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Flagstaff voters approve Proposition 411, Mountain Line funding continues

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (November 8, 2016) – The results of the November 8 general election have been tabulated, and Flagstaff voters have approved a continuation of the Mountain Line transit tax through 2030, with 71 percent of voters in support.

The current transit tax sunsets in 2020, and Flagstaff City Council voted to put Proposition 411 on the November 2016 ballot, asking voters to decide if the tax should be continued at the same rate for 10 more years. The approval of Proposition 411 means that Mountain Line can continue providing public transit in Flagstaff, at the current level, through 2030.

“On behalf of the NAIPTA Board of Directors, I would like to thank Flagstaff voters for once again placing their confidence in Mountain Line and realizing the importance of public transit,” said NAIPTA Board Chair and Coconino County Supervisor Art Babbott. “The services Mountain Line provides are vital to this community, and the approval of Proposition 411 is a critical component of a viable and effective regional transportation system.”

“Our staff works diligently to embody our mission of “Getting You Where You Want to Go,” and we are honored that Flagstaff voters have voiced their approval of our work,” said NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck. “Mountain Line has a proven track record of efficiency, ingenuity, and delivering on our promises, and we intend on carrying that commitment forward with the approval of Proposition 411.”

NAIPTA is the transit agency in northern Arizona operating the Mountain Line, Mountain Lift and Mountain Link systems in Flagstaff. NAIPTA also coordinates services with Campus Shuttle Service at Northern Arizona University.

NAIPTA and North Country Launch Two New Vanpools

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (February 18, 2016) – North Country HealthCare is the first employer to sign up for the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority’s (NAIPTA) new commuter vanpool program, taking delivery of two vehicles this week.

While an employee-initiated vanpool of pharmacists traveling between Flagstaff and the Winslow Indian Health Center has been going for a few months, this partnership with North Country marks the first time that a local employer has taken advantage of the cost-saving benefits of commuter vanpools to transport employees.

NAIPTA launched the Mountain Line vanpool program last year with the goal of providing an alternative to the single-passenger vehicle for groups of workers traveling to and from similar places within Coconino County and the surrounding area. Commuter vanpools are much like carpools only they include more people and no one is using their personal vehicle. The group shares the cost of a monthly lease for use of the van and the fuel. By dividing commuting costs among the group, annual savings versus using one’s own car are substantial, and it takes vehicles off the road, lessening traffic and emissions.

North Country will use its two vanpool vehicles for the dental care employees who travel to facilities in Ash Fork and Winslow. North Country recently expanded its dental services in these two communities, putting a strain on their existing fleet vehicles.

“The biggest advantages to having the vanpools are time and peace of mind for the team,” said North Country Dental Manager Krista Bush. “They won’t have to worry if they have a car reserved for their next trip or spend the valuable time that it takes to rent a vehicle. Additionally, the vanpool program also takes care of the maintenance of the vehicles, allowing us to pay one price and everything is included.”

“As the transit agency that serves all of northern Arizona, NAIPTA is committed to providing quality transportation solutions for the hundreds of employees that commute throughout this vast region,” said NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck. “We congratulate North Country for offering creative transportation options to its employees and look forward to expanding this program to additional organizations in northern Arizona.”

For more information about the Mountain Line vanpool program, visit www.mountainlinevanpool.com or contact Kate Morley at 928.679.8903.

NAIPTA named a Silver Bicycle Friendly Business

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (December 17, 2015) – The League of American Bicyclists recognized the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) with a Silver Bicycle Friendly Business (BFBSM) award, joining more than 1,090 visionary businesses from across the country.

With the announcement of 43 new and renewing BFBs, NAIPTA joins a cutting-edge group of more than 1,090 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies in 49 states and Washington, D.C., that are transforming the American workplace.

“The business community’s investment in bicycling is playing a central role in making the country a safer, happier, and more sustainable place to live and work,” said Amelia Neptune, League Bicycle Friendly Business Program Manager. “We applaud this new round of businesses, including NAIPTA, for leading the charge in creating a bicycle-friendly America for everyone.”

The Flagstaff community benefits when they are able to use their bikes for the first and last mile connections between bus stops and their origins/destinations. NAIPTA encourages bicycling as an easy option for transportation and provides amenities such as bike racks at connection centers, at bus stops, and on every single bus, and incentives such as allowing bikes to ride for free.

“NAIPTA is honored the League of American Bicyclists recognized our efforts to provide a bike-friendly community for employees and riders,” said NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck. “Biking and bus riding are two vital parts of Flagstaff’s transportation infrastructure, and we are committed to opening up access to both modes.”

About the Bicycle Friendly AmericaSM Program
The Bicycle Friendly CommunitySM, Bicycle Friendly StateSM, Bicycle Friendly Business and Bicycle Friendly UniversitySM programs are generously supported by program partner Trek Bicycle Corp. To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly America, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA.

The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders, our commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share best practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.

NAIPTA Recognized as Best Public Transportation System in the U.S.

The Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) was recognized with the highest honor a transit system can receive, winning the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 2013 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award.

This award, which is in the category of providing fewer than four million passenger trips annually, marks the first time NAIPTA has been recognized by APTA, the nation’s leading force in advancing public transportation. Called the “best of the best” of the public transportation industry, the APTA award winners are “outstanding role models of excellence, leadership, and innovation whose accomplishments have greatly advanced public transportation.”

Nominees in this category were evaluated on achievements in effectiveness and efficiency over the last three years. NAIPTA demonstrated excellence in areas such as safety, environmental sustainability and workforce development. Over the last three years, NAIPTA has launched the Mountain Link (Route 10) system, decreased accidents per mile on Mountain Line by 64 percent, implemented a real time arrival system, and cut emissions by almost 90 percent by switching to a primarily hybrid-electric fleet.

“Being named the Transit System of the Year among a very competitive field is a tremendous honor for NAIPTA and this entire community,” said NAIPTA Board Chair and Flagstaff City Councilor Celia Barotz. “NAIPTA is committed to transit excellence in Flagstaff, and we look forward to celebrating this award with our valued riders, employees, national transit and community leaders, and the public.”

NAIPTA CEO and General Manager Jeff Meilbeck will accept the award at the APTA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL on October 1.

Contact: Jacki Lenners
928.679.8933 or jlenners@naipta.az.gov

Erika Mazza Named NAIPTA Deputy General Manager

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (October 19, 2015) – Erika Mazza has been tapped to fill the newly-created Deputy General Manager position at the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA).

Mazza most recently served as NAIPTA’s Interim General Manager while CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck took a leave of absence to step in as the City of Flagstaff’s Interim City Manager. Prior to that, Mazza was the agency’s Development Director. She joined NAIPTA in October 2011.

In her new role, Mazza will continue to oversee Planning and Development, and will now also be charged with leading the Marketing, Facilities, and Information Technology functions. She will spearhead future route and service expansions, and serve as a liaison with key community partners to coordinate transit efforts.

“I appreciate the planning and development expertise Erika has brought to NAIPTA, and the incredible leadership she demonstrated during her tenure as the Interim General Manager,” said NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck. “Erika’s new title and increased responsibility recognizes her leadership abilities and the growing demands of our organization.”

Prior to joining NAIPTA, Mazza most recently served as a Human Services Planning Manager for the City of Boulder and Housing Planning Manager for the City of Flagstaff. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Community Planning from Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, VT, and a Master’s of Science in Applied Economics from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, WY. Mazza also serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Geography and Planning Department at Northern Arizona University.

NAIPTA receives $2.8 million in grant funding for facility expansion

With the receipt of a $2.8 million grant, NAIPTA has secured all of the necessary funding for a facility expansion project that will accommodate future growth as ridership and demand for transit services in Flagstaff increases.

The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) announced this week that NAIPTA successfully applied for and received $2,825,453 in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant funds. Coupled with more than $3.7 million in grant funding already acquired, NAIPTA will cover nearly 80 percent of the total project expansion costs with federal grants. The remaining funds will come from the local match required to apply for any federal grant funding.

NAIPTA broke ground on the facility expansion on April 1, 2014, with plans calling for the development of four acres adjacent to the existing NAIPTA headquarters at 3773 N. Kaspar Dr. Scheduled to open in November 2014, the expansion will feature a new 25,000-square-foot bus storage facility and an automated bus wash. The majority of NAIPTA’s fleet is currently stored outdoors and exposed to the elements. The new facility will house up to 32 vehicles and provide adequate training space for transit bus operators, as well as create the necessary indoor space for operators to conduct pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections. The drive-through bus wash will also create increased efficiency, allowing vehicles to pass through in less than one minute.

“NAIPTA has been aggressively pursuing the necessary grant funding to complete our expansion for more than two years, and this final addition is exactly what we need to ensure a quality project with the limited use of local funds,” said NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck. “The FTA has made a significant investment in Flagstaff transit through the funding of several vehicles, and the addition of this bus storage facility means that we are putting an equal investment in protecting the life of those buses.”

The overall project cost is nearly $8.3 million with more than $6.5 million being financed with federal assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, FTA, and ADOT; in partnership with the City of Flagstaff. Additional project information can be found at www.naiptaexpansion.com.

Contact: Jacki Lenners
928.679.8933 or jlenners@naipta.az.gov

NAIPTA adding amenities to accommodate growing ridership

On the heels of recording the highest-ever month of transit ridership, the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) and the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization (FMPO) are investing in Flagstaff’s transit future by adding amenities for this growing ridership.

NAIPTA saw a record ridership of more than 210,000 trips in October 2013, also marking only the second time that monthly ridership has surpassed the 200,000 milestone. With this increased ridership, NAIPTA is focusing on providing amenities and services that create an overall positive experience for transit riders, and ensuring that transit stops meet the accessibility standards of the American’s With Disabilities Act.

Through $124,000 in federal funding from the FMPO and matching funds from NAIPTA, 25 stops along the entire route network received new amenities and concrete landing pads to provide ADA access to and from the bus. Six of these stops now have full shelters to keep riders protected from the elements. The remaining 19 stops were upgraded to “Logo Stops,” which means they will now have a bench and a light for rider comfort and safety.

“Because of our strong partnership with the FMPO, NAIPTA is thrilled to be able to strategically invest these dollars to strengthen our transit system by growing the number of bus stops that are completely accessible to the disabled,” said NAIPTA Board of Directors Chairwoman Celia Barotz.

The addition of these amenities is a pre-cursor to NAIPTA’s upcoming route enhancements as outlined in the recently approved Five-Year and Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Contact: Jacki Lenners
928.679.8933 or jlenners@naipta.az.gov