The North Central Regional Transit District on Oct. 27 received the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Public Service in Rural Public Transportation.
The award was presented to NCRTD Executive Director Anthony Mortillaro by FTA Acting Administrator, Therese McMillian, during the 21st National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation conference in Monterey, Calif.
In a letter acknowledging the Award, the FTA stated that, “This year’s award features rural transit providers who improved the mobility of Americans in rural areas, allowing them better access to employment, training, education and other services that provide ‘Ladders of Opportunity.’ North Central Regional Transit District’s application successfully addressed all the evaluation criteria, and demonstrated that its services are a vital link in building Ladders for your community.”
David C. Harris, Transit Bureau chief for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, nominated the NCRTD and in a letter stated, “I am honored to nominate the North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) for the FTA Administrator’s Award. To say that the NCRTD has more than fulfilled the tenets of the New Mexico Regional Transit District Act in its first ten years would not overstate its impact, not only on New Mexico, but more importantly on the communities it serves. It has developed into a model for rural transit within the State and beyond.”
NCRTD Board Chair, Taos County Commissioner and Mayor of the Town of Taos, Daniel Barrone stated, “It is an honor to be receiving this award from the Federal Transit Administration. I would like to acknowledge NCRTD current and past members who have served on this Board, as well as the employees, who have all worked hard to ensure that we achieve this mission which is reflected in this national award of prominence.”
According to Anthony Mortillaro, executive director at the NCRTD, “I think that all the residents of north central New Mexico can share and take pride in this award. When the NCRTD was certified as the first regional transit district in the state of New Mexico ten years ago there were many who dreamed that a more than 10,000 square mile, four-county area of northern New Mexico could be connected by a network of bus transit routes to provide residents of rural areas access to jobs, education, medical and quality- of-life services. This acknowledgement shows that we can make it happen,” he concluded.
