Based in Antioch, Calif., the Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri Delta Transit) was formed in 1977 under a Joint Powers Agreement to provide public transportation in a 225-square-mile area that includes four cities in Contra Costa County. It is 40 miles east of San Francisco and is governed by an 11-member board of directors.

Tri Delta operates fixed route and paratransit services, while creating an environment that encourages and rewards employees to live a long, healthy and safe life.

To foster those initiatives, Tri Delta uses weekly safety messages to open all staff meetings, posts the messages throughout the building and includes them in the weekly employee staff news publication.

Additionally, Tri Delta’s Safety Solutions Team, a group of operators, managers and trainers, meet monthly to discuss safety issues and to develop solutions. The results of these and other safety and health programs during 2011, 2012 and 2013 were no OSHA violations, with zero lost time in the operations department and only 22 days of lost time in the maintenance department.

Tri Delta also started a Web-based customer service program that is used to respond to customer complaints and comments, and implemented an “Above and Beyond” program designed to recognize employees who provide excellent customer service.

Additionally, the agency’s new mobile website, combined with its new automatic vehicle location, real-time arrival, and more, give Tri Delta customers safe, secure and reliable service.  

Recently, Tri Delta was among only 10 transit operators to be selected to participate in the FTA’s Environmental and Sustainability Management Institute, which will result in the implementation of a formalized management process that will analyze, control and reduce the environmental impact of the agency.

This year, Tri Delta was selected as APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System, for an agency with fewer than four million annual passenger trips.

“This award is a tribute to our progressive and supportive board of directors as well as to the hard work and commitment of each Tri Delta Transit employee,” said CEO Jeanne Krieg. “The dedication, enthusiasm, and innovative spirit our employees show every day make me proud to lead our award-winning organization. We are very excited — and honored —  to receive this award.”