Regional Transportation Authority Awards Travel Information Center Contract to First Transit

CINCINNATI—The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Chicago recently announced that First Transit will manage its Travel Information Center (TIC). The new TIC will be located in Glen Ellyn, IL as of January 2014, and will handle the 5.2 million calls the Center receives annually.

The TIC will offer several service enhancements including an expanded Interactive Voice Response System scheduled for launch in July, 2014, which will provide trip-planning information about riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, 24-hours a day. Currently, the RTA’s TIC operates 20 hours a day. Riders can reach the Center by telephone, email or via web chat. The new TIC will also generate automated customer satisfaction surveys. The transition to the new Center will be seamless to customers, who can continue to call 836-7000 from anywhere in the region. The RTA will also continue to provide its online trip planning services at rtachicago.org.

First Transit is a leading private provider of transit management and contracting services, providing complete operations and transit management services, comprehensive preventative maintenance and inspection programs to meet customer transportation and budgetary needs.

About First Transit
First Transit, Inc. - a division of Cincinnati, Ohio-based FirstGroup America - is a leading provider of transit management and contracting services. With more than 50 years of experience, First Transit operates and manages nearly 11,000 buses for transit authorities, state and federal agencies, municipal organizations, colleges and universities, and private companies across North America. The safety and security of its passengers is the company’s core value, and the organization has been recognized by the National Safety Council for its commitment to safety and outstanding safety record. For more information, visit www.firsttransit.com or follow the company on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FirstGrpAmerica.

About the RTA: The RTA provides financial oversight, funding and regional planning for the three public transit operations in Northeastern Illinois: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus and train, Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus and paratransit.  For more information, visit www.RTAchicago.org.