Inside Xpress [Vol. 2, no. 2 (Spring 2013)]

www.XpressGA.com customerservice@XpressGA.com

INSIDE Xpress
A publication of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority 245 Peachtree Center Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30303

C O N T E N T S
Strong Leadership Allows Xpress Service to Continue
Keeping Your Commute Safe Xpress Riders Featured on Billboards 1st quarter 2013 ridership

Spring 2013
Volume 2 No. 2 404-463-3000

Strong Leadership Allows Xpress
Service to Continue
Dear Friends of Xpress:

This week, Governor Deal signed the State's Fiscal Year 2014 budget, which includes more than $8 million of funds to keep Xpress running for another year. A special thanks to Governor Deal and the General Assembly, for affirming their commitment to Xpress during this year's Legislative Session. GRTA, Xpress riders, and commuters on metro Atlanta's interstates are grateful to the Governor for his leadership; and we appreciate the Lt. Governor, Speaker, and members of the Georgia General Assembly for their willingness to keep this important service running, especially in a time when state funds are limited. Their support for Xpress is yet another demonstration that our state leaders are actively seeking and providing solutions to address Georgia's transportation needs.
At GRTA, we renew our commitment to being responsible stewards of the state's resources. We strive to operate Xpress in a manner that supports the Governor's goals of making Georgia a more mobile and prosperous state by serving as an effective piece of the state's transportation strategy. It will be our goal to ensure that Xpress continues to provide quality service to customers, to enhance Georgia's economic competitiveness and to provide a positive return on the taxpayers' investment.
Jannine Miller
Executive Director

Xpress Riders Featured on Metro Atlanta Billboards
As part of the awareness campaign surrounding the new Georgia Commute Options program, the Clean Air Campaign featured two different Xpress customers who recently enrolled in the new commuter incentives programs.
Georgia Commute Options led by the Georgia Department of Transportation, in collaboration with GRTA, the Clean Air Campaign and other transportation partners is a partnership program offering a one -stop-shop for commute options from Xpress, MARTA and other local transit services, along with carpooling and vanpooling information and sign-up.

Did You Know?
Did you know that you play a vital role in keeping your commute safe? If you See Something suspicious on your commute, Say Something to your coach operator or call our customer service line at 404-463-4782.
Unattended Packages: If you see a bag or package on its own, notify the coach operator or call customer service. Smoke, Odd Smells, Suspicious Activities: If you see smoke, notice an odd or unusual odor, or see something suspicious on the coach
or at the park-and-ride, tell a coach operator or call customer service. Report a Crime: If you are a victim of or witness a crime, call 911 immediately.
And remember...If You See Something, Say Something

INSIDE Xpress

Spring 2013

1st Quarter YTD 2013 2012

Boardings

574,017 612,147

Cherokee
Routes: 490, 491
Clayton
Routes: 440, 441, 442
Cobb
Route: 470, 475, 477, 480, 481
Coweta
Routes 450, 451
DeKalb
Routes 422, 423, 428
Douglas
Routes 460, 461-462
Forsyth
Routes: 400, 408
Fulton
Route 455, 408
Gwinnett
Routes: 410, 411, 412, 413, 416, 418, 424
Henry
Routes: 430, 431, 432,
Paulding
Routes: 470, 477
Rockdale
Routes 420, 421, 423, 425

25,666 67,330 64,373 26,976 48,395 43,983 27,012 16,969 122,992 83,626 31,938 76,040

26,013 74,655 66,279 29,510 51,015 47,074 26,518 16,347 132,143 91,797 32,736 80,267

YTD 2013
574,017
25,666 67,330 64,373 26,976 48,395 43,983 27,012 16,969 122,992 83,626 31,938 76,040

Xpress Ridership Climbs in
1st Quarter
In the 1st quarter of 2013 there were almost 42,000 additional Xpress bus boardings when compared to the previous quarter. This 7.8% increase in ridership is consistent with ridership trends found in previous years and is largely due to passengers resuming normal work patterns as the holiday season closed.
Overall Xpress ridership is slightly down when comparing 2013's year-to-date boardings to 2012's boardings over the same time period. Last year's changes in alignments on many of our downtown routes as well as fare adjustments on a couple of routes in the I-85 North Corridor are believed to have had an impact on ridership. GRTA is optimistic that over time, the impact of the changes will be diminished and that ridership will continue to grow at a steady pace.

700,000 650,000 600,000

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Xpress Boardings by Calendar Quarter

2009--2013

550,000

500,000

450,000
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1