Durango Transit Recognized for Outstanding Program and Service

Durango, CO – Durango Transit, a service of the City of Durango, was recognized by the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA) as the Medium Transit System of the Year. The award was announced at CASTA’S 33rd annual Fall Conference in Grand Junction, and was accepted by city employees Kent Harris, Transit and Parking Operation Manager, and Amber Blake, Multi Modal Administrator. The Medium Transit System of the Year award is given out annually to Transit Organizations with 10-25 buses, with outstanding programs or projects. Durango Transit was recognized for consistent increases in ridership (so far in 2012, 19%), events to engage the public (such as Clean Commute Week), and successful partnerships with local employers/agencies such as Mercy Regional Medical Center and Fort Lewis College. Amber Blake, Durango Transit Multi Modal Administrator, stated “The success of our transit system is in large part due to the vision and motivation of our Transit Operations Manager, Kent Harris.”

Additionally, Amber Blake, the City of Durango’s Multi Modal Administrator, was awarded Transit Employee of the Year. She was selected because of her dedication to and successful completion of the Multi Modal Transportation Master Plan, which was adopted by City Council in July, and her significant contributions to Durango Transit by increasing federal grant funding and improving administrative management of the program. Amber said “It’s an honor to receive this award, I am humbled to be recognized by my peers for the success of our multi-modal program, including comprehensive education and outreach to the community, and the adoption of our implementation focused Multi Modal Transportation Master Plan.”
The CASTA Awards Program recognizes contributions of individuals or agen¬cies in Colorado with outstanding programs or projects or who have made notable contributions to transit.