The Wyoming Public Transit Association

WYTRANS - The Wyoming Public Transit Association is a private, non-profit organization consisting of forty plus transit-only and social service agencies from every county in Wyoming that provide public transportation services for those who need transportation. The agencies are financed through local sources, State funds through the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds, also through WYDOT.

OUR MISSION

To advocate for transit, coordinate transit, and educate the public about transit.

The senior centers in nearly every county, rehabilitation agencies, and transit-only systems such as CATC in Casper, Cheyenne Transit, the University of Wyoming Transportation and Parking Services, STAR Transit in Sweetwater County, START in Jackson, and Wind River Transit Authority in Fremont County make up WYTRANS.

WYTRANS agencies are public transit providers. They provide rides on a space available basis, to anyone who needs a ride. While they provide public transportation, the agencies don't provide free transportation. The average cost per one way trip for one person is around $5.50 in Wyoming and financing transit is always a challenge.

Some of the basic goals of WYTRANS are:

Druing the WYTRANS Conference, transit drivers are taught loading techniques, and participate in "hands on" training.

Providing safe, cost effective rides to meet local transit needs.
Training drivers and managers.
Facilitating support and coordination between agencies.
Seeking out more funding for transit.

EDUCATE AND COORDINATE WYTRANS provides manager and driver training for transit agencies, using funds provided by WYDOT. WYTRANS offers top-notch, national training programs and certifications in Transportation Safety Institute's Paratransit Operator Training Program, at very nominal costs to WYTRANS members. WYTRANS also provides training materials and information on Drug and Alcohol testing services and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements.

The training program is for all public transit providers, and with a WYTRANS membership, transit providers pay lower registration fees. Grantees are reimbursed for seventy percent of their training expenses.

WYTRANS also hosts an Annual Conference and Bus Roadeo, which provides many training opportunities for transit drivers, managers and dispatchers.
Governor Dave Freudenthal signed House Bill 69 in February, which will provide $1 million for public transit providers in the 2006 Fiscal Year. Left to Right behind the Governor are HB 69 Sponsor Representative Roy Cohee, WYTRANS Administrative Consultant Steve Kurtz, Senator Rae Lynn Job, and WYTRANS Vice President Jeri Bottenfield.

ADVOCATE AND EDUCATE WYTRANS has helped educate the Legislature and public about the need for transit funding, and has successfully worked with WYDOT and the Wyoming Legislature over the past decade to significantly increase the amount of funding for public transit operations and capital acquisitions.