The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) will receive the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) during its Annual Meeting in October at Orlando, FL. The award honors an APTA public transportation member who has demonstrated achievement in efficiency and effectiveness. Awards are granted to systems based on annual ridership of less than 1 million, 1M-4M, 4M-30M, and 30M+ passenger trips annually. GLTC will receive the award in the 1 to 4 million passenger trips category.
Criteria for the award included verifiable data for three consecutive years (2006, 2007 and 2008) for fixed route services and demand response/paratransit services. The award considers qualitative measures in specific programmatic improvements and achievements over the last three years in the following areas: safety, operations, customer service, financial management, attendance, employee costs, minority and women advancement, marketing, policy, administration and community relations.
GLTC overhauled its maintenance program and began an aggressive fleet replacement and expansion program. In 2007 GLTC purchased eight (8) new hybrid diesel-electric buses. Arriving in 2008, they were the first hybrid-electric buses placed in regular service in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since then, GLTC has added 6 more to its fleet, and has ordered 10 additional units. Other important achievements include GLTC’s commitment to quality public transportation and customer service focus with expanded employee training, the development of Liberty University’s on-campus service, resulting in ridership increases from 1M to 2.5M boardings annually, the formation of two Customer Advisory Committees, and the transformation of the Board of Directors into a high impact governance model by redefining its governing role and functions, strengthening its self-management capacity, deepening the Board-Management working relationship, and revitalizing its committee structure.
“This is a major award and we thank APTA for the recognition; we are proud of the professionalism and hard work of our employees over the last three years, and we will continue to strive for excellence in service to our community,” states Michael Carroll, GLTC’s General Manager.
For more information contact GLTC at 434-455-4010 or visit www.GLTConline.com.