FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 11, 2006

METRO’S C.E.O. LED EFFORT THAT IS BRINGING TOGETHER 125 TRANSIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISASTER RELIEF 

National transit agreement, database first of its kind

CINCINNATI – Since February, Metro’s general manager Michael Setzer has chaired a national task force to plan for a coordinated transit industry response to catastrophic events that require evacuation and mutual support beyond the capacity of the local transit system’s ability to handle. 

As a result, more than 125 public transportation agencies and suppliers across the nation have agreed to participate in a new national Emergency Response and Preparedness Program.  Administered by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), and with funding support from the Federal Transit Administration, the program coordinates resources and personnel to assist agencies that are conducting emergency evacuations or are responding to other catastrophic situations. 

“The Emergency Response and Preparedness Program is the first national program to help the transit industry respond to our country’s emergency events,” said William W. Millar, APTA’s president.  “Last year, when Hurricane Katrina hit, red tape and a lack of national inventory of available resources made responding effectively difficult.”

Participating organizations will list available equipment and personnel in a national database. 

“With an inventory of available vehicles, equipment and personnel in place, the U.S. transit industry can quickly respond to major and minor emergencies,” continued Millar.  “This voluntary program will help fellow transit systems respond to the needs of citizens in the communities they serve.”

The emergency preparedness task force led by Setzer included transit leaders from New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Salt Lake City, and Miami as well representatives from smaller transit systems.

Setzer has served as Metro’s general manager and CEO since July 2004. He is a partner in Professional Transit Management Inc., a Cincinnati-based national transit management company. 

With more than 30 years of transit management experience, Setzer was previously general manager of Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Bi-State Transit in St. Louis, and South Bend Indiana’s Public Transportation Corporation. 

Metro provides about 22 million rides per year in Greater Cincinnati.