SANTA BARBARA, CA (7 April, 2006)

Santa Barbara-based CHK America, specialists in the visual communication of transportation data, has been hired by Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) to redesign their system map and public timetables. That announcement was made today by Frederick A. Wood, President and CEO, CHK America.

CHK America’s in-house design, production and editorial experts will design a suite of new passenger information products for CATS. CHK America will begin with the design of a new system map and corresponding public timetables for CATS’ 75 routes covering 11,226,000 miles annually. CATS is expanding rapidly and is the largest transit system between Washington DC and Atlanta.

“The Charlotte Area Transit System is one of the nations best for a variety of reason. They get excellent participation from local business that encourages the use of public transit. They are forward thinking in all areas of public transit and have begun operations on expanding their light rail service which will continue to tie the entire region together and make public transportation an attractive option,” explains Wood. “We are pleased to be involved at this stage where we can design passenger friendly information to assist the riders in using this comprehensive system.”

CHK America has also recently been awarded Passenger Information Solution projects for Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Chicago Regional Transit Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Nashville MTA, Santa Barbara MTD and several others.

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.