CTA invites the community to attend a public announcement to introduce the new CTA Bike Share Program. The event will take place on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the CTA Biloxi Transit Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd in Biloxi.

 The new CTA Bike Share program is an expansion of the very successful Bike & Bus program, which carries an average 1,600 bikes on fixed route buses each month. The CTA Bike Share program is a low cost, membership based program that makes getting around easier. lt is a quick, easy, and cheap alternative to being stuck in a car.  Phase one of the program will “roll out” at the Biloxi Transit Center on May 18, 2012.

Event Co-Sponsors are CTA, EcoGeno, Heritage Trails and the Biloxi Main Street Organization.

 For additional information call 228-896-8080

 ”We Keep the Gulf Coast Rolling”

CTA will implement changes to the fixed route bus services listed below on Sunday, May 20, 2012:

Casino Hopper – Extend route to service The Margaritaville Casino. The Casino

Hopper will no longer operate on a 15 minute time interval. The new time interval

will be every 20 minutes.

Route 24 Keesler – Due to the relocation of Wal-Mart from Pass Rd, to C.T. Switzer

Dr., Route 24 will move from Pass Road to Hwy 90. The time interval will remain

at t hour.

Route 34 Pass Road – Due to the relocation of Wal-Mart from Pass Rd. to C.T.

Switzer Dr., the Route 34 time schedules at Wal-Mart and Edgewater Mall will

change. The route will continue to operate on a 45 minute time interval.

Please check the new 2012 Spring Rider’s Guide for these changes as you may

have to make some minor adjustments to get to your destination. The 2012

Spring Rider’s Guide has been released and are available at the CTA office on

DeBuys Rd., the CTA Biloxi Transit Center and the CTA Gulfport Transit Center.

For additional information, please contact CTA at 228-896-8080.

 “We Keep The Gulf Coast Rolling”

Experiences 65% reduction in customer complaints and 15% reduction in operational costs

February 29, 2012–GULFPORT, MS and ATLANTA, GA – Coast Transit Authority and RouteMatch Software today announced that Coast Transit Authority has generated significant efficiencies and cost savings by using RouteMatch’s passenger and vehicle transportation management technologies. The return on investment gains underscore how Coast Transit Authority’s commitment paired with innovative technologies can bring better service to the community’s one million annual riders and improve operations.  RouteMatch’s technologies have also been applied by Coast Transit Authority for effective emergency preparation and disaster preparedness in Harrison County, Mississippi.

ROI Gains

Since implementing RouteMatch Software’s scheduling, routing and dispatching technologies for its paratranist services, Coast Transit Authority has been able to achieve:

• 15% reduction in costs associated with fuel consumption, operations,  and staff time
• 65% reduction in customer complaints
• 25% reduction in empty vehicles on the road
• 5% increase in passenger pick ups or ridership
• Savings of $17,000 in administrative cost yearly due to move to paperless environment

 “We can’t say how excited we are when we look at the data,” said Kevin Coggin, Executive Director, Coast Transit Authority. “RouteMatch’s technologies, approach and support have brought tremendous value to our transit agency and helped us bring timely service to our riders, especially after Hurricane Katrina. It was a real game-changer. We would have been stranded if we had not decided to embrace technologies when we did.”

Hurricane Katrina Spurs Change in Ridership and Transit Agency Operations

Situated in an active hurricane zone, Coast Transit Authority serves Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties in Mississippi.  After Hurricane Katrina impacted the community in 2005, Coast Transit Authority’s management team was faced with a daunting challenge. The transit agency found that many members of the gulf community who historically resided along the coast decided to move further afield to avoid severe weather conditions. This sudden relocation resulted in a greater distance (2 miles) between passenger pick-up points.

Passenger scheduling and pick-ups became harder to manage, and fuel consumption and costs swelled. Coast Transit Authority had little visibility into route planning and where the vehicles were located at any given time, which resulted in duplicate routes and inefficient service.  

Concerned,  Coast Transit Authority’s management team, board members, and staff knew that they needed prompt change and began an extensive search for an ITS technology partner to not only automate scheduling and dispatching, but also work with the transit agency through its evolving operational and ridership needs. The transit agency serves a diverse community of retirees, military personnel from two military bases, Biloxi (a major casino and tourist destination), Gulfport, commuters, and university students. With a 10% year over year increase in ridership demand, it was important for the agency to “stay ahead” of changes and influxes.

Like many transit agencies across the United States, the transit agency’s supervisor, dispatchers and 16 drivers had been using pen and paper, faxes and two- way radios to create and update passenger manifests and schedule routes and pick-ups. This took 10 hours of staff time a week, and resulted in $6,630 in annual administrative costs.  Coast Transit Authority turned to RouteMatch Software, implementing core scheduling, automating and dispatching functions and in-vehicle mobile data devices for real-time tracking of vehicles and driver communications.

Since implementation, the new efficiencies and achieved ROI gains have been a welcome change to Coast Transit Authority.

 Said Kevin Coggin, “RouteMatch’s technology is not only user- friendly and helps us do a better job, but also serves as a foundation for future regional coordination efforts. We have been most impressed with the software’s flexibility. We can maneuver data in multiple ways, and I can use all the route, schedules, billing and ridership information to plan ahead and fully understand and adjust my routes based on different and sometimes obscure variables. We reviewed many software applications that were larger and more expensive, but they would not give us the flexibility that we needed. We grew with the software, and the software easily stretched with us. RouteMatch Software is by far one of the best mid-priced software products on the market.”

Coast Transit Authority Uses RouteMatch for Evacuation Planning and Emergency Management

Coast Transit Authority has been able to extend RouteMatch’s flexible platform to serve as the technology and coordination foundation for Harrison County Emergency Management Agency.  Coast Transit Authority works closely with Harrison County Emergency Management Agency and utilizes RouteMatch’s data management tools to input and maintain a pre-registration list for disabled citizens or citizens who are at risk who need emergency evacuation during hurricanes or other emergency situations.  By geo-coding evacuation locations and easily creating evacuation routes and run paths through RouteMatch’s  configurable software with point and clicks, Coast Transit Authority is prepared to quickly shift vehicles already in the field to “immediate evacuation mode” by locating each vehicle and communicating through mobile data devices, enabling faster and more efficient service to citizens.  Each summer, evacuation drills are held surrounding this emergency management and coordination effort.

“Through the effort of Coast Transit Authority working as the Lead Agency in the Emergency Service Function #1 Transportation of Harrison County, transportation of citizens during any event/incident is handled professionally. Timely and extreme care is given to the needs of those in need,” said Rupert H. Lacy, MCEM, Director of Harrison County Emergency Management/Homeland Security/ E911 Commission. “Coast Transit Authority has moved people within the county and outside the affected area numerous times and their efforts are recognized nationwide.”

 Future Plans to Bring Enhanced Traveler Information Systems and Customer Notification Technologies

Coast Transit Authority’s staff has been long committed to ongoing training through RouteMatch’s educational webinars and User Conference. The transit agency has maintained a keen interest in RouteMatch’s latest technological developments, reviewing additional technologies to bring even greater value. The transit agency is looking at RouteMatch’s interactive voice response technologies, for example, so that the agency’s customers can be notified or reminded of pre-planned trips.  The agency is also looking at RouteMatch’s traveler information systems, RouteShout, so riders can text for information for scheduled and real-time bus arrival times through cell phones or smartphones, access traveler information via the Web, kiosks, electronic signage, and other public-facing mediums.

This integrated system can also be easily and quickly converted to become an effective pre- and post- disaster mass communication platform so Coast Transit Authority can push out urgent alerts, and customers can access more information during times of crisis.

 “Coast Transit Authority is a terrific example of a progressive transit agency that has really thought out- of- the- box and maximized the value of their intelligent transportation systems investment,” said Tim Quinn, Co-founder and Executive Vice President, RouteMatch Software. “Coast Transit Authority’s  management team and commitment to technology to run operations and provide emergency management  have improved the lives and well-being of multiple communities. We are proud to be Coast Transit Authority’s long-term technology partner, and excited about new innovations to come.”

About Coast Transit Authority  

 Coast Transit Authority is a non-profit provider of public transportation for the three coastal counties of Mississippi. It is an independently managed public utility governed by a Board of commissioners. It is the designated recipient of State and Federal funding for urban transportation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

 About RouteMatch Software

RouteMatch is the leading provider of end-to-end transit ITS software and innovative passenger and vehicle technology solutions. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and works with more than 450 transit agencies across the U.S. and internationally, providing quality software and customer service. Partnering with public and private sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed route CAD/AVL, paratransit and fixed route integration, traveler information services, fleet management, mobility management, and more.  Additional information about RouteMatch’s ITS technologies are available at www.routematch.com or by calling RouteMatch toll-free at (US) 1-888-840-8791.

 The latest weather forecast predicts cold overnight temperatures for the next three nights. CTA will be providing transportation to and from the shelters that will operate at the Multi-Purpose Center in D’Iberville and the Salvation Army in Gulfport. These shelters are scheduled to be open Friday through Sunday nights.   

 Anyone needing to travel to or from the shelters can do so free of charge by using the fixed route bus service anywhere it is in operation. This free service will be offered from 12:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10 through 12:00 p.m. Monday, February 13. Anyone needing to use this transportation service should inform the bus driver that they are traveling to or from the cold weather shelters. The fixed route bus service serves Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, St. Martin and Ocean Springs.

 For additional information call 896-8080 or visit us at www.coasttransit.com.             

“We Keep the Gulf Coast Rolling”

CHRISTMAS –

• Friday, December 23, 2011. Office will close at 3:00pm.  
•   Saturday, December 24, 2011 routes will end as follows:

            Casino Hopper at 9:30pm @ BTC                  RT 31 Biloxi at 6:10pm @ BTC

             RT 34 Pass Rd at 6:13pm @ EWM                 RT 38 Gulfport at 6:10pm @ GTC

             RT 37 Gulfport at 5:15pm @ GTC                 RT 7 Ocean Springs at 5:20pm @ BTC

             RT 4 D’Iberville at 6:10pm @ BTC               Beachcomber at 6:35pm @ EWM  

            RT 24 Keesler Express  NO BUS SERVICE

• Sunday, December 25, 2011.  NO BUS SERVICE.       MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
•  Monday, December 26, 2011.  Regular bus schedule.   Office will be closed. 

NEW YEARS-

• Friday, December 30, 2011. Office will close at 3:00pm.
•  Sunday, January 1, 2012.  Regular bus schedule. 
• Monday, January 2, 2012. Office will be closed. 

          For more information please call 228-896-8080 ext. 207

December 7, 2011

Subject: Cold Weather Shelter Transportation

 The latest weather forecast predicts cold overnight temperatures for the next several nights. CTA will be providing transportation to and from the shelters that will operate at the Multi-Purpose Center in D’Iberville and the First United Methodist Church in Gulfport.

Anyone needing to travel to or from the shelters can do so free of charge by using the fixed route bus service anywhere it is in operation. This free service will be offered from 12:00 p.m. the day the shelters are operating until 12:00 p.m. the following day any day this week that the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency announces shelter openings. Anyone needing to use this transportation service should inform the bus driver that they are traveling to or from the cold weather shelters. The fixed route bus service serves Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, St. Martin and Ocean Springs.

For additional information call 896-8080 or visit us at www.coasttransit.com.             

“We Keep the Gulf Coast Rolling”

 COAST TRANSIT AUTHORITY

NOVEMBER 23, 2011

THANKSGIVING DAY SCHEDULE

  Coast Transit Authority buses will operate on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday November 24, 2011). The Fixed Route bus system will operate on a regular Sunday schedule. ADA Paratransit service will operate as requested. ADA Paratransit Plus does not operate on holidays. The CTA offices on DeBuys road will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and Friday.  

 CTA operates a Sunday schedule on all holidays except Christmas Day, which is the one day of the year CTA does not operate bus service.

For additional information visit our website at

www.coasttransit.com. or call 896-8080. 

 “We Keep the Gulf Coast Rolling for You”

9/29/2011

1,000,000 Annual Rider Recognition and Award Ceremony

Coast Transit Authority is pleased to announce that it has achieved for the first time ever the major milestone of 1,000,000 annual riders in a fiscal year. In appreciation to our dedicated customers CTA will recognize the one millionth annual rider at a brief awards ceremony. The lucky recipient will be announced at the ceremony and will be awarded a lifetime free ridership pass for all services that CTA offers. The recognition and awards ceremony will be held at the Biloxi Transit Center in downtown Biloxi at 10 AM on Friday September 30.

CTA invites the community to attend the ceremony and help us celebrate our success.      

For more information please call 228/896-8080.

“We Keep The Gulf Coast Rolling”

8/31/11

Labor Day Holiday 2011

 Fixed Route Bus Schedule

To Our Valued Customers.

Coast Transit Authority will observe the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 5, 2011.  All routes will operate a Sunday time schedule. Normal Fixed route service will resume Tuesday, September 6, 2011. CTA operates a Sunday bus schedule on all holidays except Christmas Day, which is the only day of the year bus service is not offered.  

The CTA Office on DeBuys Rd. will be closed at 4PM on Friday September 2, and all day on Monday, September 5, 2011, to observe Labor Day.

For more information please call 228/896-8080 or visit us at www.coasttransit.com

 6/30/11 

July 4, 2011 Holiday

 Fixed Route Bus Schedule 

To Our Valued Customers.

Coast Transit Authority will observe the Independence Day Holiday on Monday, July 4, 2011.  All routes will operate a Sunday time schedule. Normal Fixed route service will resume Tuesday, July 5, 2011. CTA operates a Sunday bus schedule on all holidays except Christmas Day, which is the only day of the year bus service is not offered.  

The CTA Office on DeBuys Rd. will be closed at 4PM on Friday July1 and all day on Monday, July 4, 2011, to observe Independence Day.

For more information please call 228/896-8080 or visit us at www.coasttransit.com