News

Contact: Laurie Robison, Director of Marketing
Email: lrobison@cata.org
Mobile: 517.204.2197

Lansing, MI - In the world of public transportation, 'ridership' is one measurement that gets a lot of attention.

'It's what we're all about,' explained Sandy Draggoo, CEO/Executive Director at the Capital Area Transportation Authority. 'Ridership gives us a true count of the total number of rides we've given over a specified period of time. It tells us how we stack up against our goals to increase rides and make CATA the preferred mode of transportation for people in our community. We don't take it lightly.'

Case in point: In fiscal 2011 (Oct. 1, 2010 - Sept. 30, 2011) the local transportation authority gave a record 11,821,761 rides. CATA's previous ridership high was set in 2009 at 11,373,799.

'We recognize that our customers have a lot of other options for getting around,' Draggoo said. 'Yet, many choose to make CATA their primary means of transportation. There are also many for whom CATA is the only viable option. Regardless of individual circumstances and needs, we take to heart the trust and confidence our customers have in our bus operators and our services. We understand that people depend on us to take them where they need to go, and we have a genuine desire to not let them down.'

Draggoo added, 'We are intricately woven into the fabric of our community. Our success is thanks in large part to loyal customers and supportive community partners.'

Helen Mickens is a long-standing CATA patron, and professor and associate dean of community relations at Thomas Cooley Law School. 'From personal experience I recommend CATA to students,' said Mickens. 'Using CATA saves them money on parking and gas. It also allows them to use their travel time productively.'

Indeed, students are some of the most prolific users of the public transportation services offered by CATA. 'I take CATA mainly to get to my internship at Impression 5,' said Noelle Sciarini, a professional writing senior at Michigan State University. 'CATA's important to my daily life on campus, because it's a way for me to get around without having to deal with the hassle of finding a parking spot or pay for gas or walk through a snowstorm, especially now that I'm living off campus.' Sciarini regularly rides the Downtown Lansing/Meridian Mall route. 'I think 11.8 million rides is great,' she said. 'It shows how many people use and rely on public transportation in this area.'

In 2012, CATA will celebrate its 40th anniversary and strive to achieve more than 12 million rides.

Quoted sources:

Helen Mickens	Noelle Rose Sciarini
Professor and Associate Dean of Community Relations	Professional Writing Senior
Thomas Cooley Law School	Michigan State University
P.O. Box 13038	5549 Earliglow Lane
Lansing, MI  48901	Haslett MI  48840
mickensh@cooley.edu	sciarin3@gmail.com
(517) 371-5140, Ext. 2921	(517) 339-0739

Additional CATA Story Ideas:

• Community Service — CATA's commitment to Greater Lansing and outlying communities
• Safe Ride Home — Dec. 31, 2011: CATA's commitment to community safety
• Entertainment Express — CATA's commitment to local and downtown businesses
• Public Transportation — Saving money; saving the planet
• CATA & the BlueGreen Alliance — Labor unions and environmental organizations work together to expand the number and quality of jobs in the green economy

Capital Area Transportation Authority, voted No. 1 in America, strives to provide a variety of quality transportation services that are safe, timely and cost efficient, responding creatively to the diverse mobility needs of the region and delivered by dedicated employees in a professional manner. CATA services are provided in accordance with Title VI, without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, or other prohibited basis. All media inquiries/interview requests will be facilitated by Laurie Robison, Director of Marketing and Public Information Officer, 517.367.7252 (direct), 517.204.2197 (mobile), or lrobison@cata.org.