The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) was recognized with the highest honor a transit system can receive, winning the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 2013 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award.
This award, which is in the category of providing fewer than four million passenger trips annually, marks the first time NAIPTA has been recognized by APTA, the nation’s leading force in advancing public transportation. Called the “best of the best” of the public transportation industry, the APTA award winners are “outstanding role models of excellence, leadership, and innovation whose accomplishments have greatly advanced public transportation.”
Nominees in this category were evaluated on achievements in effectiveness and efficiency over the last three years. NAIPTA demonstrated excellence in areas such as safety, environmental sustainability and workforce development. Over the last three years, NAIPTA has launched the Mountain Link (Route 10) system, decreased accidents per mile on Mountain Line by 64 percent, implemented a real time arrival system, and cut emissions by almost 90 percent by switching to a primarily hybrid-electric fleet.
“Being named the Transit System of the Year among a very competitive field is a tremendous honor for NAIPTA and this entire community,” said NAIPTA Board Chair and Flagstaff City Councilor Celia Barotz. “NAIPTA is committed to transit excellence in Flagstaff, and we look forward to celebrating this award with our valued riders, employees, national transit and community leaders, and the public.”
NAIPTA CEO and General Manager Jeff Meilbeck will accept the award at the APTA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on October 1.
NAIPTA is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating the Mountain Line, Mountain Lift and Mountain Link systems in Flagstaff. NAIPTA also coordinates services with Campus Shuttle Service at Northern Arizona University. Visit www.naipta.az.gov for more information.
