10 MOST IMPROVED TRANSIT AGENCIES

This article presents he 10 most improved transit systems chosen by the editors of Metro from nominations by readers. Annapolis Transit (Annapolis MD), a target of censure by a new mayoral administration in 1998, has doubled its ridership in less than five years by marketing to new riders, color coding maps and signs, installing shelters and bike racks. BC Transit (Victoria, BC) is using new low-floor double- decker buses to make its service more attractive and usable and markets to university students and major employers which use bus passes to encourage ridership. Chicago Transit Authority lost 40% of its riders by the time the Mayor brought in new management in 1997. Major capital spending has helped draw more choice riders in the last few years. Delaware Transit Corp. (Wilmington, DE) has added services linked to major employers and social service agencies. Paratransit ridership has risen 84% since 1995, rail up 33%. A young rider program encourages teens and their parents to consider transit alternatives to driving. The other winners include: Memphis Area Transit Authority, the Big Bear Lake (CA) Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority, the South Bend Public Transit Corporation, the St. Cloud (MN) Transit Commission, Tri-Met (Portland, OR) and Yuba-Sutter Transit (Marysville/Yuba City, CA).