Alan F. Kiepper, 81, of Annapolis, MD, APTA chair in 1990-91 and a member of the APTA Hall of Fame, died Aug. 26. [More]

At a special meeting held Aug. 2 in Salt Lake City, the APTA Executive Committee endorsed in concept a proposal to change APTA’s governance structure. The changes, proposed to enhance APTA’s governance and ability to support the objectives of TransitVision 2050, will expand opportunities for participation in the organization’s governance process. [More]

What agencies do public transportation American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds go to? And how do the agencies use those funds? The answer to both questions is: it depends. [More]

The Federal Transit Administration reminds American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) recipients that Sept. 15 is the application deadline for a $1.5 billion multi-modal discretionary program for major capital transportation infrastructure investments. The interim notice on funding availability, which appeared in the May 18, 2009, Federal Register, included criteria for selection under this program—Grants for Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery—or TIGER Discretionary Grants. [More]

U.S. DOT has announced that Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 are the dates of its summit to determine the best ways to reduce the number of accidents caused by distracted driving—including on public transportation. [More]

As Vancouver, BC, prepares to welcome the world to the 2010 Winter Olympics, TransLink, the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority, introduced service Aug. 17—three and a half months ahead of schedule—on its newest rapid transit line. With a total of 16 new stations, the 19-kilometer SkyTrain Canada Line connects downtown Vancouver to Richmond and Vancouver International Airport. [More]

Which benefits welfare recipients more when it comes to obtaining and keeping jobs—public transportation or owning a car?  According to a new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute in San Jose, CA, Public Versus Private Mobility for the Poor: Transit Improvements Versus Increased Car Ownership in the Sacramento Region, the answer is: public transit. [More]

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) began construction of its new paratransit facility at ceremonies July 29 attended by COTA officials, community leaders, and users of Mainstream, the agency’s demand-response service for persons with disabilities. [More]

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC) in Reno, NV, has named Lee Gibson as the agency’s executive director. He succeeds Greg Krause, who retired in February. [More]

The 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) will be held in Hong Kong, China, from June 2-4, 2010. The Transportation Research Board is co-sponsor of this event, to be hosted by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. Michael Winter, a transportation program analyst with the Federal Transit Administration, serves on the TRANSED Steering Committee. [More]

Aristotle once said: “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” The same can be said for the commitment required to keep public transportation systems safe for their passengers and employees.

What follows is an overview of the array of “parts” involved in a system-wide approach that most effectively ensures the continued safety and reliability of public transportation. [More]

Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, will address “The Future of Transit in a Green Economy” at an Oct. 7 General Forum during the 2009 APTA Annual Meeting, Oct. 4-7 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, FL. The session will examine the impact of a “greener” new economy on the public transportation industry. [More]

Public transit agencies and businesses interested in expanding their opportunities into Brazil can participate in an hour-long “Virtual Trade Mission” Sept. 17, hosted by APTA, the Federal Transit Administration, and U.S. Commercial Service. The program begins at 2 p.m. Eastern time. [More]

Amy Allison Coggin, 53, an employee of APTA from 1988 to 2003, passed away Aug. 15 at her home in Mt. Vernon, VA, following a brief illness. [More]

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) knows what it takes to become a more sustainable organization: it has been recycling paper, fuel, antifreeze, metal, tires, fluorescent bulbs, and other products over the years. [More]

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) recently visited the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) in Lancaster, PA, to announce a $5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant to support renovation of the authority’s 30-year-old administrative, maintenance, and fleet storage facility. The remaining $3 million cost of the project will come from other federal transit formula programs and state-issued bonds. [More]

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality recently honored a First Transit property, the City of Monroe Transit System, with its 2009 Environmental Leadership Program Municipality Achievement Award in pollution prevention. [More]

The Rapid in Grand Rapids, MI, recently dedicated the final art installation at Rapid Central Station: a sculpture called Journey Home, by internationally renowned sculptor Dennis Oppenheim. [More]

High-impact governing is a team sport if there ever was one, and the best-governed public transportation organizations I’ve come across over the past couple of decades have been led by a really cohesive “Strategic Governing Team” consisting of the governing board, CEO, and senior executives. These governing teams tend to function best, in my experience, when they are co-led by a board chair and CEO working in close partnership. [More]