The Durango Transit System has been awarded the prestigious 2007 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Ridership Award. Durango Transit is one of the first transportation systems to earn the inaugural FTA Award for Success in Enhancing Riderhip Award. The honor, according to the FTA, "aims to shine a spotlight on the nation's top transit providers who truly make a difference in their communities."

Durango was chosen based on its ridership gains and the broad transferability of recent initiatives that have been employed in the system's development since 2004. The award was presented to the City's Transit Manager, Hope Bleecker, at the American Public Transportation Association Legislative Conference in Washington, DC on March 12, 2007.

Reflecting the area's significant railroad history, the City designed a new logo reminiscent of round railroad emblems and painted its buses red in an effort to make its standard small buses service more visible. The effort was coupled with a new service routing plan, new bus stop signs, new printed schedule information, a free promotion on its trolley system, and an interlined bus schedule for its City-wide buses. The system offers 80 bus stops connecting visitors, residents and workers to work, school and tourist destinations within the City of Durango.

Aimed at reducing traffic congestion and increasing convenience, the new Durango "T" began experiencing significant ridership gains with modifications to existing route plans. The improvements resulted in a 20.5% ridership gain in a two-year period.

Situated in the southwest region of Colorado, Durango has grown into a thriving college town and tourist destination, surrounded by State Parks and recreational opportunities. With congestion increasing and parking at a premium, the city partnered with local stakeholders to develop a new facelift its former Durango Lift in order to better address user-friendliness and efficiency.

Providing a cohesive identity, the transit system features red shuttles wrapped in a large brand reminiscent of old railroad logos. The entire system boasts dynamic signage, mapping, brochures, and personal customer service agents during its hours of operation in order to provide waiting passengers with arrival information at any of its 80 bus stops.

"We are thrilled to be recognized at the federal level for a system that has become so successful on the local level," said Hope Bleecker, the City of Durango's manager of public transit.