January 11, 2012
For more information contact:
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email: bek@fwcitilink
WHO: CITILINK & CONGRESSMAN STUTZMAN
WHAT: EIGHT (8) NEW ACCESS BUS DEBUT
WHEN: THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 11:45AM
WHERE: CITILINK OFFICES, 801 LEESBURG ROAD
Please join Congressman Stutzman and Citilink officials as we celebrate the arrival of eight (8) new Glaval Titan II buses made in Elkhart, Indiana. These new light duty transit vehicles replace over half of Citilink’s current Access bus fleet. These vehicles were purchased with 80% federal and 20% local funding ($750,000 total cost).
The manufacturer of these vehicles, Glaval Corporation, a division of Forest River, Inc., is located in Elkhart. “The same companies who are suffering from the slump in recreational vehicle sales benefit from this transit vehicle order. We are pleased to help our Northeast Indiana neighbors and improve the safety and efficiency of our fleet”, said Ken Housden, Citilink General Manager. In addition, many component parts are supplied by Indiana companies “over 70% of the materials used for bus conversions are purchased directly from or distributed through Indiana companies”, said Phil Hays, Glaval Bus General Manager.
Citilink Access service supplements the fixed route service by providing curb to curb transport for those who are physically or mentally unable to use the Citilink fixed route system. Citilink Access provides service within the Fort Wayne city limits and within ¾ mile of the New Haven bus route. The cost to ride Access is $2.50 for each one-way trip. Citilink provides fixed route and Access service Monday through Friday from 5:45am to 9:30pm and on Saturday from 7:45am to 6:15pm.
Overall Citilink provided over 2 Million one way passenger trips in 2011; of these trips, 44,476 were provided by our demand response Citilink Access service. This affordable, accessible transportation allows people with disabilities the independence to be productive members of our community. Mobility that provides access to jobs, healthcare, community services, social events, etc. is essential to a quality of life that is valued by the individuals served by Citilink Access and our community as a whole.
For more information on Access eligibility requirements or other Citilink service information call 432-4546.
Citilink - Getting you there, wherever life takes you.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: January 5, 2012
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email: bek@fwcitilink
In November the Fort Wayne Citilink Board of Directors voted to offer FREE service on all five Saturdays during the month of December. This program was offered on three Saturdays in December last year. Free Fare Saturdays were our gift to the community, in these hard economic times. It was also an opportunity to introduce new riders to the Citilink bus system. We encouraged people to save the hassle of driving & parking, spend their “green” on family & friends instead of gas, and enjoy the holiday festivities Downtown and at area shopping centers.
The ridership goal for the year was two million passenger trips and the Free Fare Saturdays helped put Citilink over the top! Fixed route ridership on these five Saturdays in December totaled 25,540 FREE trips - 10,000 trips more than an average Saturday (a 67% increase). Our Access service also experienced a 34% increase with 167 passengers physically unable to use the fixed route service receiving FREE rides.
Other initiatives that contributed to our ridership increase this year include:
The 2,011,992 rides provided in 2011 is not an all time record but it does represent a 4% increase over last year and continues an upward trend. We look forward to completion of our new Downtown Transit Center in late summer to encourage even more residents to give transit a try in 2012.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: November 14, 2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email: bek@fwcitilink
Ride any Citilink Route on Five Saturdays in December for FREE.
For more information on Free Fare Saturdays or other Citilink service information call 432-4546 or visit the website at www.fwcitilink.com.
October 18, 2011
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: John Perlich, Parkview Spokesperson
373-7206 (phone) or 705-4271 (cell)
Fort Wayne, Ind. – Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 — Parkview Hospital and Citilink officials today unveiled a Citilink bus that contains messaging from Parkview’s Don’t Text & Drive program.
The partnership is an effort to increase awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. A new state law went into effect on July 1 which bans texting while driving.
The messaging will be on display on the Citilink bus for one year.
“This is a great partnership that will assist us in our efforts to educate the community about the dangers of texting while driving, said Lori Hunt, trauma prevention coordinator, Parkview Trauma Centers. “We want residents to be as safe as possible and recognize the risks associated with texting and driving.”
“Citilink is pleased to offer area businesses the opportunity to provide rolling billboards on the exterior of our buses. This is not only an opportunity to inform the community but also helps to support the public transit system that provides approximately two million trips per year to your customers and employees,” said Betsy Kachmar, assistant general manager, Citilink.
Parkview launched the Don’t Text & Drive initiative in February 2009. The program targets teenage drivers and adults who send or read text messages while driving. Parkview’s Don’t Text & Drive message appears on billboards, signage at Glenbrook Square Mall and public service announcements on television and radio. The campaign also includes outreach to area high schools.
More information about Parkview’s Don’t Text & Drive program can be found at: www.donttextdrive.com and www.facebook.com/DontTextandDriveParkview.
For more information on interior or exterior bus advertising, click here or call Betsy Kachmar at (260) 432-4977.
Are you unsure about how to ride a Citilink bus? Contact Citilink at (260) 432-4546. A customer service representative will help you plan your trip. Additional information is available at www.fwcitilink.com for instruction on how to take the bus and current schedules.
October 12, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email: bek@fwcitilink
(Fort Wayne, IN) Citilink, Fort Wayne’s public transportation corporation, has named Raymundo Delgadillo as the new Maintenance Manager. He assumed the position effective October 3, 2011.
Mr. Delgadillo comes to Fort Wayne from Virginia where he was Maintenance Manager for Fairfax County; prior to that he held several maintenance positions with the Chicago Transit Authority.
His responsibilities include fleet and facilities maintenance, safety, procurement and inventory management.
“Ray brings a strong commitment to safety and an extensive background in transit maintenance to our organization.” stated Ken Housden, General Manager.
Citilink’s mission is to provide safe, courteous and dependable public transportation at the most reasonable cost to our community.
August 29, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
History – Citilink initiated efforts to develop an improved Downtown Transit Station in 2002. A site selection process identified a parking lot on Barr Street between Washington & Jefferson as optimum; however, after years of effort and preliminary design, inability to acquire sufficient property proved to be an insurmountable barrier. Other options were explored and the decision was made to use property owned by Citilink at Baker & Calhoun; which had served as the south transit terminal several years ago. The facility was redesigned and received federal & local approvals. A construction contract for $4.4 Million has been awarded to Hamilton Hunter Builders. We anticipate completion by September, 2012.
Funding – Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funding to cover 80% of the cost of planning, designing and constructing this facility has been accumulated over the years. Local share funding of 20% has been and will continue to be from Citilink capital reserves; which includes proceeds from the sale of the Barr Street property and the public parking garage at the corner of Calhoun & Jefferson. These funds are available for capital improvements only and cannot be spent to subsidize operating expenses.
Energy/Environment Savings - Many environmental friendly features have been incorporated to help contain ongoing operating expenses. While we do not intend to spend the funds necessary to obtain official LEED certification the project includes; Geothermal heating/cooling with radiant heating in the flooring, lots of windows & skylights for ambient lighting, state of the art efficient lighting , energy controls, low maintenance structures & landscaping, etc.
Amenities – The project plans call for a 2,700-square-foot building equipped with indoor restrooms, an information center and a drivers lounge. The property will also contain bus bays covered with large canopies to protect waiting passengers from rain and snow. Passengers and neighbors will be able to purchase bus passes, speak with customer service staff, pick up maps & schedules, wait in comfort inside or out, use the restroom, receive electronic messages regarding on-time status of buses and other notifications, enjoy the community park area, listen to musicians, eat lunch from one of the food vendors or vending machines, etc.
Connectivity – One of the benefits of the Baker Street site is the proximity to the train station. When efforts to encourage passenger rail to return to downtown Fort Wayne are successful we will be right next door. Discussions are underway to encourage Greyhound/intercity bus service to operate out of our new facility and several parking spaces will be dedicated for passenger drop off/pick up for taxi, Countilink, social service, kiss & ride, etc. Bike racks and other amenities are incorporated into the design as well as pedestrian friendly features.
Downtown Revitalization – Citilink is pleased to be a partner in efforts to invest in Downtown Fort Wayne development. Design features were selected to compliment surrounding architecture; red brick to match surrounding buildings, canopies reminiscent of Barr Street Market and the train station, two story building frontage, pouring patterns in sidewalk, decorative lighting, etc. With ridership at nearly two million passenger trips per year, Citilink will bring over 5,000 passengers/day to the station – adding vitality to the surrounding neighborhood.
For Immediate Release
August 16, 2011
For further information contact:
Kelli Ford, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications 260-480-4120, email kford50@ivytech.edu
Susan Alderman, Media Director/Marketing Specialist 260-481-6165, email aldermas@ipfw.edu
Ivy Tech Community College−Northeast and Indiana University−Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) are entering the third year of their partnership with Citilink to offer a free campus shuttle. The campusLink route includes stops between Ivy Tech’s Coliseum and North campuses, IPFW and its student housing on the Waterfield Campus and some shopping and residential areas.
campusLink operates during Ivy Tech and IPFW’s fall and spring semesters Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The shuttle does not operate on weekends or breaks. The exact route schedule and other information can be found online at www.fwcitilink.com/campuslink.
The campusLink service is funded as a demonstration project as one of two elements of a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant for the first three years of operation. Total ridership for the first year (2009-10) was 36,353. This increased 42 percent to 51,741 for the second academic year (2010-11).
All organizations involved wish to continue to provide this transportation next year and are working to secure funding during the current fiscal year. “This service has proven to be quite popular in the first two years and we are hopeful that the resources can be found to continue campusLink,” said Ken Housden, Citilink general manager.
The second part of the campusLink agreement provides a 20 percent discount for adult monthly Citilink bus passes for Ivy Tech and IPFW students, faculty and staff (Regular $45, discounted $36). This is an unlimited ride pass and is active 31 days from the first day of use, and a maximum of four passes per semester per person may be purchased at the IPFW Bursar’s office, Ivy Tech’s Business office, or the Citilink office.
For questions about campusLink or the discount bus pass program contact Betsy Kachmar, assistant general manager at Citilink, at 260-432-4977 or email bek@fwcitilink.com.
About Ivy Tech
Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 120,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.
About Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne is the largest institution of higher learning in northeast Indiana, offering nearly 200 prestigious IU and Purdue degrees and certificates. More than 12,000 students of diverse ages, races, and nationalities pursue their education on our 662-acre campus. IPFW combines challenging academic programs with student-centered flexibility at an affordable price. The university’s exemplary standards in teaching and research provide unparalleled value for career preparation and professional development in an ever-changing global market. The university’s commitment to service makes it an economic, cultural, and societal leader in the region. IPFW is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access University accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
About Citilink
Citilink’s mission is to provide safe, courteous, and dependable public transportation at the most reasonable cost to our community. Getting you where you need to go – wherever life takes you.
August 3, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Monday, August 29, 2011
10:00-11:00am
Baker Street Train Station (221 W. Baker)
March 14, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Plans for Citilink’s new downtown transfer station are underway. Expected to cost between $3.5 and $4.5 million, preliminary designs for the facility at Calhoun and Baker streets include a waiting room, office, information center, driver’s room, public restrooms and two bus platforms capable of accommodating up to eighteen (18) buses.
Consultants from the Wendel Companies, GAI/Bonar Consultants, Design Collaborative, and Citilink staff will be available to discuss the proposed design at a public information session:
Wednesday, March 16, 4:00-7:00pm, City-County Building, Omni Room Input and suggestions on the downtown transfer station design are invited at the meeting or can be addressed to Betsy Kachmar, Assistant General Manager, 432-4977, bek@fwcitilink.com by March 31, 2011. Comments on other issues are also welcome at the meeting or at any time.
November 4, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Good news. This afternoon we received notification of an award of $2,000,000 under the FY2010 Clean Fuels Discretionary grant program for the purchase of Hybrid buses. This award is in addition to the $2,000,000 we received for the purchase of buses under the State of Good Repair discretionary grant program. Total grant awards for bus purchases in Oct/Nov is $4,000,000. Citilink was the only transit system in the State of Indiana to receive an award through the highly competitive Clean Fuels application process. Indianapolis was the only other Indiana transit system to receive State of Good Repair funding.
While Citilink has previously received ARRA funding for bus replacement, these funds were awarded from Federal Transit Administration discretionary funds (5309). The local matching funds requirement ranges from 83% to 90% depending upon the type of bus.
Citilink intends to purchase eight (8) light transit vehicles to replace ACCESS service vehicles that will soon reach the end of their useful life. The likely manufacturer of these vehicles, Glaval Corporation, a division of Forest River, Inc., is located in Elkhart. “The same companies who are suffering from the slump in recreational vehicle sales will benefit from this transit vehicle order. We are pleased to help our Northeast Indiana neighbors and improve the safety and efficiency of our fleet”, said Ken Housden, Citilink General Manager. In addition, many component parts are supplied by Indiana companies - over 70% of the materials used for bus conversions are purchased directly from or distributed through Indiana companies.
The remainder of the funds will be used to purchase replacement fixed route buses. These will be hybrid-electric buses similar to the seven (7) put into service earlier this year. These also will likely have Indiana components (Allison Transmission, Cummins Engine, etc.). In addition to environmental benefits (50- 90% reduced NoX, Particulate Matter, Hydrocarbons & noise level) we have experienced 30-40% improved fuel economy and anticipate reduced maintenance costs. These resources can be redirected to expand/maintain transit service levels.
October 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information contact:
Andrew D. Welch Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications Ivy Tech Community College-Northeast (O) 260-481-2270 email awelch17@ivytech.edu
Ivy Tech Community College–Northeast, Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), and Citilink were honored at this year’s National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 3 Conference in Indianapolis. The District includes Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and the Ontario Province of Canada. campusLink received Gold in the “Government Relations and Community Relations Project” category in this year’s Medallion Awards for marketing efforts over the last fiscal year.
Judges comments included:
Together, the three organizations introduced a new circulator transportation route linking three campuses (Ivy Tech–Northeast’s Coliseum Campus, Ivy Tech–Northeast’s North Campus, IPFW), student housing, apartments, and shopping districts with existing bus routes to reduce congestion and improve access. campusLink has been a collaborative effort from the early planning stages all the way to implementation. The marketing staffs of both Ivy Tech–Northeast and IPFW worked together with Citilink to ensure materials have been of high quality with an aggressive marketing plan on a shoestring budget.
“The strength of this three-way partnership has far exceeded my expectations,” said Betsy Kachmar, assistant general manager of Citilink. “We look forward to the continued growth of this service through Spring 2012 – and hopefully beyond.”
The campusLink project is funded through Spring 2012 with a Congestion and Mitigation Air Quality Act along with matching payments from each of the institutions. Total ridership for the 2009-10 academic year came to 36,353, and year-to-date ridership is 70 percent higher than this time last year.
In addition to increased ease of transportation around campus, campusLink is an effort to get students used to the idea of public transportation. This includes a discount monthly pass sales program for Ivy Tech and IPFW students and employees. In the first year, 2,650 Citilink discount passes were sold, and general Citilink monthly pass usage increased 112%.
The campaign entry has been submitted to the NCMPR’s prestigious national Paragon Awards, and those winners will be announced at the 2011 national conference, scheduled March 13-16, 2011, in Philadelphia.
October 6, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
The Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation (Citilink) has won the Indiana Transportation Association Safety Award. This award is in recognition of the best 2009 safety record of all large (Class 1) Indiana transit systems. Citilink also won this award last year and in 2006.
“As safety is our first priority, it is rewarding to be recognized as the best in the State of Indiana for three of the past five years”, stated Assistant General Manager Betsy Kachmar.
Citilink’s mission is to provide safe, courteous and dependable public transportation at the most reasonable cost to our community.
August 31, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
This Transit Development Plan (TDP) Update for Citilink provides a comprehensive review of the system’s operations and the demographics and attitudes of its users. The purpose of this update is to analyze system strengths, validate and/or recommend changes to the 2004 TDP and present additional opportunities for improvement.
The plan can be downloaded here. It is also available from the Citilink offices upon request.
JUNE 21, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Please join Citilink officials as we celebrate the arrival of seven (7) new Hybrid buses. These new heavy duty transit vehicles were purchased with a combination of 100% federal stimulus (ARRA) funding, 80% discretionary federal funding for hybrid buses (championed by Senator Lugar), and local funds to replace vehicles that have met the end of their useful life.
These new transit vehicles run on a combination of ultra-low sulfur bio diesel fuel and Hybrid electric power. These buses will reduce our reliance on foreign oil, reduce overall operating costs, reduce pollution and maintain Citilink’s leadership status as a recognized “Fort Wayne Green City Business”.
Hybrid electric buses offer cleaner and more fuel-efficient performance than conventional diesel buses. We are expecting a 35%-45% fuel economy advantage; based upon experience by other transit systems operating this model of hybrid bus - manufactured by Gillig Corporation in California.
At current fuel prices, we anticipate fuel savings of $8,689 per bus per year. This coupled with reduced brake and transmission wear and maintenance expense result in significant operating cost savings. These funds can be redirected as additional resources to expand/maintain transit service.
Fort Wayne/Allen County has been declared an air quality non-attainment area. Hybrid buses are a proven method to reduce ozone and particulate matter to improve air quality. Vehicle manufacturer estimates indicate that 2010 hybrid electric buses are about 25 times cleaner in carbon dioxide emissions and 10 times cleaner in particulate matter emissions that the 1998 diesel engine buses that these new buses replace.
Further, Citilink continues its commitment to reduce ozone by offering free fare service on Ozone Action Days, and participating in the Clean Air Force campaign. Join us by “Doing What You Can Do” to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption.
For more information on hybrid buses or other Citilink service information call 432- 4546 or visit the website at www.fwcitilink.com. For more information on the Clean Air Force campaign visit the website at www.thecleanairforce.org.
Dump the Pump – Save some Green – Ride the Blue
December 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Join us for the world premier of the only video on how to ride a bus that has been translated into Burmese. This resource will debut at the Burmese Advocacy Center recognition event on December 18, 2008, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Public Safety Academy, 7602 Patriot Crossing.
In addition to the Burmese narration, the video is also available in English and Spanish versions. The eighteen (18) minute video is divided into five (5) segments: Meet the bus, plan your ride, getting on/off the bus, how to pay and rules of the road. This video can serve as a valuable resource for individuals learning to ride the bus as well as employer human resource and social service agency personnel who help people access jobs and essential services via public transit.
The three versions of this video are available to view online: English video, Spanish video & Burmese video. A limited number of DVDs, containing all three versions, are available from Citilink for use in group training sessions. You may also catch it on public access television, as it runs frequently.
This resource was made possible through the collaboration of the following agencies: Allen County/Fort Wayne Department of Health, Allen County Commissioners, Allen County American Red Cross MIX Program, Burmese Action Center, Allen County Public Library, Access Fort Wayne and Citilink.
While this video is another tool in our box, customers may always give Citilink a call at 432-4546. Friendly customer service representatives will help you plan your trip. You may also check out the Citilink website www.fwcitilink.com for additional instruction on how to take the bus and current schedules.
December 2, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Betsy Kachmar, 432-4977, email bek@fwcitilink
Beginning Thursday, campusLink service will be provided by new, bright green buses. Funding for these buses was obtained through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus grant at 100 percent federal share ($455,000). The three new buses are ElDorado Passports manufactured in California but sold by Midwest Transit in Indianapolis. These new buses run cleaner and are more energy efficient than the older buses that were being temporarily. Exterior graphic design application was provided by Paint the Town Graphics in Fort Wayne.
campusLink provides free shuttle service to students, faculty, and staff in and around the campuses of Ivy Tech Community College–Northeast and IPFW. It is also open to the public. This campus shuttle project is funded as a demonstration as one-of-two elements of a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant for the first three years of operation - 80% federal and 20% local funding shared by the two schools. campusLink, which began in August, utilizes three light transit vehicles which provides 20 minute service frequency throughout the student residential and commercial areas adjacent to both campuses. campusLink operates Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm. during the fall and spring semesters.
campusLink Ridership by the Numbers
Ivy Tech: 5,853 (45%)
IPFW: 5,266 (40%)
General Public: 1,928 (15%)
Total: 13,047The general public ridership includes passengers who do not have an affiliation with either institution or a trip that does not begin or end at a campus stop.
Since the start of service on the first day of the fall semester (August 24), total ridership to date is 13,047 one-way passenger trips – approximately 200 trips/day on average. Ridership breakout by category is listed to the right.
In addition to the free campusLink shuttle, the CMAQ grant allows Citilink to sell discounted bus passes to encourage ridership on the 12 regular Citilink routes. To date, 967 monthly Citilink bus passes (at an 80% discount) have been sold to IPFW and Ivy Tech students, faculty, and staff. Passes are being sold for $9.00/pass. Citilink is able to bill the CMAQ grant to help subsidize the pass discount.
The hope is that these unique and eye-catching green buses for the free campusLink service – along with discount Citilink bus passes for IPFW and Ivy Tech students, faculty, and staff – will encourage more people to give transit a try. Visit the website at www.fwcitilink.com/campusLink for more information.
This new public transportation service will be provided in Allen County where CitiLink does not provide bus or van service - transit trips that end and/or begin outside Fort Wayne.
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