Keep an eye out for news about the 2009 ACT International Conference!

January 23, 2009

Vacaville City Coach Bucks Recent Transit Trends Vacaville, CA City Coach’s ridership soared for the first half of fiscal year 08/09.  Overall ridership for Vacaville City Coach increased 20 percent when compared to the same period during the previous fiscal year. “Usually this time of year is slow for us (due to weather and holidays) but not this year,” Transit Manager Brian McLean said. McLean believes ridership has increased due to aggressive marketing, a greater focus on customer service and follow through on customers’ recommendations. “Patrons see their input has made a positive impact on the system,” McLean said.  “Although marketing has its costs – the payoff can be tremendous.” Vacaville City Coach recently wanted to expand its market to senior citizens.  City Coach employees researched elements preventing senior citizens from riding public transit.  After finding senior citizens have anxiety about riding public transit alone Vacaville City Coach developed the Senior Companions Ride Free program.  Senior citizen ridership rose 11 percent in fiscal year 07/08 compared to fiscal year 06/07 according to McLean. “Customer service is our business,” McLean said.  “For all the staff of City Coach customer service is the key ingredient to developing long term customers.  A happy customer tells a friend, and then we gain another public transit customer.” Last year Vacaville City Coach offered incentive programs including a Free Fare Day.  It produced City Coach’s highest single day ridership total to date.  “This event brought out hundreds of people who otherwise would not have tried public transit,” McLean said.  “The result - many of those individuals are now regular customers.” In the summer Vacaville City Coach offered a Summer Youth Pass, which provided parents and youths with a $20 pass good for three summer months. “Youth ridership soared and was subsequently carried forward to the next school year where we are still seeing the benefits of this program,” McLean said. In September 2008 Vacaville City Coach lowered the price of its unlimited ride monthly passes by $7.  Monthly pass sales have averaged an increase of 40 percent every month since the lowered price took effect according to McLean. More information on Vacaville City Coach can be obtained by visiting www.cityofvacaville.com/departments/citycoach/index.php or phoning (707) 449-5170