people talk about there, as well,” Baker said.

They will also attend the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association (PPTA) Winter Meeting Wednesday, November 2 and Thursday, November 3 in Mt Pocono, Monroe County, Pa. Solicitor Dave Lint indicated that it is a state-wide meeting that general and operating managers are asked to attend.

TACT will also show their appreciation for drivers by having a cook-out luncheon tomorrow.

Vice-President Dave Stewart representing East Franklin Township led the meeting after President Henry Mores of West Kittanning Borough recently had surgery and was unable to attend.