July 20, 2010

CONTACT:
Dennis D. Louwerse, Berks Area Regional Transportatoin Authority, 610-921-0605
Beth J. Nidam, Senior Transportation Planner for YCPC, 717-771-9870
Brandy Heilman, Commuter Services, 717-718-0015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            

Regional Transit Connections for Nine Counties Being Evaluated

Commuter Services of Pennsylvania announces the beginning of a Regional Transit Coordination Study - a collaborative effort of nine counties. This project will facilitate the planning and implementation of regional transit service and other “Smart Transportation” options. The benefits include congestion mitigation; air quality improvement; greater transit access for arearesidents, increased ridership; and ultimately an increase in mobility options which will provide quality of life benefits for all who live and work in the region.

In addition to the oversight provided by the joint study committee, additional business, environmental, and community stakeholders will be interviewed and invited to participate in two transit roundtables. Other public outreach will include surveys of existing transit riders, a website, and public meetings. In addition, a Speaker’s Bureau will be formed; interested residentsand businesses should contact Commuter Services to request a presentation to their organization.

The results of the study will chart a course for coordinated regional transit service for the immediate future, and also address how the transit providers can work together to provide greater opportunities for inter-county mobility for residents, commuters, visitors and businesses in South Central Pennsylvania. The study is expected to be completed in 2011.

BARTA Executive Director/CEO, Dennis D. Louwerse and Beth J. Nidam, Senior Transportation Planner for YCPC are co-chairs of the joint study committee which will oversee the study’s progress through Commuter Services of Pennsylvania. Louwerse and Nidam are board members of the non-profit organization. Members of the joint study committee include staff from the following transit authorities: Adams County Transit Authority (ACTA); Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA); Lebanon Transit Authority (a.k.a. COLT); Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA, Lancaster); York County Transportation Authority (rabbittransit); and Capital Area Transit (CAT, Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg). Planning partners from the MPOs/RPOs also serve on the joint study commission. They include the Lancaster, Lebanon,Reading Area and York Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs); Tri-County Planning Commission (Harrisburg MPO-Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties) and the Adams and Franklin Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs). Parsons Brinckerhoff is the leading consultant team for this effort, which also includes Michael Baker Jr. and GeographIT.

Information on Commuter Services is available at www.PaCommuterServices.org.

About Commuter Services of South Central Pennsylvania: 1-866-579-RIDE, www.PaCommuterServices.org

Funding is provided by the Federal Highway Administration, PennDOT and the region’s metropolitan and rural planning organizations.

Commuter Services board includes transit agencies, planning organizations and chambers:

• Harrisburg Regional Chamber; the Gettysburg Adams, Lebanon Valley, Greater Chambersburg, and York County Chambers of Commerce; Lancaster and Greater Reading Chambers of Commerce & Industry;

• Adams County Transit Authority (ACTA); Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA); County of Lebanon Transit Authority (COLT); Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA, Lancaster); York County Transportation Authority (rabbittransit); Capital Area Transit (CAT, Cumberland-Dauphin-Harrisburg).

• Lancaster, Lebanon, Reading Area and York Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs); Harrisburg MPO (Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties) and Adams and Franklin Counties Rural Planning Organizations (RPOs).