Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting - 48

2010 Annual Meeting

San Joaquin RTD: Providing Exceptional Service Despite Challenging Economic Times
BY DONNA DeMARTINO General Manager/ Chief Executive Officer San Joaquin Regional Transit District Stockton, CA
he mission of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) is to provide a safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system for the region, and our vision is to be the transportation service of choice for the residents we serve. During these lingering, difficult economic times, RTD’s continuing commitment is to provide the best service possible, to the most people, at the lowest cost.

Change is often difficult, but it is flexibility to deviate where necessary. also necessary as we strive to meet the Next year, MV Transportation Inc. needs of our changing community and will begin to operate the services RTD economy. provides through its “County” yard In Fiscal Year 2010, RTD implemented its new Metro Hopper to replace most of its expensive Dial-A-Ride (DAR) operation. In the first six months of the new service, RTD saw a 57 percent increase in passenger trips with DAR and Metro Hopper combined while also significantly reducing operating costs. Our former DAR passengers now enjoy the convenience Metro Hopper provides fixed route service with the ability to of fixed route service with the deviate where necessary.

operations: Intercity, Hopper, and San Joaquin Commuter. Providing these services under contract is a part of compliance with our enabling legislation. The good news is that contracting will save RTD enough money to reduce the need for further service reductions. The agency will continue to provide oversight to ensure the high-quality service its customers have come to expect. RTD’s vision to create a Bus Rapid Transit network within our service area is receiving recognition and acceptance from both the public and our funding partners. Due to the success of our Metro Express: Pacific Corridor—now RTD’s most productive route— we received a $2.4 million federal award to implement Metro Express: Airport Corridor, which will extend the Metro Express corridor from downtown Stockton to south Stockton and the airport. This project will complement and support the city’s economic development efforts at the airport. Most recently, RTD received another federal award, for $5.2 million, that fully funds the implementation of Metro Express: Hammer Lane Corridor, the system’s first eastwest alignment.

Change is often difficult, but it is also necessary.
Another significant future project is the construction of a Regional Transportation Center that will consolidate most of RTD’s operations and employees in one modern facility; when completed, the center will reduce operating costs and increase operational efficiency. As a further example of RTD’s commitment to quality and cost containment, the system is working with MontereySalinas Transit to reuse the existing design drawings from the Orange County Transportation Authority’s recently built operations facility rather than paying for a new set of design plans. RTD is exploring innovative ways to finance the construction of the RTC to take advantage of currently low construction costs while providing much-needed jobs in our community. RTD continues to find ways to bring our customers the highest level and quality of service in the midst of challenging financial circumstances, in an environment that aims for the highest level of customer service, and in an operation that is obsessed with safety.

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Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Passenger Transport 2010 APTA Annual Meeting