A Message to the Region from Anthony J. Mortillaro, Executive Director
Welcome to the North Central Regional Transit District (RTD) website. We hope that you find the site informative and user friendly. The RTD and the services we provide are very important to me. I have been involved with the RTD since its inception in late August 2004, first as a member of the Board and I am now proud to serve as its Executive Director since 2011.
During Fiscal Year 2018 the NCRTD continued to experience success as it completed its 11th year of service to the residents within the District and in having reached a new milestone in respect to an all-time high in ridership with 289,441 riders for the year. However, since the District funds the provision of certain transit services in other agencies, 785,039 trips were cumulatively provided. These ridership numbers confirm that the public transportation services we provide and fund within North Central New Mexico are essential so that constituents may attend to their medical, work, educational and general mobility needs, and also support the freedom to get there.
In November 2018, the District achieved a significant threshold with the voter approved reauthorization of its Regional Transit Gross Receipts Tax. This reauthorization verified that the voters in the District concurred that the District has lived up to its commitments made in 2008 when the original tax was approved. It also confirms that the transit services provided by the District are viewed by both non-users of the system and those that ride the buses as an essential lifeline service, for those who don’t have any transportation options, as well as for those who chose to use public transit. Furthermore, the removal of the 2023 sunset allows the District the ability to borrow funds should it need to seek long-term debt financing for important infrastructure needs such as maintenance facilities, land acquisitions and other equipment needs.
For the upcoming year the District is anticipating continued investment in its ability to serve our customers as a result of additional fleet replacements with greater rider comfort improvements. We are also proceeding to the final design of the Maintenance Facility which will provide an enhanced environment for the timely maintenance of the fleet. This facility will also include the construction of a fleet fueling facility in order to decrease fuel costs. Additionally, we will continue with bus stop improvements to ensure that they are compliant with the Americans with Disability Act. Lastly, the District will be embarking on an update of its Short-Range Service Plan. Updating the plan requires the involvement of our constituents to provide input related to existing services and for any desired future service expansions. Multiple meeting opportunities within our service area will be scheduled so that your participation can be facilitated.
The District is resolute in continuing to operate in a transparent manner and a commitment to excellence with guidance from the Board of Directors, collaboration with our riders, constituents, member entities and elected officials. Our continuing success in the future requires the efforts of all stakeholders.
I hope you will take a moment to review our Annual Report and that you find it informative and useful. As you read the report, and note the accomplishments and services enumerated within it, the delivery of which are carried out daily by many caring team members whose skills and commitment make the NCRTD the remarkable transit agency it is today. I am privileged and honored to be one of the many team members contributing to our success.
Enjoy the free ride!