Laketran is proud to announce that the agency has achieved a perfect score on the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Fiscal Year 2024 Triennial Review. The review, which assessed 23 areas of the agency’s operations and management, found no deficiencies, underscoring Laketran’s compliance with federal requirements and its commitment to delivering efficient, safe, and reliable public transportation.

The FTA Triennial Review, conducted every three years, evaluates recipients of federal transit funding on a range of criteria, including legal and financial management, procurement, maintenance, civil rights and ADA compliance, and program management which reviews public involvement and transparency mandates. This year’s review also expanded to address the use of COVID-19 relief funds through the CARES Act, CRRSAA, and the American Rescue Plan. Laketran passed the review with no deficiencies in any of the evaluated areas.

“The Triennial Review focused on Laketran’s compliance in 23 areas. No deficiencies were found with the FTA requirements in any of these areas,” wrote FTA Regional Administrator Kelley Brookins in a letter to Laketran CEO Ben Capelle.

Capelle credits the agency’s leadership and dedicated team for this outstanding result. Over the course of several months, auditors interviewed Laketran management, collected and examined documents and reviewed the agency’s facilities to ensure performance and adherence to federal transportation policies and requirements.

“The Triennial Review is a demanding process that looks into every aspect of our operation,” said Capelle. “This perfect score is a testament to the effort we put into our everyday operations and to the attention to detail to document our processes. But none of this is accomplished without employees who are dedicated to excellence. I’m very proud of our group. This achievement reflects the way our entire operation is managed.”

Over the three-year review period, Laketran achieved significant milestones. Ridership increased by 45 percent due to new and expanded services, while the agency invested in major capital improvements such as fleet electrification, the opening of two indoor transit centers, and the ongoing expansion of its headquarters. Additionally, Laketran excelled in maintaining high standards of customer service, all while navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and making effective use of federal relief funds.

Laketran board president, Brian Falkowski said the federal review reflects Laketran’s commitment to using taxpayer dollars wisely.

“This is great news for Laketran,” Falkowski said. “Passing this comprehensive review with a perfect score confirms that Laketran is operating efficiently, maintaining compliance with federal regulations, and ensuring the responsible management of public resources. The results highlight Laketran’s ability to meet the needs of its community while enhancing public transportation options in Lake County.”