The South Bend Public Transportation Corporation (TRANSPO) recently announced a major reduction in accidents and an increase in ridership from 2011 to 2012.
TRANSPO experienced a 72 percent reduction in preventable fleet accidents last year, which can be attributed to the increased focus on safety awareness with the bus operators. Operators were preventable accident-free for a record setting 166 days in 2012.
“Our professional coach operators, mechanics, and entire TRANSPO team should be commended on their commitment to safety and providing safe service to our community,” said David Cangany, general manager.
Fixed route ridership increased 5.26 percent while ACCESS ridership increased 7.81 percent. Passenger preventable accidents were reduced by 38 percent and TRANSPO also saw a decrease in passenger complaints.
“Everyone’s hard work has paid off, especially with the ridership increase, meaning busier buses; our dedicated employees have made huge progress as we’ve focused on safety through increased training and awareness,” said Janet Berkin, assistant general manager.
“While our employees continue to focus on safety in 2013, this provides additional relief for our organization as we see decreases in accident related expenses, especially as our funding sources continue to tighten each year,” Cangany said.