SANTA BARBARA, CA (12 June 2003) Santa Barbara - based CHK America, specialists in the visual communication of transportation data, are to re-design the System-wide Map for San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit. That announcement was made today by Frederick A. Wood, President and CEO, CHK America.

CHK America and parent company, UK based Cook Hammond & Kell have over 100 years experience in the design and communication of passenger information. The company’s cartographic design team will design the system map for VIA’s new bus system to be launched in August. VIA currently has 498 buses and 104 bus lines, which carry 118,000 riders on an average weekday through San Antonio, other area municipalities and unincorporated parts of Bexar County. The new System Map will also convey detailed information on three of VIA’s major Park & Ride locations in addition to Medical Center locations and various detailed city insets.

“Our expertise in the transportation industry lies in our ability to convey complicated transportation information in an easy to understand manner,” explains Wood. “Our studies indicate that passengers allow approximately 8 seconds to interpret travel information. They must begin receiving answers in that time or they become frustrated, resulting in passenger dissatisfaction.”

“Implementing a new bus system the size of VIA’s is a huge undertaking for us and a dramatic change for our riders,” stated John Milam, VIA President/CEO. “The system map that CHK is designing for us will play a vital role in making the transition as smooth as possible for our customers while showing the system off to potential new riders.”

CHK America’s in-house design, production and editorial experts will develop the project. Cartographic information will be designed and presented in a method that allows passengers to easily and quickly comprehend the services of VIA.

CHK America has also recently been awarded Passenger Information Solution projects for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin Capital Metro, Santa Barbara MTD and Nashville MTA.

Established in September 1999, CHK America provides passenger information solutions to the public transportation industry, in addition to delivering cartographic products and services across other business sectors. CHK America, a division of United Kingdom based Cook, Hammond and Kell, was established to expand the reach of its parent company’s products across the US. CHK’s products and services have been distributed extensively across Europe for over 140 years. Other companies in the group include Cook, Hammond and Kell, FWT Studios, Oxford Cartographers, National Map Center London, National Map Center Dublin.

VIA Metropolitan Transit has been in operation since 1978 when it took over public transit operations from the City of San Antonio. VIA’s mission is to provide public transportation services which are safe, dependable, and cost effective, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the community