Visa, MasterCard now accepted at MTA fare boxes

Students go back to school with Quest Youth Passes
Many Metro Nashville-
Bill Purcell
Mayor
Paul J. Ballard
Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Gail Carr Williams
Chair
William L. Barnes
Vice Chair
E.L. Collins
Member
Lewis Lavine
Member
Davidson County students rely
on Nashville MTA buses to get
to and from school, and once
again MTA welcomed them
back onboard. Last school year,
approximately 2,000 students,
including
magnet
school
students, rode MTA buses each
school day. MTA buses travel
past most area schools, giving all
students a reliable way to get to
class and to and from afterschool
activities, so getting a ride home
after practice is not a problem.
The communications staff
recently updated its Quest Youth
Bus Service brochure – a readerfriendly guide that explains how
to plan a school bus trip. It is
now available at MTA displays
around town and on the MTA
Web site at www.nashvillemta.
org. MTA representatives held
orientations at Nashville-area
schools and distributed the
Fall 2007
Driver James Otey driven to travel
down many career paths
Pat Downs, Brenda Miller, Mark Branch, Mayor Bill Purcell, Robert
Hatch, Judy Shelton and Evon Heath pause for a photo during the
Mayor’s First Day Festival.
Quest brochure and other backto-school items at the Mayor’s
Game-Day Express tickets also available this year
The Nashville MTA got into game ticket, or $60 for a
the game early with the kickoff season pass, which covers two
Editor-in-Chief/Writer
of ticket sales for its End-Zone preseason games, eight regularPatricia Harris-Morehead
season games and any home
Express service in mid-July.
Managing Editor/Writer
Once again, fans have the playoff games.
Wendy Smith
opportunity to purchase a ticket to In addition to promoting its
Graphic Designer
own End-Zone Express
ride a convenient MTA shuttle bus
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service, this year the
to all Tennessee
Contributing Writer
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Page 8
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 1
First Day Festival on Aug. 12
at the Sommet Center.
MTA gets fans to the game with End-Zone Express
Marian T. Ott
Member
www.rta-rid
e.org
Volume 5, Issue 2
platform and $135 for an advance
season ticket. Parking is free at
all of the outlying train stations.
The first train departs
Lebanon at 9 a.m. and arrives
downtown at 10 a.m., and the
second train leaves Lebanon at
10 a.m. and arrives downtown at
11 a.m. Following the game, the
first train will leave Riverfront
Station 30 minutes after the
game concludes. The second
train (last train) will leave
Riverfront Station 60 minutes
after the game concludes.
More information about
the MTA End-Zone Express
service as well as an electronic
version of the new End-Zone
Express brochure is available
online at ww.nashvillemta.org
For more information about
the Music City Star GameDay Express, go online to
www.musiccitystar.com
or
www.rta-ride.org.
James Otey has traveled many different roads throughout
his career. Some have been by motorcycle, car or van. Others
have been by tour bus, and most recently, via Nashville MTA’s
Nolensville Road and Bordeaux bus routes every weekday as a
bus operator for the MTA. But this is just the latest trip of many
throughout a well-diversified career.
Prior to working at MTA, Otey served as an assistant
branch manager, production manager and lab manager at INX
International printing ink company for 31 years. When the
company left town in 1999, Otey had been with the company
long enough to retire, so he did. He traveled for roughly nine
months before his barber, a former MTA bus operator, told him
that he was too young to retire and that he should go work for
MTA.
“I said, ‘What could I do there? I can’t drive a bus’,” said
Otey, who has been with the Davidson Transit Organization
since 2000. “But he said, ‘You own one,’ which I do – a Pace
Arrow motor home. It
is 38-feet long.”
This is the current
chapter in the Otey
story.
To
fully
understand the tale, you
have to return to the
late 1940s in Franklin,
Tennessee. Otey is the
son of musical parents
– his father played
drums, his mother
played keyboards. So,
it came as no surprise
to those who knew
him that music would
become an integral part
of his life as well.
James Otey starts his day as an MTA
He
first
started
Bus Operator.
playing the trumpet
as a child but switched to drums while in junior high. Otey’s
band instructor, a teacher by day and local musician by night,
introduced him to Milt Turner, a former drummer for the late
Ray Charles.
His father would bring him to Nashville on Saturdays, and
Turner would teach him the skills to swing with bands. Through
this interaction, he encountered musicians like Hank Crawford
(sax player for Ray Charles), Phineas Newborn (piano),
Charles Dungee (bass player for Sammy Davis, Jr.), Ernest
(continued on page 3)
Construction underway
on Music City Central
Mayor Bill Purcell is presented with a hard hat by MTA Board member
and former Chair Lewis Lavine during the “Big Gig” ceremony.
Nashville MTA passengers won’t have to worry about
battling the rain or cold on Deaderick Street while waiting
for their connecting buses too much longer. By the fall of
2008, riders will be able to wait in comfort indoors in
Music City Central (MCC), the MTA’s new downtown
transfer center.
On June 21, the MTA officially kicked off construction of
MCC with a “Big Gig” celebration on the construction site at 400
Charlotte Avenue between 4th and 5th Avenues near the Municipal
Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Since then, construction
has continued to move forward. Demolition is complete on the
South garage (the former Capital Park Inn garage) and selective
(continued on page 6)
Visa, MasterCard now accepted
at MTA fare boxes
No cash? No problem for Nashville MTA passengers. The
MTA has installed credit card software and hardware within the
MTA network, and now customers have the option of paying
their fares by credit or debit cards on MTA buses.
With this new investment in fare collection technologies,
MTA is the only transit agency in the country accepting credit
cards at the fare box for its entire system. This new product
allows more convenience to existing riders and also opens up
opportunities to attract new customers.
During the first three months of operation, $3,100 in
fares were paid by credit or debit card on MTA buses.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to make the
passenger experience even more enjoyable, and we believe
this new initiative offers not only more convenience to existing
riders but also provides an opportunity to attract new riders,”
said MTA Chief Financial Officer Ed Oliphant, who negotiated
the credit card initiative with GFI and Link2Gov and serves as
the project manager.
(continued on page 7)
9/6/07 8:08:51 AM
Title VI: What it means, why it matters and how it helps MTA help you
credit
As a recipient of federal funds, the Nashville
MTA must comply with all federal laws,
including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights
Act. In case you’ve seen the posters around and
wondered “What is Title VI?,” this article will
answer some of the Frequently Asked Questions
about Title VI. For more detailed information,
please visit the Tennessee State Civil Rights Office
Web site at www.tdot.state.tn.us/civil-rights/
titlevi/ or talk with MTA’s Title VI coordinator,
Jim McAteer, Director of Planning.
What is Title VI?
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says,
“No person in the United States shall, on the
grounds of race, color or national origin, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program or activity receiving
federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d
When boarding a bus, riders are
able to purchase one ride for $1.25
or an All-Day Pass for $3.75.
In addition, MTA offers singlediscount tickets and all-day passes
to seniors and youth, which also
can be purchased on the bus with a
credit card. What is Federal Financial Assistance?
For MTA, federal financial assistance
primarily means grants that we receive from
the federal government; however, financial
assistance can be more than just money. It is
also aid that enhances the ability to improve
or expand allocation of a recipient’s own
resources. Examples include: student aid,
training of employees, tax-exempt bonds, and
others.
What does Title VI do?
1. Prohibits entities from denying an
individual any service, financial aid, or other
benefit because of race, color or national origin. 2. Prohibits entities from providing a
different service or benefit, or providing these
in a different manner, from those provided to
others under the program.
3. Prohibits segregation or separate treatment
Service Improvements effective September 30
The fiscal year 2008 operating budget was Service has been added and/or has increased
officially adopted by the Nashville MTA in frequency on the following routes:
Board on Aug. 23, and the MTA will be able
to improve its night service as well as add
3 – West End
more weekend trips to the Opry Mills area
and the Nashville International Airport.
9 – MetroCenter
Many of these improvements are part of
the MTA’s five-year service improvement
10 – Charlotte
plan, including the separation of night
and weekend service on route 3 West
12 – Nolensville Road
End and route 10 Charlotte, as well as the
restructuring of route 12 Nolensville Road.
18 – Airport/Elm Hill Pike
A majority of the people attending the
public hearing in July were pleased with
22 – Bordeaux
the proposed changes. Passengers on
eight bus routes will see important service
26 – Gallatin Road
improvements during the biannual service
changes that take effect on Sept. 30, 2007.
34X – Opry Mills Express
Page 2
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 4
in any manner related to receiving program
services or benefits. 4. Prohibits entities from requiring different
standards or conditions as prerequisites for
serving individuals.
5. Encourages the participation of minorities
as members of planning or advisory bodies for
programs receiving federal funds.
6. Requires information and services to be
provided in languages other than English when
significant numbers of beneficiaries are of
limited English speaking ability.
7. Requires entities to notify the respective
population about applicable programs.
8. Prohibits locating facilities in any way that
would limit or impede access to a federallyfunded service or benefit.
9. Requires assurance of nondiscrimination
in purchasing of services.
(continued from cover)
The fare box display indicates
where to swipe the card, including
the required direction of the
magnetic strip. Paper receipts are
available upon request. Visa and
MasterCard are accepted, which
includes credit cards, debit cards
and gift cards with the Visa or
MasterCard logo.
Credit cards are the new way to pay to ride the bus.
News & Notes
Metro candidates
get to know MTA
The roar of the engine:
journeys with Otey
James Otey drives buses for a living, but
he prefers to be out on the open road.
Ever since he was a young boy, Otey
has always been intrigued by motorcycles
and race cars. He began riding on an M.C.
Triumph and a Cushman Scooter, and also
rode a Harley Davidson.
He acquired his love for bikes from his
dad, but he learned his automotive skills
from two well-known stock car drivers –
Jack Marlin and Coo Coo Marlin, NASCAR
driver Sterling Marlin’s uncle and father.
“They were older than me, but they
were friends of my family, so I used to go
down to their shop and learn how to build
race car engines when I was a boy,” said
Otey, who currently owns a 1996 Harley
Davidson heritage softtail he named
Mariah and along with five others started
the Steel Horseman MC Club in 1996.
“I’d hang out with them. They were like
hometown heroes.”
Otey also became good friends with
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip, who
moved to his neighborhood while he was
growing up.
“He moved right up the street from me,”
Otey said. “I met him and Tommy Baker,
who drove drag races. I was in awe of that
stuff…I loved engines and motors, riding
bikes, driving cars fast, but music was my
first love.” Candidates learn about MTA.
MTA invited every candidate who filed
for Metro office to visit the agency and see
what MTA is and what it does. A special
briefing was presented, and those in
attendance had the opportunity to talk with
MTA staff regarding public transportation
in Nashville and tour the MTA facilities.
Ducks find home
at MTA offices
MTA has become
a parent twice
over. For the
second time this
year, a mother
duck has taken up
residence out by
the front door of the MTA offices on Nestor
Street. This duck first laid her eggs prior
to the American Public Transportation
Association’s (APTA) Bus & Paratransit
Conference in May. Staff released those
ducklings in the river. In June, the mother
duck returned, laying seven more eggs.
Those ducklings were taken to the river
and released at the end of that month.
Web site receives
upgrade BusLink zone expands
by demand
MTA recently upgraded its Web
site home page with a crisp, cleaner
look and an easier-to-read format.
The Nashville skyline serves as the
backdrop across the top of the page at
www.nashvillemta.org and features
the MTA tag line Smart Going for
a consistent message and tie-in to
its marketing campaigns. It also
includes a scrolling video of an MTA
bus and key Nashville attractions.
In addition, the Web site has
a new trip planner service for
MTA passengers and visitors to
Nashville. This new tool helps
riders and potential riders plan
their bus trip from start to finish.
Passengers insert the day and time
they want to travel, where they are
starting their trip, and their final
destination. The Trapeze software
then provides several options for
their trip, including bus route,
schedule, number of transfers, time
of travel and cost.
BusLink, MTA’s innovative on-demand
response bus service which began on
April 2, has been well received and
continues to increase in ridership. In
response to several requests, MTA is
expanding the BusLink demand zone
effective Oct. 1 to include the Green
Hills Library and Post Office. This
will allow riders to drop off their mail
and check out a book to read on their
BusLink trips.
BusLink service expands beginning
Oct. 1.
New uniform items
now available
Thanks to a request for a “sharper,
more professional look,” MTA
bus operators now have a few new
accessories for their uniforms. Vests,
which must be worn with the blue dress
shirts and ties, are now available and
can be worn as part of the MTA
uniform. In addition, a new ladies shoe
and a new raincoat are available.
Page 7
9/6/07 8:10:03 AM
MCC
Employee
Robert Rembiszewski
Lawania Westmoreland
Bobbie White
Veronica Cooksey
John Gates
Christopher Linton
Sandy Smith
Johnny Spurlock
Theresa Stevens
Robert Taylor
Edward Thomas
Charles Battle
Bruce Hogan
Robin Howard
Anthony Johnson
DeLondia Jones
Tamika Jones
Ted Leftwich
Martina Marshall
Jermaine McKissack
Fred Mitchell
Abubeker Mohammed
John Riley
Mary Titus
Marshon Lyons
Ray Alegria
Cynthia Whitehead
Position
Date
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/10/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/13/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/13/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From General Helper to Cleaning Supervisor
7/2/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From General Helper to Apprentice Mechanic
7/8/07
From Part-time to Full-time Info. Tech Specialist
7/9/07
From Operations Supervisor to AccessRide Manager 7/23/07
New Employees
As the MTA continues to grow, we would like to welcome our new employees.
Employee
Terri Hamer
Larry Harris
Adrell Stringer Jr.
Teresa Vanatta
Megan Destefano
Samantha Sabatino
George Dawson
JC Hollingsworth
Michael Nelson
Nancy Sanzi
Lisa Foster
Kim Johnson
Toya Lane
Cornelia Logan
Storme O’Keefe
Position
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Part-time Temporary Clerk – HR Department
Part-time Temporary Clerk – Planning Department
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Date
4/30/07
4/30/07
4/30/07
4/30/07
5/6/07
6/4/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
The following employees have recently retired from the MTA. They are going to be
missed, and we would like to extend to them our best wishes.
Employee
Position
Date
Liz Duff
Vehicle Operator (33 years of service)
6/1/07
Leroy Payne
Vehicle Operator (30 years of service)
8/1/07
Jimmy Sheler Mechanic (21 years of service)
9/1/07
Page 6
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 3
(continued from cover)
demolition is on the schedule for the North
garage (formerly the Municipal Auditorium
parking garage).
“Construction on this facility has been a long
time coming for Nashville, and we believe the
wait will be well worth the outcome,” said Lewis
Lavine, Nashville MTA Board member and
former chair. “Having an indoor transit center
expands our ability to provide dependable,
comfortable and convenient service to residents
and visitors of Music City.”
Aerial view of the Music City Central site,
which is located at 400 Charlotte Avenue.
MTA Board elects
new officers
Gail Carr Williams, who has been a member
of the MTA board since 2002, has been elected
as the new chair. The Rev. William Barnes,
who has been a member of the MTA board
since 1999, has been elected vice chair.
Williams recently served as vice chair as
well as chair of the MTA’s Finance Committee.
She is associate director of community,
government and neighborhood relations in
the Division of Public Affairs at Vanderbilt
University. She is responsible for building
community relationships on behalf of the
university.
Barnes, who serves as chairman of the MTA’s
Transportation Committee, was one of 15 charter
members of the Edgehill United Methodist
Church and minister of the church from its
establishment in May 1966 until his retirement
in June 1996. He completed his undergraduate
work at Vanderbilt University and received his
graduate degree from Yale Divinity School
in 1959.
In addition to Williams and Barnes, other
board members include Ed Collins, Lewis
Lavine and Marian Ott.
Otey (continued from cover)
Vantreas (piano for Ray Charles), Johnny
Jones (guitar for Jimi Hendrix) and Billy
Cox (guitar for Jimi Hendrix).
“Everybody just started liking the way I
played,” Otey said. “I was 13 when I first
started playing in clubs. My father went to
every job until I was 18 years old...Jackie
Wilson came through here, and I was playing
with the band he took on tour that summer.
I was about 15. I did that tour. That’s how
my name got out to the road professional
people.”
Following that tour, Otey started getting
calls from other bands to do the same,
but his family kept him grounded. It was
important for him to not only finish high
school but also to finish college. While
music was important, his education was
more important. He had already skipped a
grade and had a bright future.
A photo from the Otey family album.
Today, the group averages two to three
good fit for his band. Was he available?
“It was paying twice as much,” Otey performances a week, and Otey continues
said. “I was going to be making about $350 to occasionally join Little Richard or Taj
take home at Dow, and he was paying $700 Mahal on the weekends on the road for
a week for me to play the drums…I never a date or two. In fact, Little Richard is
trying to recruit him back.
did make it to Dow.”
Otey traveled around the
world for two years with
Little Richard before going
on to perform with James
Brown and Taj Mahal. He
also played in the band for
The Bill Cosby Show, which
aired on NBC.
“I got the job because I
could do what they called
cutting with the band,” Otey
said. “I could read the music
well, but I played trumpet
and saxophone, too. I took
the trumpet part and the sax
part and marked the drum
sheet where all the licks are.
We had to play the drums
Drummer James Otey (center) continues to perform with
with that but it wasn’t The New Imperials.
written on the drum chart.”
Otey toured until 1975, saving his money “He’s got a drummer, but he’s been
to buy some property in middle Tennessee. trying to get me to come back on the road,
He returned home and started performing but that’s a little hard now at 60,” Otey
with the Tyrone Smith Review as the band said. “If something happened to me here,
I could go back to work, but I don’t want
leader.
He also played with the Jimmy Church that now.”
Review before starting his own group At 60, this chapter of his life is dedicated
and booking agency. From there, he to his family. His granddaughter just
had an offer to join The New Imperials. received a four-year scholarship to VanderHe found a drummer for his band and joined bilt University, and he expects a similar
the group, which continues to perform today. result with his oldest grandson. His young Being a part of The New Imperials and est grandson is 7, but also “smart as a whip,”
having his own group allowed Otey an Otey said.
opportunity to continue to play music six “I want to be around my grandchildren,”
days a week but also to work regular business Otey said. “That’s kind of what it is about
with me now.”
hours with a printing ink company.
Otey earned a scholarship to Florida
A&M, where he attended for two years
before transferring to Tennessee State
University. After one year at TSU, he
had an opportunity to go with one of the
band directors, who was leaving for the
University of Michigan. The director
brought five students, including Otey.
Throughout college, he continued playing
music but opted to change his course of study
from music to chemical engineering. Upon
graduation from the University of Michigan,
Otey used his chemical engineering degree
to land a job at Dow Chemical and was
preparing to start three weeks later.
But before then, he received a phone call
that changed the direction of his career. On
the other end of the line was the legendary
Little Richard. He needed a drummer, and
someone had mentioned Otey would be a James Otey with Bill Cosby before a show at the world-famous Harrah’s Casino.
Page 3
9/6/07 8:09:58 AM
MTA makes a splash at APTA
International Bus Roadeo
The bus operator competition included events such as judgment stops, turning and clearing
obstacles, while the maintenance competition tested skills in identifying defects in engine,
transmission, brake and HVAC modules.
Nashville MTA successfully hosted one of the transit industry’s largest gatherings of bus and paratransit
professionals this past May.
More than 2,000 people attended the 2007 American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus &
Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo, and attendees were very complimentary of MTA staff and
Music City. The conference also featured 125 exhibits that showcased products and services and a bus display
that included paratransit vans, trolleys, full-size buses, articulated buses and bus hybrids.
Customer Service Challenge
Davidson Transit Organization (DTO) staff and MTA passengers performed during the Customer Service Challenge, which tested bus
operators on their customer service skills in several distinct customer scenarios.
Kathy Owen
Roger Ketron, Mike Davenport and Charlie
Patterson compete in the maintenance
roadeo.
Eric Beyer
Dave and Bette Carter, a.k.a “The Flame”
and “The Dame”
Frankie Collins, MTA Board member Ed Collins
and MTA Board Chair Gail Carr Williams.
Veronica Beard clears the barrels.
Mark Johnson navigates around the cones.
I want to thank you for the outstanding job you and your
staff did in hosting this year’s APTA Bus & Paratransit
Conference & International Bus Roadeo. Based on my
personal observations and the reports I have received
from members, your staff are to be commended for their
outstanding efforts in planning and coordinating this year’s
meeting. We really experienced “Music City” at its best.
As I got off the plane (for the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference) and gathered
my bags, I turned to a coworker and asked him where we were staying. I had my
information, but couldn’t remember the hotel’s name. As we discussed this, we
passed by an MTA Nashville table and a pleasant employee, Dorothy (Hayes), asked
if we were there for the APTA event. Finding out that we were, she explained to us
that MTA was offering direct service from the airport to the host hotel. And here’s
the cool part — she also told us when the next bus would be arriving, walked us
down to the bus stop and stood there and talked with us until the bus showed up a
few minutes later. That is customer service you can’t pay enough for.
Fred Jandt
Mass Transit magazine
Mark Johnson receives
congratulations from Earl
Rhodes after winning the
pre-trip inspection award.
William Milar
APTA President
held a host forum to share information on the latest line of innovative services and projects
MTA Host Forum MTA
underway at the Nashville MTA, including BusLink and Music City Central.
To the MTA Family,
Roadeo Banquet
On behalf of the MTA board members, I want to thank the entire MTA
family for your extraordinary efforts in making the 2007 APTA Bus and
Paratransit Conference and Roadeo a complete and total success. I use
the word “extraordinary” with great care. All of you performed your
ordinary tasks before and during the conference. But then you added
the extra hours of thorough planning and all the time spent tending to
the details of the events. In addition to the time spent, there was the
“Nashville touch.”
For a few days, MTA was the ambassador to the nation; the eyes of
the transportation world were on us. And as a family, MTA imparted the
Nashville friendliness and courtesy that will make APTA want to return
soon and will make federal officials knowledgeable about what we can
achieve here. So as Board members, we genuinely appreciate what you
accomplished and take pride in serving this community with you.
MTA Board member The Rev. William Barnes, Ellen Davis,
Amy McDaris and Rob McElhaney attend the host forum.
Lewis Lavine
MTA Board member and former chair
Charlie Myers, second from the right, performs with
The Valentines.
Page 4
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 2
Paul J. Ballard accepts an award for MTA’s efforts
in hosting the annual conference and roadeo.
The host forum panel: Paul
Bill Farquhar and Gary Everton.
J.
Ballard,
Jim
McAteer,
Page 5
9/6/07 8:09:39 AM
MTA makes a splash at APTA
International Bus Roadeo
The bus operator competition included events such as judgment stops, turning and clearing
obstacles, while the maintenance competition tested skills in identifying defects in engine,
transmission, brake and HVAC modules.
Nashville MTA successfully hosted one of the transit industry’s largest gatherings of bus and paratransit
professionals this past May.
More than 2,000 people attended the 2007 American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus &
Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo, and attendees were very complimentary of MTA staff and
Music City. The conference also featured 125 exhibits that showcased products and services and a bus display
that included paratransit vans, trolleys, full-size buses, articulated buses and bus hybrids.
Customer Service Challenge
Davidson Transit Organization (DTO) staff and MTA passengers performed during the Customer Service Challenge, which tested bus
operators on their customer service skills in several distinct customer scenarios.
Kathy Owen
Roger Ketron, Mike Davenport and Charlie
Patterson compete in the maintenance
roadeo.
Eric Beyer
Dave and Bette Carter, a.k.a “The Flame”
and “The Dame”
Frankie Collins, MTA Board member Ed Collins
and MTA Board Chair Gail Carr Williams.
Veronica Beard clears the barrels.
Mark Johnson navigates around the cones.
I want to thank you for the outstanding job you and your
staff did in hosting this year’s APTA Bus & Paratransit
Conference & International Bus Roadeo. Based on my
personal observations and the reports I have received
from members, your staff are to be commended for their
outstanding efforts in planning and coordinating this year’s
meeting. We really experienced “Music City” at its best.
As I got off the plane (for the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference) and gathered
my bags, I turned to a coworker and asked him where we were staying. I had my
information, but couldn’t remember the hotel’s name. As we discussed this, we
passed by an MTA Nashville table and a pleasant employee, Dorothy (Hayes), asked
if we were there for the APTA event. Finding out that we were, she explained to us
that MTA was offering direct service from the airport to the host hotel. And here’s
the cool part — she also told us when the next bus would be arriving, walked us
down to the bus stop and stood there and talked with us until the bus showed up a
few minutes later. That is customer service you can’t pay enough for.
Fred Jandt
Mass Transit magazine
Mark Johnson receives
congratulations from Earl
Rhodes after winning the
pre-trip inspection award.
William Milar
APTA President
held a host forum to share information on the latest line of innovative services and projects
MTA Host Forum MTA
underway at the Nashville MTA, including BusLink and Music City Central.
To the MTA Family,
Roadeo Banquet
On behalf of the MTA board members, I want to thank the entire MTA
family for your extraordinary efforts in making the 2007 APTA Bus and
Paratransit Conference and Roadeo a complete and total success. I use
the word “extraordinary” with great care. All of you performed your
ordinary tasks before and during the conference. But then you added
the extra hours of thorough planning and all the time spent tending to
the details of the events. In addition to the time spent, there was the
“Nashville touch.”
For a few days, MTA was the ambassador to the nation; the eyes of
the transportation world were on us. And as a family, MTA imparted the
Nashville friendliness and courtesy that will make APTA want to return
soon and will make federal officials knowledgeable about what we can
achieve here. So as Board members, we genuinely appreciate what you
accomplished and take pride in serving this community with you.
MTA Board member The Rev. William Barnes, Ellen Davis,
Amy McDaris and Rob McElhaney attend the host forum.
Lewis Lavine
MTA Board member and former chair
Charlie Myers, second from the right, performs with
The Valentines.
Page 4
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 2
Paul J. Ballard accepts an award for MTA’s efforts
in hosting the annual conference and roadeo.
The host forum panel: Paul
Bill Farquhar and Gary Everton.
J.
Ballard,
Jim
McAteer,
Page 5
9/6/07 8:09:39 AM
MCC
Employee
Robert Rembiszewski
Lawania Westmoreland
Bobbie White
Veronica Cooksey
John Gates
Christopher Linton
Sandy Smith
Johnny Spurlock
Theresa Stevens
Robert Taylor
Edward Thomas
Charles Battle
Bruce Hogan
Robin Howard
Anthony Johnson
DeLondia Jones
Tamika Jones
Ted Leftwich
Martina Marshall
Jermaine McKissack
Fred Mitchell
Abubeker Mohammed
John Riley
Mary Titus
Marshon Lyons
Ray Alegria
Cynthia Whitehead
Position
Date
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/10/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/13/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 4/13/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 5/11/07
From General Helper to Cleaning Supervisor
7/2/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From Vehicle Operator Trainee to Vehicle Operator 7/6/07
From General Helper to Apprentice Mechanic
7/8/07
From Part-time to Full-time Info. Tech Specialist
7/9/07
From Operations Supervisor to AccessRide Manager 7/23/07
New Employees
As the MTA continues to grow, we would like to welcome our new employees.
Employee
Terri Hamer
Larry Harris
Adrell Stringer Jr.
Teresa Vanatta
Megan Destefano
Samantha Sabatino
George Dawson
JC Hollingsworth
Michael Nelson
Nancy Sanzi
Lisa Foster
Kim Johnson
Toya Lane
Cornelia Logan
Storme O’Keefe
Position
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Part-time Temporary Clerk – HR Department
Part-time Temporary Clerk – Planning Department
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Vehicle Operator Trainee
Date
4/30/07
4/30/07
4/30/07
4/30/07
5/6/07
6/4/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/2/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
7/9/07
The following employees have recently retired from the MTA. They are going to be
missed, and we would like to extend to them our best wishes.
Employee
Position
Date
Liz Duff
Vehicle Operator (33 years of service)
6/1/07
Leroy Payne
Vehicle Operator (30 years of service)
8/1/07
Jimmy Sheler Mechanic (21 years of service)
9/1/07
Page 6
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 3
(continued from cover)
demolition is on the schedule for the North
garage (formerly the Municipal Auditorium
parking garage).
“Construction on this facility has been a long
time coming for Nashville, and we believe the
wait will be well worth the outcome,” said Lewis
Lavine, Nashville MTA Board member and
former chair. “Having an indoor transit center
expands our ability to provide dependable,
comfortable and convenient service to residents
and visitors of Music City.”
Aerial view of the Music City Central site,
which is located at 400 Charlotte Avenue.
MTA Board elects
new officers
Gail Carr Williams, who has been a member
of the MTA board since 2002, has been elected
as the new chair. The Rev. William Barnes,
who has been a member of the MTA board
since 1999, has been elected vice chair.
Williams recently served as vice chair as
well as chair of the MTA’s Finance Committee.
She is associate director of community,
government and neighborhood relations in
the Division of Public Affairs at Vanderbilt
University. She is responsible for building
community relationships on behalf of the
university.
Barnes, who serves as chairman of the MTA’s
Transportation Committee, was one of 15 charter
members of the Edgehill United Methodist
Church and minister of the church from its
establishment in May 1966 until his retirement
in June 1996. He completed his undergraduate
work at Vanderbilt University and received his
graduate degree from Yale Divinity School
in 1959.
In addition to Williams and Barnes, other
board members include Ed Collins, Lewis
Lavine and Marian Ott.
Otey (continued from cover)
Vantreas (piano for Ray Charles), Johnny
Jones (guitar for Jimi Hendrix) and Billy
Cox (guitar for Jimi Hendrix).
“Everybody just started liking the way I
played,” Otey said. “I was 13 when I first
started playing in clubs. My father went to
every job until I was 18 years old...Jackie
Wilson came through here, and I was playing
with the band he took on tour that summer.
I was about 15. I did that tour. That’s how
my name got out to the road professional
people.”
Following that tour, Otey started getting
calls from other bands to do the same,
but his family kept him grounded. It was
important for him to not only finish high
school but also to finish college. While
music was important, his education was
more important. He had already skipped a
grade and had a bright future.
A photo from the Otey family album.
Today, the group averages two to three
good fit for his band. Was he available?
“It was paying twice as much,” Otey performances a week, and Otey continues
said. “I was going to be making about $350 to occasionally join Little Richard or Taj
take home at Dow, and he was paying $700 Mahal on the weekends on the road for
a week for me to play the drums…I never a date or two. In fact, Little Richard is
trying to recruit him back.
did make it to Dow.”
Otey traveled around the
world for two years with
Little Richard before going
on to perform with James
Brown and Taj Mahal. He
also played in the band for
The Bill Cosby Show, which
aired on NBC.
“I got the job because I
could do what they called
cutting with the band,” Otey
said. “I could read the music
well, but I played trumpet
and saxophone, too. I took
the trumpet part and the sax
part and marked the drum
sheet where all the licks are.
We had to play the drums
Drummer James Otey (center) continues to perform with
with that but it wasn’t The New Imperials.
written on the drum chart.”
Otey toured until 1975, saving his money “He’s got a drummer, but he’s been
to buy some property in middle Tennessee. trying to get me to come back on the road,
He returned home and started performing but that’s a little hard now at 60,” Otey
with the Tyrone Smith Review as the band said. “If something happened to me here,
I could go back to work, but I don’t want
leader.
He also played with the Jimmy Church that now.”
Review before starting his own group At 60, this chapter of his life is dedicated
and booking agency. From there, he to his family. His granddaughter just
had an offer to join The New Imperials. received a four-year scholarship to VanderHe found a drummer for his band and joined bilt University, and he expects a similar
the group, which continues to perform today. result with his oldest grandson. His young Being a part of The New Imperials and est grandson is 7, but also “smart as a whip,”
having his own group allowed Otey an Otey said.
opportunity to continue to play music six “I want to be around my grandchildren,”
days a week but also to work regular business Otey said. “That’s kind of what it is about
with me now.”
hours with a printing ink company.
Otey earned a scholarship to Florida
A&M, where he attended for two years
before transferring to Tennessee State
University. After one year at TSU, he
had an opportunity to go with one of the
band directors, who was leaving for the
University of Michigan. The director
brought five students, including Otey.
Throughout college, he continued playing
music but opted to change his course of study
from music to chemical engineering. Upon
graduation from the University of Michigan,
Otey used his chemical engineering degree
to land a job at Dow Chemical and was
preparing to start three weeks later.
But before then, he received a phone call
that changed the direction of his career. On
the other end of the line was the legendary
Little Richard. He needed a drummer, and
someone had mentioned Otey would be a James Otey with Bill Cosby before a show at the world-famous Harrah’s Casino.
Page 3
9/6/07 8:09:58 AM
Title VI: What it means, why it matters and how it helps MTA help you
credit
As a recipient of federal funds, the Nashville
MTA must comply with all federal laws,
including Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights
Act. In case you’ve seen the posters around and
wondered “What is Title VI?,” this article will
answer some of the Frequently Asked Questions
about Title VI. For more detailed information,
please visit the Tennessee State Civil Rights Office
Web site at www.tdot.state.tn.us/civil-rights/
titlevi/ or talk with MTA’s Title VI coordinator,
Jim McAteer, Director of Planning.
What is Title VI?
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says,
“No person in the United States shall, on the
grounds of race, color or national origin, be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program or activity receiving
federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d
When boarding a bus, riders are
able to purchase one ride for $1.25
or an All-Day Pass for $3.75.
In addition, MTA offers singlediscount tickets and all-day passes
to seniors and youth, which also
can be purchased on the bus with a
credit card. What is Federal Financial Assistance?
For MTA, federal financial assistance
primarily means grants that we receive from
the federal government; however, financial
assistance can be more than just money. It is
also aid that enhances the ability to improve
or expand allocation of a recipient’s own
resources. Examples include: student aid,
training of employees, tax-exempt bonds, and
others.
What does Title VI do?
1. Prohibits entities from denying an
individual any service, financial aid, or other
benefit because of race, color or national origin. 2. Prohibits entities from providing a
different service or benefit, or providing these
in a different manner, from those provided to
others under the program.
3. Prohibits segregation or separate treatment
Service Improvements effective September 30
The fiscal year 2008 operating budget was Service has been added and/or has increased
officially adopted by the Nashville MTA in frequency on the following routes:
Board on Aug. 23, and the MTA will be able
to improve its night service as well as add
3 – West End
more weekend trips to the Opry Mills area
and the Nashville International Airport.
9 – MetroCenter
Many of these improvements are part of
the MTA’s five-year service improvement
10 – Charlotte
plan, including the separation of night
and weekend service on route 3 West
12 – Nolensville Road
End and route 10 Charlotte, as well as the
restructuring of route 12 Nolensville Road.
18 – Airport/Elm Hill Pike
A majority of the people attending the
public hearing in July were pleased with
22 – Bordeaux
the proposed changes. Passengers on
eight bus routes will see important service
26 – Gallatin Road
improvements during the biannual service
changes that take effect on Sept. 30, 2007.
34X – Opry Mills Express
Page 2
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 4
in any manner related to receiving program
services or benefits. 4. Prohibits entities from requiring different
standards or conditions as prerequisites for
serving individuals.
5. Encourages the participation of minorities
as members of planning or advisory bodies for
programs receiving federal funds.
6. Requires information and services to be
provided in languages other than English when
significant numbers of beneficiaries are of
limited English speaking ability.
7. Requires entities to notify the respective
population about applicable programs.
8. Prohibits locating facilities in any way that
would limit or impede access to a federallyfunded service or benefit.
9. Requires assurance of nondiscrimination
in purchasing of services.
(continued from cover)
The fare box display indicates
where to swipe the card, including
the required direction of the
magnetic strip. Paper receipts are
available upon request. Visa and
MasterCard are accepted, which
includes credit cards, debit cards
and gift cards with the Visa or
MasterCard logo.
Credit cards are the new way to pay to ride the bus.
News & Notes
Metro candidates
get to know MTA
The roar of the engine:
journeys with Otey
James Otey drives buses for a living, but
he prefers to be out on the open road.
Ever since he was a young boy, Otey
has always been intrigued by motorcycles
and race cars. He began riding on an M.C.
Triumph and a Cushman Scooter, and also
rode a Harley Davidson.
He acquired his love for bikes from his
dad, but he learned his automotive skills
from two well-known stock car drivers –
Jack Marlin and Coo Coo Marlin, NASCAR
driver Sterling Marlin’s uncle and father.
“They were older than me, but they
were friends of my family, so I used to go
down to their shop and learn how to build
race car engines when I was a boy,” said
Otey, who currently owns a 1996 Harley
Davidson heritage softtail he named
Mariah and along with five others started
the Steel Horseman MC Club in 1996.
“I’d hang out with them. They were like
hometown heroes.”
Otey also became good friends with
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip, who
moved to his neighborhood while he was
growing up.
“He moved right up the street from me,”
Otey said. “I met him and Tommy Baker,
who drove drag races. I was in awe of that
stuff…I loved engines and motors, riding
bikes, driving cars fast, but music was my
first love.” Candidates learn about MTA.
MTA invited every candidate who filed
for Metro office to visit the agency and see
what MTA is and what it does. A special
briefing was presented, and those in
attendance had the opportunity to talk with
MTA staff regarding public transportation
in Nashville and tour the MTA facilities.
Ducks find home
at MTA offices
MTA has become
a parent twice
over. For the
second time this
year, a mother
duck has taken up
residence out by
the front door of the MTA offices on Nestor
Street. This duck first laid her eggs prior
to the American Public Transportation
Association’s (APTA) Bus & Paratransit
Conference in May. Staff released those
ducklings in the river. In June, the mother
duck returned, laying seven more eggs.
Those ducklings were taken to the river
and released at the end of that month.
Web site receives
upgrade BusLink zone expands
by demand
MTA recently upgraded its Web
site home page with a crisp, cleaner
look and an easier-to-read format.
The Nashville skyline serves as the
backdrop across the top of the page at
www.nashvillemta.org and features
the MTA tag line Smart Going for
a consistent message and tie-in to
its marketing campaigns. It also
includes a scrolling video of an MTA
bus and key Nashville attractions.
In addition, the Web site has
a new trip planner service for
MTA passengers and visitors to
Nashville. This new tool helps
riders and potential riders plan
their bus trip from start to finish.
Passengers insert the day and time
they want to travel, where they are
starting their trip, and their final
destination. The Trapeze software
then provides several options for
their trip, including bus route,
schedule, number of transfers, time
of travel and cost.
BusLink, MTA’s innovative on-demand
response bus service which began on
April 2, has been well received and
continues to increase in ridership. In
response to several requests, MTA is
expanding the BusLink demand zone
effective Oct. 1 to include the Green
Hills Library and Post Office. This
will allow riders to drop off their mail
and check out a book to read on their
BusLink trips.
BusLink service expands beginning
Oct. 1.
New uniform items
now available
Thanks to a request for a “sharper,
more professional look,” MTA
bus operators now have a few new
accessories for their uniforms. Vests,
which must be worn with the blue dress
shirts and ties, are now available and
can be worn as part of the MTA
uniform. In addition, a new ladies shoe
and a new raincoat are available.
Page 7
9/6/07 8:10:03 AM
Students go back to school with Quest Youth Passes
Many Metro Nashville-
Bill Purcell
Mayor
Paul J. Ballard
Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Gail Carr Williams
Chair
William L. Barnes
Vice Chair
E.L. Collins
Member
Lewis Lavine
Member
Davidson County students rely
on Nashville MTA buses to get
to and from school, and once
again MTA welcomed them
back onboard. Last school year,
approximately 2,000 students,
including
magnet
school
students, rode MTA buses each
school day. MTA buses travel
past most area schools, giving all
students a reliable way to get to
class and to and from afterschool
activities, so getting a ride home
after practice is not a problem.
The communications staff
recently updated its Quest Youth
Bus Service brochure – a readerfriendly guide that explains how
to plan a school bus trip. It is
now available at MTA displays
around town and on the MTA
Web site at www.nashvillemta.
org. MTA representatives held
orientations at Nashville-area
schools and distributed the
Fall 2007
Driver James Otey driven to travel
down many career paths
Pat Downs, Brenda Miller, Mark Branch, Mayor Bill Purcell, Robert
Hatch, Judy Shelton and Evon Heath pause for a photo during the
Mayor’s First Day Festival.
Quest brochure and other backto-school items at the Mayor’s
Game-Day Express tickets also available this year
The Nashville MTA got into game ticket, or $60 for a
the game early with the kickoff season pass, which covers two
Editor-in-Chief/Writer
of ticket sales for its End-Zone preseason games, eight regularPatricia Harris-Morehead
season games and any home
Express service in mid-July.
Managing Editor/Writer
Once again, fans have the playoff games.
Wendy Smith
opportunity to purchase a ticket to In addition to promoting its
Graphic Designer
own End-Zone Express
ride a convenient MTA shuttle bus
White I Thompson
service, this year the
to all Tennessee
Contributing Writer
MTA is assisting the
Titans
home
Jim McAteer
Star
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Regional Transportation
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Page 8
3606_MTANEWSL8pgƒ.indd 1
First Day Festival on Aug. 12
at the Sommet Center.
MTA gets fans to the game with End-Zone Express
Marian T. Ott
Member
www.rta-rid
e.org
Volume 5, Issue 2
platform and $135 for an advance
season ticket. Parking is free at
all of the outlying train stations.
The first train departs
Lebanon at 9 a.m. and arrives
downtown at 10 a.m., and the
second train leaves Lebanon at
10 a.m. and arrives downtown at
11 a.m. Following the game, the
first train will leave Riverfront
Station 30 minutes after the
game concludes. The second
train (last train) will leave
Riverfront Station 60 minutes
after the game concludes.
More information about
the MTA End-Zone Express
service as well as an electronic
version of the new End-Zone
Express brochure is available
online at ww.nashvillemta.org
For more information about
the Music City Star GameDay Express, go online to
www.musiccitystar.com
or
www.rta-ride.org.
James Otey has traveled many different roads throughout
his career. Some have been by motorcycle, car or van. Others
have been by tour bus, and most recently, via Nashville MTA’s
Nolensville Road and Bordeaux bus routes every weekday as a
bus operator for the MTA. But this is just the latest trip of many
throughout a well-diversified career.
Prior to working at MTA, Otey served as an assistant
branch manager, production manager and lab manager at INX
International printing ink company for 31 years. When the
company left town in 1999, Otey had been with the company
long enough to retire, so he did. He traveled for roughly nine
months before his barber, a former MTA bus operator, told him
that he was too young to retire and that he should go work for
MTA.
“I said, ‘What could I do there? I can’t drive a bus’,” said
Otey, who has been with the Davidson Transit Organization
since 2000. “But he said, ‘You own one,’ which I do – a Pace
Arrow motor home. It
is 38-feet long.”
This is the current
chapter in the Otey
story.
To
fully
understand the tale, you
have to return to the
late 1940s in Franklin,
Tennessee. Otey is the
son of musical parents
– his father played
drums, his mother
played keyboards. So,
it came as no surprise
to those who knew
him that music would
become an integral part
of his life as well.
James Otey starts his day as an MTA
He
first
started
Bus Operator.
playing the trumpet
as a child but switched to drums while in junior high. Otey’s
band instructor, a teacher by day and local musician by night,
introduced him to Milt Turner, a former drummer for the late
Ray Charles.
His father would bring him to Nashville on Saturdays, and
Turner would teach him the skills to swing with bands. Through
this interaction, he encountered musicians like Hank Crawford
(sax player for Ray Charles), Phineas Newborn (piano),
Charles Dungee (bass player for Sammy Davis, Jr.), Ernest
(continued on page 3)
Construction underway
on Music City Central
Mayor Bill Purcell is presented with a hard hat by MTA Board member
and former Chair Lewis Lavine during the “Big Gig” ceremony.
Nashville MTA passengers won’t have to worry about
battling the rain or cold on Deaderick Street while waiting
for their connecting buses too much longer. By the fall of
2008, riders will be able to wait in comfort indoors in
Music City Central (MCC), the MTA’s new downtown
transfer center.
On June 21, the MTA officially kicked off construction of
MCC with a “Big Gig” celebration on the construction site at 400
Charlotte Avenue between 4th and 5th Avenues near the Municipal
Auditorium in downtown Nashville. Since then, construction
has continued to move forward. Demolition is complete on the
South garage (the former Capital Park Inn garage) and selective
(continued on page 6)
Visa, MasterCard now accepted
at MTA fare boxes
No cash? No problem for Nashville MTA passengers. The
MTA has installed credit card software and hardware within the
MTA network, and now customers have the option of paying
their fares by credit or debit cards on MTA buses.
With this new investment in fare collection technologies,
MTA is the only transit agency in the country accepting credit
cards at the fare box for its entire system. This new product
allows more convenience to existing riders and also opens up
opportunities to attract new customers.
During the first three months of operation, $3,100 in
fares were paid by credit or debit card on MTA buses.
“We are constantly looking for new ways to make the
passenger experience even more enjoyable, and we believe
this new initiative offers not only more convenience to existing
riders but also provides an opportunity to attract new riders,”
said MTA Chief Financial Officer Ed Oliphant, who negotiated
the credit card initiative with GFI and Link2Gov and serves as
the project manager.
(continued on page 7)
9/6/07 8:08:51 AM