September 8, 2008
APTA welcomes you to the first electronic Passenger Transport!
Happy reading, and please take a moment to answer the poll question below.
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Welcome to the "new" Passenger Transport!
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William W. Millar
President
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With this issue of Passenger Transport, we inaugurate major changes in APTA’s publications as we continue our goal of keeping you up-to-date on what is happening in, with, and to our industry.
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Soaring Ridership Challenges Transit Agencies
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Dramatic increases in ridership have led to widespread capacity constraints on public transportation systems nationwide, according to a survey released this week by APTA, with more than half the respondents calling for federal financial support for fuel purchases.
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APTA Participates in Democratic and Republican Conventions
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For the first time ever, APTA and public transportation were a focus of activities surrounding the recent Democratic and Republican conventions.
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As Gustav Threatened, Transit Agencies Responded
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By Leslie Bucher, Special to Passenger Transport
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With the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina still reverberating in New Orleans and elsewhere, the threat of a major hurricane—in this case, Gustav—mobilized federal, state, and local officials to action.Virtually three years to the day of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath and catastrophic flooding, New Orleans showed the world it was taking no chances with Gustav.
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California High-Speed Rail Bonds on November Ballot
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A statewide measure on the Nov. 4 California ballot—amended Aug. 26 by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger—will authorize the sale of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds . . .
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Congress Returns to Consider Several Transit Bills
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The good news as Congress returns for its fall session is that both the U.S. House and Senate may take up legislation recognizing public transportation as part of the solution to the nation’s energy problems.
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Attending EXPO 2008: A Smart Investment
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With energy costs rising and U.S. public transportation ridership at record levels—10.3 billion rides in 2007—transit agencies are faced with growing challenges. They must meet the needs of a changing ridership, including infrastructure; funding; increasing energy demands; emerging technologies; and safety and security. Where can systems go for help? The APTA 2008 Annual Meeting and EXPO, Oct. 5 to 8 in San Diego.
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New Technologies Make Trip Planning Easier Than Ever
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By Maureen Minehan, Special to Passenger Transport
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Recent technology developments are giving public transit systems the tools they need to provide their customers with faster, more accurate trip planning information whenever and wherever they need it.
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Transit Agencies Make Strides in Recycling Efforts
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Susan Berlin, Senior Editor
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Oil and water shouldn’t mix, so when public transit agencies turn an environmental eye on them, our industry and our planet both benefit. Today, environmental management doesn’t just mean processing wastewater to limit levels of pollutants. It also means ensuring that the streams where people fish today will still be open for fishing tomorrow.
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Geoffrey Ballard, Developer of Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Dies at 76 in Vancouver
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Susan R. Paisner, Senior Managing Editor
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Hydrogen fuel cells are such a part of today’s common language that if you Google that phrase, you will bring forth 531,000 hits. These days, people take this technology for granted. But if not for the focused, determined efforts of Geoffrey Ballard, who died last month at age 76 in North Vancouver, Canada, there might be no such thing.
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Waterborne Service Makes Waves
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By Donna Aggazio Young, Special to Passenger Transport
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Traditionally, waterborne transit has played a major role in the public transportation systems of other countries, but in the U.S. it has primarily been seen as an adjunct or stand-alone means of transportation. All that might be changing, however, if an organized group of waterborne transit operators has its way.
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Public Transit Lost and Founds Serve Many Purposes
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Susan Berlin, Senior Editor
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Lost and found departments at transit systems across the country aren’t just places to house such commonly forgotten items as umbrellas, cell phones and eyeglasses. In some notable instances, they have reunited passengers with loved ones and helped our troops abroad keep in touch with their families.
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Public transit an investment, not expense
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By RAY MELLEADY
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Imagine operating a train traveling at 55 miles an hour and having workers laying the track you are traveling on just one mile in front of you. What would you do: Accelerate or slow down?
The answer is obvious: You would only move as quickly as there was track available to operate safely and reliably.
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