LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lake Transit Authority recently was named the “Outstanding Rural Transportation Project” at the annual conference of the California Association of Coordinated Transportation, or CalACT.

The citation read during the awards presentation ceremony acknowledged Lake Transit’s excellent service to the community despite three years of disasters, including the Valley fire and Clayton fire, and recent flooding which displaced hundreds of residents.

Even though these events disrupted the entire community including many Lake Transit employees, and threatened its facility in Lower Lake, the agency has managed to increase ridership by over ten percent each year.

This remarkable achievement can be attributed to Lake Transit’s commitment to being a responsive agency that could be relied upon during times of crisis.

Reflecting on the significance of this award, General Manager Mark Wall said, “Rural transit agencies operate on shoestring budgets to connect people and services over long distances and difficult terrain. This is important because people in rural areas often need to travel a long way to access medical specialties, higher education, shopping opportunities, and jobs. Lake Transit connects people across an entire region with transit operations in three counties.”

CalACT is the largest state transit association in the United States, with more than 300 members dedicated to promoting professional excellence, stimulating ideas and advocating for effective community transportation.

Lake Transit has been a member for the past 21 years and is one of approximately 90 rural transit
agencies serving communities throughout California.

“This is a real honor,” said Wall after receiving the award. “Lake Transit is often thought of by our peers as a great example of rural transit. Lake Transit stands out because we provide many services and carry a lot of passengers, given our size and funding. Much of this success is due to the hard work and
dedication of our board, management, drivers, dispatchers and maintenance staff. We have a great team.”

Additional information about Lake Transit services and schedules can be found at www.laketransit.org .