FTA 2008 Ridership Awards Program - Revised Application Date

October 24, 2007

Mass Mailout Number III-2007-99

Subject:  FTA 2008 Ridership Awards Program - Revised Application Date

Dear Transit Colleague:

FTA Region III Office sent Mass Mailout Number III-2007-94 concerning the FTA 2008 Ridership Awards Program on October 9, 2007.  The following is a summary of the earlier Mass Mailout but with one noted change.  The date for the submittal of applications is now November 16, 2007.

FTA is pleased to announce the Second Annual Successes in Enhancing Transit Ridership Awards whose purpose is to recognize successful initiatives by FTA grantees whose efforts have resulted in significant increases in public transportation ridership.

To be considered for this award, you must have implemented a program in any one or more of four categories, between CY 2005 and CY 2006 that resulted in an annual ridership increase of at least 5% systemwide.  The categories are:  fare structure or fare media; marketing, advertising, and communications; partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and transit oriented development; operating and service adjustments (routes, schedules, amenities, service quality).

The initiative must be transferable to other grantees and must not be unique in its application to your agency alone.  We plan to make at least one award in each of four population categories (over 1 million in population, between 200,000 and 1 million, between 50,000 and 200,000, and under 50,000).

Applications for this recognition are due to our headquarters office by November 16, 2007 and selections will be announced at the APTA Legislative Conference in March 2008 in Washington, DC.  Please see the attached program description for a complete explanation of the requirements and an application form for your use should you decide to apply.  You can also find these documents on our Ridership webpage under “Awards” at http://www.fta.dot.gov/index_4396.html.

Please feel free to distribute this throughout your organization as appropriate.

Sincerely,

Letitia A. Thompson

Regional Administrator