First Transit Begins HandyDART Service for TransLink

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – First Transit, a leader in mobility solutions, announces that it started operating TransLink HandyDART service in Vancouver.

HandyDART is a door-to-door, shared ride service for passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transit without assistance.

First Transit hired more than 500 employees, providing each with training to book, schedule and operate 320 buses for the TransLink HandyDART service.

First Transit operates the TransLink HandyDART custom transit service including dispatch, reservations and trip delivery on behalf of TransLink, after finalizing the terms of an agreement in March.

"We're very proud to have long-standing partnerships in several Western Canada communities," says John Peck, regional vice president for First Transit. "We look forward to providing exceptional custom transit service to the citizens of Greater Vancouver."

First Transit currently operates the majority of HandyDART service in British Columbia outside of Metro Vancouver on behalf of BC Transit, including Victoria, Kelowna, and Kamloops.


About First Transit:
First Transit, Inc. has 60 years of experience and is one of the largest private-sector providers of mobility solutions in North America moving more than 350 million passengers annually. First Transit, Inc. provides operation, management and consulting for more than 300 locations in 39 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Panama and India for transit authorities, state departments of transportation, municipalities, hospitals, universities and private companies. First Transit employs more than 19,500 dedicated transit professionals. For additional information, please visit FirstTransit.com.

About TransLink:
With a public transit service area spanning more than 1,800 square kilometres, TransLink delivers a wide range of services and programs to provide for the transportation needs of Metro Vancouver residents and businesses. These include an extensive bus system throughout the region, SkyTrain rapid transit, SeaBus passenger ferries, West Coast Express commuter rail, and HandyDART for passengers who are unable to use conventional transit.