October 31, 2011
Michelle Coats, APR, CPRC
Volusia County Community Information
Votran recognized by Florida Public
Transportation Association for innovation, safety, marketing efforts
Votran earned multiple honors at the annual Florida Public Transportation
Association (FPTA) conference recently held in Tampa. Votran’s
sustainability programs - Go Green - Go Votran -, received top honors as the
Most Innovative Project. This organization award honors a FPTA public
transportation system member who has demonstrated innovative concepts or
effective problem-solving techniques not previously applied in the public
transportation industry.
“Votran is honored to receive this award,” said Votran General Manager Ken
Fischer. “Public transportation itself is a green initiative but we took it
a step further with green business practices. The benefits to the
environment and to the bottom line make it worthwhile.”
Votran bus operator John McDermott was recognized as second runner up in the
Florida Operator of the year category. Votran also earned a second runner up
Safety Award.
“Votran is one of a few transit organizations across the southeast United
States with so many safe miles driven by its bus operators,” said Fischer.
“Our safety goes beyond the roads and into our maintenance facility where
our crew works hard to work safely.”
The marketing efforts of Votran were recognized in FPTA’s marketing awards
competition. Votran earned two second place awards of merit. One in the bus
exteriors category was for the Bernard Huggins safe driver campaign and the
other was in the audio/visual/television category for a television spot
promoting expanded trolley service along Beach Street and S.R. A1A in
Daytona Beach. The spot featured local business owners and customers along
the route.
This competition is open to any Florida transit system that is a member of
FPTA. All of the prize-winning entries were created by Volusia County
Community Information.
The Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) is one of the most
active state transit associations in the nation. FPTA is a nonprofit
association whose members include every major public transit agency in
Florida and interested citizens and businesses. FPTA's membership
floridatransit.org/docs/2010%20Directory%20Final.pdf is composed of 28
fixed route systems, a commuter railroad, a heavy-rail commuter system, and
two people mover systems. Many members also conduct para-transit operations
to meet ADA and state requirements.
Votran is a service of Volusia County Government. The Volusia County Council
created Volusia County’s public transportation system in 1975. McDonald
Transit, a transportation management firm based in Ft. Worth, Texas,
contracts with Volusia County to provide the system’s management. The Votran
family of services includes fixed-route bus service, beachside trolleys,
express bus commuter service, dial-a-ride paratransit service and commuter
assistance programs.
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