RTA�s achievement in ridership growth gains national attention

CLEVELAND � The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) was hoisted into the national spotlight this week as it received the Federal Transit Administration�s (FTA) 2007 Award for Success in Enhancing Ridership.

RTA CEO & General Manager Joe Calabrese accepted the award at the American Public Transportation Association�s (APTA) Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. RTA was one of three transportation organizations in the United States who received the award in the over one million served population category. RTA�s selection was based on its excellent gains in ridership and the broad transferability of its initiatives to other transit agencies.

�Receiving this award is the result of the quality service RTA is able to provide to every customer, every day,� says Calabrese. �It�s certainly an honor.�

RTA�s ridership soared from 52.7 million trips in 2002 to 57.2 million trips in 2006, an increase of 8.5 percent. In 2006, RTA showed ridership growth in four of its five modes � big bus, heavy rail, light rail and Paratransit.

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Chad Self, 216-566-5211