[caption id="attachment_1015" align="alignright" width="359" caption="Usage of Capital Area Transit continues to swell, as the fixed-route system increased its ridership by more than 3,000 one-way rides in 2014."]
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January 14, 2014 - Bismarck, N.D. – Capital Area Transit’s 10th anniversary proved to be its biggest year yet, with ridership increasing by over 3,000 rides from its 2013 mark.
The CAT fleet performed 138,610 one-way rides in 2014, resulting in 315,123 miles driven. In 2014, the tenth anniversary for the fixed-route service, the CAT eclipsed the milestone of providing its millionth ride, while averaging 380 rides per day of a 365-day year.
“We really feel like we are firing on all cylinders,” said CAT Manager Nate Vatnsdal. “We have altered some routes in the past year to better serve our customers and hopefully at some point in the future we will be looking at expanding our C-2 route in northeast Bismarck.”
In 2013, the 12 routes that make up the CAT fixed-route service provided 135,466 rides to Bismarck and Mandan – at that time the highest ride total in the CAT’s history.
“When you consider nearly 300,000 rides are provided between the organizations in a year, you really start to get a sense of the scope of service we are providing,” said Transit Director Robin Werre. “We are vital to our community. Without our dedicated drivers and staff, we would not be a key cog in Bismarck-Mandan, and these numbers are a representation of everyone’s hard work.”
Bis-Man Transit, an organization providing door-to-door service for individuals with disabilities, as well for individuals over the age of 60, provided 163,991 rides this past year. Bis-Man Transit is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its first provided ride later this year.
“There was no shortage of factors that potentially could have disrupted our service this past year,” said Bis-Man Transit manager Gary Aman. “From making sure we had enough drivers to maintain the 24-7 nature of the Transit service, to some vehicles approaching or exceeding its usable life – there is no such thing as a slow day. But we are doing well, and have been able to maintain access to the community for a lot of people.”
Bis-Man Transit is planning to celebrate its milestone anniversary later this spring. The door-to-door program first was used in a limited capacity in May 1990. That limited service would eventually grow into the 24-7 door-to-door service available today.
The Bis-Man Bus Depot, which provides tickets for Jefferson Lines buses to Fargo, as well as to Billings, via Minot and Williston, as well as tickets for other bus providers, sold more than 4,000 rides in 2014.