On Nov. 2, voters across the country—from Rhode Island and Ohio to Florida, Texas, Oregon, and California—had more than people to vote for; they had a host of public transportation-related ballot initiatives. Voters considered whether to approve new and increased sales taxes, property taxes, or car registration fees to support transportation; bond issues that would help to finance public transit; possible service changes and establishment of new transit authorities; and even state constitutional amendments. [More]

Giants Take World Series; BART Wins Bragging Rights

There were undoubtedly all kinds of bets placed on the outcome of the 2010 World Series, but likely only one concerning public transit. Now that the San Francisco Giants bested the Texas Rangers in the fifth game, the team’s first title since 1954, the executive director of the public transportation system of the team’s home communities that lost—Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)—is preparing to make good on the bet he had with the executive director of the winning team’s public transit system—the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). [More]

Arlington County, VA, Breaks Ground for Rosslyn Station Project

Officials of Arlington County, VA, joined by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Rep. James Moran (D-VA), and other community leaders, broke ground Oct. 27 for the Rosslyn Station Project, a $32.6 million expansion of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) station in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington. [More]

Steinway: More Than Pianos--Subways

Pianos—rather than the New York City subway system—are usually what come to mind when one hears the name Steinway. On Dec. 17, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History will help expand the public’s association with that storied name when it unveils its online edition of The William Steinway Diary, 1861–1896. [More]

Kelsey Is New Head of Coast Mountain Bus Company

As part of a corporate reorganization of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) in Vancouver, BC, Doug Kelsey has been named president/general manager of Coast Mountain Bus Company, on an interim basis, and chief operating officer of TransLink. [More]

MBCR Names Kiley as Its General Manager

The Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company (MBCR), which operates commuter rail service under contract to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, has named Hugh J. Kiley Jr. its new general manager. He succeeds Donald L. Saunders, who had served in an acting capacity since March. [More]

IndyGo Internship Helps Drive Student’s Career Path

Antez Burgess started his freshman year at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, IN, heading down a road of vocational uncertainty. But thanks to the school’s Career Technology Magnet program, he found himself driven by the idea of becoming a truck and diesel technician—a career path further solidified by an internship at IndyGo. [More]

Two Students to Attend UIC Beijing Congress

APTA has announced that two students it selected to advance to the international College and University High Speed Rail Competition—Kari Hernandez, a graduate student in transportation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Theodore Lim, an undergraduate at Stanford University majoring in civil engineering and urban planning—have won spots at the International Union of Railways’ (UIC) 2010 High Speed Rail World Congress in December, including expense-paid trips to Beijing. [More]

BMBG Sets Annual Meeting for January 2011 in Florida

All APTA business members are invited to register by Dec. 10 to participate in the Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) Annual Meeting/Retreat, Jan. 12-14, 2011, in Naples, FL. [More]

College ‘Report Card’ Rates Transit Option Highly

The Sustainable Endowment Institute has announced that more than half of the 322 schools evaluated in its recently released “College Sustainability Report Card 2011”—179, or 56 percent—achieved an overall grade of B or better. The report rates the U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities with the 300 largest endowments, as well as 22 additional schools that applied for inclusion. [More]

Philip H. Braum Dies; Longtime Transportation Planner

Philip H. Braum, 62, of Washington, DC, an urban planner with 36 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, died Oct. 31. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center Opens in Cleveland

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) opened its newest facility, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center, on the Cleveland State University (CSU) campus, in ceremonies Oct. 19 attended by dignitaries including Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. [More]

SFMTA Unveils ARRA-Funded LRV

On Oct. 14, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) unveiled the first refurbished, “like new” light rail vehicle (LRV) in a $56 million order of 143 vehicles. [More]

HART Receives Recognition from Tampa Latin Chamber

The Tampa Latin Chamber in Tampa, FL, honored the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) as the 2010 Hispanic Large Business of the Year at an Oct. 26 awards luncheon. [More]

VTA Introduces ‘Commuter Express’ Light Rail Service to San Jose, CA

At a time when many transit agencies are being forced to cut service to balance their budgets, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, CA, is introducing new service and amenities to attract new riders and grow revenue. [More]

SEPTA Receives State Grant for Energy Recycling Project

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded a $900,000 grant to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and its partner, Viridity Energy, for a pilot project designed to recycle energy created through the regenerative braking of its trains and trolleys. [More]

COMMENTARY

New Grant Series: The ‘Feds’ Actually Listening to Cities, Regions

BY NEAL PEIRCE

WASHINGTON—For years, I’ve been among those bemoaning the “silo” effect of federal departments that rarely discuss or line up their field operations. The result is a significant waste of money plus lost opportunities to make the national government’s programs—for roads and housing and environmental protection, for example—work in tandem and produce better results. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

People on the Move

Passenger Transport announces the following hirings and promotions in public transportation agencies and suppliers. Items appear in People on the Move in the order in which they are received. [More]