Research Triangle Park N.C. – Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) will join a nationwide celebration of public transit on Thursday, October 7 and will recognize the dedication and support of public transit users in the region.

“We wanted to thank those that ride TTA’s buses and shuttles,” said John Tallmadge, Director of Commuter Resources. “Our ridership continues to increase and this is one way to acknowledge our customers.” Discounts, souvenirs and opportunities for riders to register to vote will highlight the day.

Riders will receive a discount coupon good for 10 percent off the purchase of a November Monthly Regional Pass that sells for $48 ($24 for elderly/handicapped), or 10 percent off a booklet of 20 TTA bus tickets that sells for $25 ($15 for elderly/handicapped). Riders boarding a TTA bus after 3:00 P.M. will receive a free TTA souvenir. As a community service, “Voices for Working Families” will be hosting a voter registration drive at the TTA Bus Transfer Center at 6 Park Drive in the RTP from 7:00 A.M to 10:00 A.M. and from 3:00 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.

TTA’s “Customer Appreciation Day” is a part of a program developed by the American Public Transportation Association to showcase how transit benefits communities by providing personal mobility to individuals. TTA and three other transit systems in the Triangle introduced “GoTriangle.org” on its “Customer Appreciation Day” in 2003. The web-based tool helps simplify the trip planning process for riders.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the new on-line resource for the public transportation information in the Triangle. TTA plans to implement a rail transit system with stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.