First Transit-managed location awarded passenger growth in Arkansas.
On October 24, First Transit-managed Ozark Regional Transit Authority received the Award of Achievement from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of Region 6. This location had the highest percentage growth in transit passenger ridership of all urbanized areas in the state of Arkansas. Annually, this location operates 19 buses, which transport more than 238,000 fixed-route passengers and more than 25,000 paratransit passengers throughout the area. Through the fiscal year of 2011, the location saw a 12 percent increase in ridership through its fixed-route service.
“We are very pleased to receive this recognition,” said Phil Pumphrey, general manager, ORTA/First Transit. “We attribute much of this success to the important role that public transportation has in Northwest Arkansas. Not only does this show that we continue to provide a safe and reliable form of transportation, but that the people of the area see the importance and convenience public transportation can provide.”
For 10 years, First Transit has provided management service for fixed-route and paratransit service to residents of Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers and Springdale, Ark.