Richard Doyle of the Federal Transit Administration recently presented the Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority with the FTA Region 1 Thinking Outside the Bus 2008 Milestone Achievement Award. The VTA reached the milestone of carrying over one million passengers (1,031,197) for the first time in its history during fiscal year 2008.

VTA passengers have kept it going into the new fiscal year, climbing aboard 261,735 times in July, a new record for the month. The Island’s busiest August week may be a good chance to try riding instead of driving.

Bus passes are available at the Steamship Authority terminals, Edgartown visitor center, VTA operations center at the airport business park, and on board buses. Look for VTA ticket agents at the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority bus circle and the Ocean Park stop in Oak Bluffs daily through late September and on weekends through Columbus Day.