December 19, 2014
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Public Transit Agencies, Business Members Celebrate Anniversaries

San Joaquin RTD, 50
Throughout this year, the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), Stockton, CA, has celebrated its 50th anniversary with special events and the tagline, “It’s Cool to Ride the Bus.” Promotional activities include the release of a time-traveling promotional video featuring RTD’s innovations and live concerts on board the agency’s buses.

The agency was established in 1963 as the Stockton Metropolitan Transit District (SMTD) and began providing service on June 1, 1965. SMTD became the RTD in 1994 with the expansion of its service area to all of San Joaquin County.

MTA Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, 50
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) commemorated the golden anniversary of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge on Nov. 21, 50 years to the day of the opening. MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Prendergast joined MTA Bridges and Tunnels officials at ceremonies at the Overlook inside the National Park Service’s Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island.

The bridge is 4,260 feet from tower to tower and links Staten Island and Brooklyn. “Fifty years after it opened, the longest vehicular suspension bridge in the United States remains an incredible achievement of engineering and architecture,” said Prendergast. “This bridge is proof that smart investments in infrastructure can make a difference in a city, a state, and even a nation.”

TARC, 40
The Transit Authority of River City (TARC), Louisville, KY, marked its 40th anniversary at a recent event where it displayed an anniversary-themed “ruby” bus—the ruby is the traditional symbol of a 40th anniversary—and the first of 10 all-electric buses that will operate as free downtown shuttles. The “ruby” bus, decorated on the exterior with a new TARC logo and the message, “On the roll since 1974,” will operate on various routes.

“TARC is proud to be connecting thousands of people every day to jobs, educational opportunities, and everything life has to offer while also providing community benefits including cleaner air and less congestion,” said J. Barry Barker, executive director of TARC for 20 of its 40 years.

The Nov. 5, 1974, referendum in Jefferson County provided .02 percent of occupational tax revenues for TARC, or two dollars for every $1,000 earned. The tax today generates about $45 million a year and remains TARC’s primary operating funding source.

Cherriots, 35
Salem-Keizer Transit (Cherriots), Salem, OR, held two special events in November to commemorate its 35th anniversary of service. The system’s buses operated fare free on Election Day to show appreciation to the community and hosted a public celebration with refreshments including a cake.

The city of Salem purchased a privately-owned bus company, named Cherriots, in 1966 and operated it as a city department. In November 1979, voters approved a ballot measure creating the Salem Area Mass Transit District. This measure transferred responsibility of public transportation from the city to a transit district with its own leadership and board of directors. The system changed its name to Salem-Keizer Transit in 2003.

GIRO, 35
GIRO, a developer and manufacturer of software for planning and ­managing operations in public transit and postal distribution, is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. The company, based in Montreal, arose out of a university project and now provides software to eight of the 10 ­latest public transit agencies in North America.

“We’re very proud to be celebrating this major milestone this year,” said Paul Hamelin, GIRO’s president. “We owe the success of these 35 years primarily to our employees, who now number 300 and who continue to work with the same commitment to meet our clients’ needs. They are the key to our success.”
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