News & Events: Press Releases
August 27, 2008
Bay Town Trolley Experiencing Best Year Ever
Bay County riders help system reach record-breaking ridership numbers
Media Contact: Allison Fogt
850-878-5531 x223
afogt@kidd.com
(Panama City, Fla.) - With 247,441 boardings and just four months left in the year, Bay Town Trolley is well on its way to exceeding 2007 year-end ridership totals. Helping the system reach this 10.8 percent increase from 2007 was a record-breaking ridership month in June when trolley officials reported 41,106 rides. Although this was the first time in the system’s 12 years of operation that ridership was over 40,000 it wasn’t the last; officials were able to report another record breaking ridership month in July with 45,254 rides.
Not only is ridership making this the best year ever for the system, but new initiatives are also drawing more riders to hop aboard the trolley. The newest initiative for the system encourages residents and tourists to Flip Flop aboard the Pier Park Express: Bay Town Trolley’s weekend beach route. Funded with Florida Department of Transportation Urban Corridor Grant Funds, the implementation of this route is two fold as it gives Bay County residents a glimpse of weekend public transportation service and secondly it caters to tourists who aren’t familiar navigating the Panama City Beach area.
“Implementing this weekend beach route was the perfect opportunity for Bay Town Trolley to capitalize on the tourism that Panama City Beach brings,” said Beth Coulliette Bay Town Trolley’s executive director. “With over 3,000 rides in its inaugural season, it’s so exciting to see the Pier Park Express beach route influence the growth of the system at the same time that Bay County is experiencing economic growth and significant increases in population.”
As Bay County continues to grow, trolley officials have teamed up with the local Chautauqua Learn and Serve School to provide travel training to those new in the area. This one-on-one training will also help the elderly and riders with disabilities renew their independence with public transportation. By requesting this service new riders will receive a “personal ride guide” that will help them with routes, schedules and trip planning.
In addition to all of these exciting happenings, Jim Krutchek joins the award winning trolley staff as Assistant General Manager. Before taking this position Krutchek was a Bay Town Trolley driver for two and a half years. In his new role, Krutchek will assist the general manager, Lee Bragg, with administrative duties, primarily handling advertising inquires.
“I’m thrilled that Jim has stepped up to the plate and will continue serving his community through the trolley,” said Bragg. “As Bay Town Trolley breaks record after record it’s important that we have an endowed staff that is trained and committed to helping us reach our goals.”
With the evening hour extensions and the development of the weekend beach route, Bay Town Trolley officials are looking to maintain this momentum throughout the remainder of 2008. Whether they’re going to and from school, work or leisure activities riders are constantly encouraged by officials to “Ride Late in 08” on any of the eight route options during the trolley’s 12 hours of service..
For the past 12 years Bay Town Trolley has provided public transportation services to Bay County with the mission of moving riders of Bay County with clean, safe, efficient and dependable transportation while enhancing the quality of life and meeting the growing needs of the community. The system operates Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. The Pier Park Express, Bay Town Trolley’s weekend beach route runs Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – midnight. For information on all routes, fares, Ride On Commuter Services and other news and updates log on to www.BayTownTrolley.org.
More releases