GDOT Annual Report 2017

G R E E N S B O R O T R A N S I T A U T H O R I T Y

GTA Roundup

Rail-Ride Partnership Helps Train Users The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division has partnered with Greensboro to offer railroad travelers a bus ride to their final destination. The train can be an effective mode of transportation to move from city to city, but supplementary travel is often needed for the “last mile” to move between the train station and a passenger’s home, work or school.

GTA Joins Advertising Partnership In the last year, the Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) has partnered with three area transit systems to create a Triad-wide transit advertising program where advertisers can receive additional benefits by marketing across the area. Through a competitive bid process, GTA and its partners hired Streetlevel Media of Fayetteville, NC, to manage the program. The agency started off strong, with new advertisers including the Wrangler’s “Jeansboro” campaign, which featured NASCAR Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and a wrapped bus. GTA also offers display ads at the J. Douglas Galyon Depot and audio ads on our buses. To learn more about bus ads, contact Streetlevel Media at 910-323-9306. For information on Depot display ads or bus audio ads, contact Kevin Elwood at 336-412-6309. Transit SystemWins Marketing Award GTA’s Partnership Guide was awarded first place for “Best Print Media to Highlight Transit Needs Funding” by the American Public Transportation Association, the research, education and advocacy organization for the public transportation industry. The award was accepted by GTA’s Marketing and Communications Manager Kevin Elwood at the 2017 APTA Marketing and Communications Workshop held in Tampa, Florida. The guide is an outreach tool that explains GTA’s services, funding and user demographics. It also contains a FAQ on common misperceptions about GTA and public transportation. Ultimately, the guide seeks to offer partnership opportunities to local businesses and organizations to include Adopt-A-Stop, advertising, volunteering and more.

Train passengers arriving in Greensboro can now ask the conductor for a transit pass good for one bus fare and one transfer. The fare card is good for use on the day of train travel only.

Since launching the program, GTA’s participation has surpassed all other areas that use the pass system. Historic Depot Will Be Renovated Greensboro has been awarded two grants for repairs and renovations at the historic J. Douglas Galyon Depot, the City’s multi-modal transportation center. The NC Department of Transportation Rail Division awarded grant funding for critical repairs at the Depot, including repair of leaks in the Amtrak passenger and baggage tunnels, roof and deck repairs of terminal canopies, miscellaneous plaster and painting, and installation of a roof access ladder. The project is expected to be finished by early 2018. The City was also awarded a $960,000 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to renovate the Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA) ticketing, call center, and waiting areas in the depot. Specific improvements include expansion and relocation of the Operator’s Lounge, staff offices, customer waiting area and restroom facilities. A new ticket counter, call center, and security station will be centrally located to enhance convenience, visibility, security and customer amenities. The project is currently under an environmental and historic preservation review by FTA, and is expected to begin in Spring 2018.

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