University News
Go West Receives National Transit Award
March 17, 2008
MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's Go West transit system had yet another successful moment last week when it received the 2008 Federal Transit Administration Award for Success in Enhancing Ridership. Go West was just one of 10 transit systems in the U.S. -- and the only rural fixed route system -- to win the award.
According to Go West Director Jude Kiah, who picked up the award in Washington, D.C.
March 10, Go West was selected based on its excellent ridership gains and its broad transferability of its initiatives to other transit agencies. An award recognition event -- and the unveiling of Go West's 10 millionth rider -- will be held April 2.
"We are thrilled to have received this award," Kiah said. "I knew when the University established this system, that it would provide an invaluable service and grow over time, but I never imagined we would ever carry 55,000+ a week in a town of 20,000. We carry more people than Rockford, Springfield, Decatur and Bloomington, and we're very close to Peoria's numbers."
In mid-January, nearly 61,000 members of the WIU and Macomb communities turned to Western's Go West Transit System to escape the frigid weather. This was the first time in the system's nine-year history that more than 60,000 riders were carried in one week.
Kiah added that Go West has seen a six percent increase in ridership this year, even though there has been no increase in service hours. The system is on track to carry more than 1.65 million riders this year. Later this month, Go West is set to carry its 10 millionth rider since its inception Feb. 22, 1999.
When Go West began in 1999 with three buses and two routes, carrying 10,000 riders a week stunned most everyone. Today, Go West is a 26-bus, 11-route system that carries more than
1.6 million people per year.
"Transit works in Macomb, and our residents count on it for every facet of life," Kiah added. "We're just serving the public's needs as best we can."
For more information on Go West, including bus routes, schedules and fares, visit gowest.wiu.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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