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NCRTD RECEIVES FTA ADMINISTRATOR’S AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVICE IN RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The North Central Regional Transit District today 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 21^stNational Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation conference in Monterey, California.

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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT. Headed by an Administrator who is appointed by the President of the United States, the FTA functions through a Washington, D.C., headquarters office and ten regional offices which assist transit agencies in all states, the District of Columbia, and the territories.

The North Central Regional Transit District provides free bus service Monday through Friday to a service area that encompasses over 10,000 square miles of north central New Mexico including the counties of Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos; the Cities of Santa Fe and Española and the Towns of Taos and Edgewood; as well as the Pueblos of Pojoaque, Ohkay Owingeh, Nambé, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara and Tesuque. The company’s signature “RTD Blue Buses” provide additional transit connections to New Mexico Rail Runner, Santa Fe Trails, New Mexico Park and Ride, Los Alamos Atomic City Transit, Taos Chile Line and Red River Miner’s Transit. All of its buses are equipped with bike racks and are ADA accessible.