LOWER LAKE >> Lake Transit Authority was recently named the Outstanding Rural Transportation Project. The award was presented at the annual conference of the California Association of Coordinated Transportation (CalACT).
In presenting the award, CalACT officers cited Lake Transit’s service to the community despite three years of disasters, including the Valley Fire, Clayton Fire, and recent flooding which displaced hundreds of residents. Lake Transit adjust routes to aid victims of the disasters, even though these events disrupted the entire community including many Lake Transit employees and threatened its facility in Lower Lake.
In the face of all this, the Agency has managed to increase ridership by over ten percent each year.
“This is a real honor” said General Manager Wall stated after receiving the award. “Lake Transit is often thought of by our peers as a great example of rural transit. Lake Transit stands out because we provide many services and carry a lot of passengers, given our size and funding. Much of this success is due to the hard work and dedication of our Board, management, drivers, dispatchers and maintenance staff. We have a great team.”
The citation attributed this achievement to Lake Transit’s commitment to being a responsive agency that could be relied upon during times of crisis.
“Rural transit agencies operate on shoestring budgets to connect people and services over long distances and difficult terrain,” Wall said, reflecting on the significance of the award. “This is important because people in rural areas often need to travel a long way to access medical specialties, higher education, shopping opportunities, and jobs. Lake Transit connects people across an entire region with transit operations in three counties.”
CalACT is the largest state transit association in the United States, with over 300 members dedicated to promoting professional excellence, stimulating ideas and advocating for effective community transportation. Lake Transit has been a member for the past 21 years and is one of approximately 90 rural transit agencies serving communities throughout California.
Additional information about Lake Transit services and schedules can be found at laketransit.org.