(Atlantic, Iowa) – Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) is celebrating Ride Transit Week this week July 28th through August 1st and encourages the public to find out more about public transit in the region and take a ride on SWITA. Student transportation registration has also opened for the 2025-26 school year.

Public transit gets Americans to work, to education, to healthcare, and more. It also helps job creation, alleviates traffic congestion, and reduces emissions. In 2024 Americans traveled 39.7 billion miles on public transit during 7.66 billion trips. 6 billion gallons of gasoline are saved each year by using public transportation and a 5-to-1 economic return is produced by long-term investment in public transit.
SWITA is proud to be part of that public transit equation right here in eight Iowa counties. SWITA has continued to support record public transit ridership in the region year-over-year with 552,231 rides in fiscal year 2024 and anticipating an official total near that mark for fiscal year 2025. SWITA’s ride services include taxis in six communities, medical transportation, student transportation, workforce transportation, and special/charter trips.

SWITA vehicles are equipped with wheelchair accessibility and one personal attendant rides free. SWITA has earned major honors for its service this year. SWITA was named the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Regional Transit System of the Year for the third year in a row.  SWITA will be celebrating Ride Transit Week with themed days throughout the week along with hosting driver appreciation events. Stay tuned to the SWITA Facebook page and website for updates throughout the week.

Also, this week, SWITA student transportation registration has opened. SWITA serves in-town student transportation in Atlantic, Glenwood, Harlan, and Red Oak. Registration and payment can be done at www.SWITA.com . Rides are $1.75 each way and a $30 minimum balance is needed to start the school year. To find out more about SWITA and the services offered you can browse SWITA.com or call 800-842-8065 or 712-243-2518.