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SYSTEM PROFILES the clear need for additional passenger capacity. In the most recently completed fscal year, the three Link Express routes carried a combined 146,757 passengers, which represents a 13% increase over the previous year and builds on substantial growth since the frst Link route began in 2003. In late 2011, with the support of the Vermont Congressional delegation, CCTA was successful in securing a $3.3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration's Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative to purchase the larger buses to meet the growing ridership demands. In addition to a 46% increase in seating capacity and a 100% increase in bicycle capacity, the new MCI buses ofer improved Wi-Fi service, power outlets at every seat, and passenger controlled vents and lights. Even with the new vehicles, however, the agency is still having capacity issues, according to Watterson. "We have had a few occasions, even with greater capacity, to see trips where we still have some standees. As soon as we roll out new frequencies, our ridership continues to grow and grow, so we continue to have this ongoing need to expand the feet, and it is concerning where we are going to be able to fnd the resources to do that," he says. "Te counterbalance is we think we are in a pretty good position. We have the resources we need to build a new transit station in downtown Burlington and at least make the acquisition of some additional property to grow our maintenance and operations base." While Watterson admits it will be increasingly difcult to fnd funding to purchase more vehicles, he is satisfied with the expanded use of CCTA's services. "It is the type of challenge those of us in transit like to have, because we are proving ourselves popular with people," he explains. "We are keeping cars of the road and just need to fgure out how to keep them riding with us." LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LANTA) ALLENTOWN, PA. FLEET TOTAL- 191 BUSES (FIXED-ROUTE AND PARATRANSIT) Serving two counties spanning 730 square miles and serving an urbanized area population of more than 400,000, the Pa.-based LANTA provides fxed-route and paratransit services to Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton. Last year, the agency provided more than 5.5 million trips on its fxed-route services and an additional 438,000 on its paratransit services. Its service area is approximately 70 miles north of Philadelphia and east of New York City. "We all struggle with dollars and cents, however, that isn't our greatest challenge at this point," says Armand Greco, LANTA's executive director. "Our real challenge is our community is growing, at least compared to other areas in Pennsylvania, very quickly and that is very much related to our proximity to New York City and Philadelphia. So, the need to expand services to meet the growing population base is our biggest issue." Since 1997, LANTA's ridership is up almost 70% due to the growth in the communities it serves. What goes along with that growth, adds Greco, is LANTA's need for more funds to both replace vehicles and expand its feet. "Interestingly enough, for the next year or two operating is in good shape," he says. Looking to become more efcient, LANTA completed a fairly comprehensive review of its system, culminating in the restructuring of its services. "The realignment focused on increasing services in the heaviest corridors, with the rest of the routes restructured with some degradation of services," Greco explains. "Te restructure was built around the way the community has grown over the last 10 to 15 years." While the agency continues to battle with increasing frequencies to meet capacity, it is in the midst of a major feet replacement program, including the addition of 24 diesel hybrid-electric buses from Gillig, 15 of which are already on site. Te additional nine vehicles were recently approved for purchase in January 2013 and will include fve, 35-foot buses and 36 < mETRO mAGAZINE JUNE 2013 Since 1997, LANTA's ridership has grown approximately 70%. Its close proximity to Philadelphia and New York City has been a major factor in that growth. four, 40-foot buses at an estimated cost of $600,000 apiece. Te new vehicles are already funded and expected to be delivered in spring 2014. Te larger issue is that the agency is on a 20-vans-per-year purchase program to keep its feet of 108 paratransit vehicles in good shape. "We had some legislation in 2007, which is why we are in good shape operating-wise, but right now there are very little federal dollars being provided for capital," Greco says. With property taxes being the main source of revenue for Pennsylvania municipalities, obtaining the additional funding to grow services and its feet will continue to be a challenge for LANTA moving forward. "Lehigh Valley and Northampton counties, our primary funders, have been good. We've had a very good working relationship, and, to date, we have not been underfunded," explains Greco. "Our communities have been very supportive, but we haveve always built our relationship on holding their amounts down and getting as many grants from our state and federal partners as possible. Now, where we are going in future is another matter, with state and federal funding getting tighter and tighter every day." metro-magazine.com