TRANSLINK has been awarded the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This award is for the category representing the largest transportation systems in Canada and the United States: those providing 20 million or more annual passenger trips.
The award is based on a range of criteria including ridership growth, operational efficiency, maintenance initiatives, customer service, financial management, marketing and sustainability. APTA considered performance between 2016 and 2018, a period which saw TransLink experience ridership growth of 18 per cent while achieving record-highs in on-time performance.
“This award comes down to the hard work and dedication of each of our 7,800 employees, the heart and soul of the organization,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “Whether front-line or in the office, everyone played a valuable role. TransLink’s ridership has reached unprecedented levels and despite our enormous growth, we’ve also managed to achieve an all-time high for customer satisfaction. I’m extremely proud of our team and the outcomes we’ve achieved together for our customers and the region.”
Desmond is also issuing an open letter to customers thanking them for their support and challenging TransLink to do better.
APTA is a non-profit association of more than 1,500 public and private sector member organizations. It is the only association in North America that represents all modes of public transportation. More than 90 percent of the people using public transportation in the United States and Canada ride APTA member systems.
Paul P. Skoutelas, CEO and APTA President, said: “Congratulations to TransLink for winning the 2019 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. Winning this prestigious award means that TransLink has been recognized as the best large public transit system in North America and is a role model for the rest of the public transportation industry. In the past three years, TransLink’s ambitious plan to expand service and upgrade its infrastructure succeeded. With a phenomenal ridership growth of 18 percent and new highs for on-time performance, it’s not surprising that customer satisfaction is at a record level.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: “Canadians have developed a reputation for exemplifying leadership in innovation, sustainability and technology. That is why we are extremely proud to congratulate TransLink for being a worthy recipient of this prestigious award from the American Public Transportation Association. The Government of Canada continues to be an active partner in helping to deliver this world-class system and celebrates TransLink’s outstanding achievement.”
Premier John Horgan noted: “TransLink has succeeded in building a world-class network of buses, SkyTrain, commuter rail, roadways and more to keep people and goods moving in Metro Vancouver. The Government of B.C. is proud to congratulate TransLink for winning the American Public Transportation Association’s Transit System of the Year award.”
