Laidlaw awarded new contract in New Jersey

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the recent contract renewal with NJ TRANSIT. This seven-year, $7.2 million contract for Region 4 will allow Laidlaw to continue operating services in Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex and northern Ocean Counties. With this renewal, Laidlaw operates four of the five regions of Access Link paratransit. Laidlaw operated the formerly separate regions since 1996 for a combined 19 years experience.

Laidlaw’s proposal included several proposed enhancements including a new main operating facility with a custom operations center, a bus wash system, DriveCam, improvements to the existing sub-garage and a dedicated park-out to reduce deadhead.

Paul O’Brien, Laidlaw Transit Services’ District Manager, said of the renewal: “This contract renewal is a result of the hard work of all our employees, particularly Project Manager Randy Charn and Operations Manager Karen Williams. Through their efforts we were able to merge two regions in 2004, operate them successfully, achieve costs savings and improve safety performance. Our team’s consistent on-time performance record of 97 percent demonstrates our commitment to quality service, our commitment to NJ TRANSIT and when combined with a competitive proposal, secured an important contract renewal. We are delighted to continue operating Region 4 and we thank NJ TRANSIT for the trust they have placed in us.”

Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. is one of the nation’s premiere providers of customized public transportation service. Laidlaw operates and manages paratransit and fixed-route transit services in 23 states and employs approximately 6,300 people. For more information, visit www.laidlawtransit.com.

For additional information, please go to NJ TRANSIT’s website at www.njtransit.com.