04-24-03

CHK AMERICA TO DESIGN PASSENGER INFORMATION FOR SANTA BARBARA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT DISTRICT

SANTA BARBARA, CA (24 April, 2003)
Santa Barbara based CHK America has been awarded two key communications and design projects by Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD), it was announced today by Frederick A. Wood, President and CEO, CHK America.

CHK America is to commence work immediately on both projects for MTD, the agency renowned nationally for its use of battery electric passenger transit vehicles.

The first project calls for CHK America’s cartographic services to design a System-wide Map to provide passenger information for MTD’s 30 transit routes operating throughout 52 square-miles of southern Santa Barbara County. MTD’s 96 vehicles, one-third of which are electric and collectively travel 2.5 million miles annually, service 850 bus stops.

CHK America’s second project includes the design of new “at stop” passenger travel information panels the majority of which will be located along the busy State Street and Hollister Avenue Corridor. The re-design effort will cover a total of 167 stops, with newly designed information to be displayed at each of the bus stops. CHK America will also design specialized “spider diagrams” for two of the busiest interchanges: the first at the Transit Center, the hub of the MTD system accommodating more than 5,000 passengers each day; the second at University of California, Santa Barbara.

“We are excited to have been selected by MTD to work on these high-profile projects,” explains Wood. “Our studies indicate that passengers allow approximately eight seconds to interpret travel information. They must begin receiving answers in that time or they become frustrated, resulting in passenger dissatisfaction. With an on-going goal to increase passenger transportation usage, our expertise enables transit agencies to improve customer service and increase ridership by delivering clear, concise and effective information in just 8 seconds.”

“Passenger comfort is an important aspect of bus stops. This includes being comfortable in knowing when the bus is arriving at the stop through the use of easy-to-use route maps and schedules,” said Gary Gleason, MTD General Manager. “We feel fortunate to have a local company who is known internationally as a leader in this field.”

CHK America’s in-house design, production and editorial experts will develop the two projects. Cartographic information will be designed and presented in a method that allows passengers to easily and quickly comprehend the services of MTD.

CHK America has also recently been awarded Passenger Information Solution projects for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority and San Antonio VIA.

Established in September 1999, CHK America provides passenger information solutions to the public transportation industry, in addition to delivering cartographic products and services across other business sectors. CHK America, a division of United Kingdom based Cook, Hammond and Kell, was established to expand the reach of its parent company’s products across the US. CHK’s products and services have been distributed extensively across Europe for over 140 years. Other companies in the group include Cook, Hammond and Kell, FWT Studios, Oxford Cartographers, National Map Center London, National Map Center Dublin.

The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District, with its focus on passenger service, provides a reliable, safe, comfortable means of mobility for all members of the community, including students, the elderly and individuals with disabilities. MTD also provides an attractive transportation option for commuters and shoppers who may otherwise drive cars. The MTD covers approximately 52 square miles in the southern area of Santa Barbara County, between the Ventura County border to the east and Winchester Canyon at the western edge of Goleta. The District encompasses the communities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Montecito, Summerland and Isla Vista.

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