Proposed Hill Cuts = 141,000 Jobs Lost
BY CHAD CHITWOOD, Program Manager-Communications

The outline from the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee last week shows significant cuts to transportation and public transportation in the upcoming authorization. In response, APTA sprang into action to show members of Congress and their staffs exactly how a cut of more than 30 percent and the loss of 141,302 public transit jobs looks. [More]

FTA Seeks Climate Change Project Pilots

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a new initiative focusing on adapting public transportation assets and services to the impacts of climate change. [More]

MARTA’s Dunham Testifies in D.C.

Wanda Dunham, police chief and assistant general manager, police services and emergency management, with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), testified about her agency’s collaboration with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at a July 12 hearing before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security. [More]

Phoenix METRO Serves All-Star Game Events

Play ball!! METRO light rail in Phoenix provided service as an integral part of the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, July 12 at Chase Field. [More]

Valley Metro Reopens Its Central Station

Valley Metro reopened its primary public transportation hub, Central Station, in Phoenix, July 4 following an 11-month refurbishment process. The “facelift” project, funded with $3.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), provides improved passenger amenities and more environmentally friendly features to the 14-year-old facility. [More]

Brookings: ‘Clean Economy’ Promotes Transit Jobs

Employment in the public transportation field represents about 13 percent of the nation’s clean/green jobs and the largest share of green-collar employment, according to Sizing the Clean Economy: A National and Regional Jobs Assessment, a report released July 13 by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. [More]

Report: Invest More Wisely in Surface Transportation

The National Transportation Policy Project (NTPP) of the Bipartisan Policy Center has released a report recommending changes to the federal surface transportation funding program to help promote “a thoughtful, equitable, sustainable, and well-targeted federal approach to transportation policies and investments that help our economy grow, improve the energy and environmental sustainability of our transportation system, and improve the safety and quality of life in our nation.” [More]

MARTA’s Scott Sworn in to U.S. Infrastructure Advisory Council

Beverly A. Scott, Ph.D., general manager/chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit District, was sworn in as a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) of the Department of Homeland Security at its July 12 meeting in Washington, DC. [More]

Pate Announced as New CEO of MV Transportation

MV Transportation Inc. has named Carter Pate as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 15. Pate also will be chief executive officer of all MV subsidiaries and will become a member of the company’s board of directors. [More]

The VTA Prevails with Rapid Fiscal Response to Economic Downturn
BY JENNIE LOFT, Communications and Outreach Manager, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA

Approximately 10,000 tech-related and manufacturer jobs have returned to California’s Silicon Valley in the past year. The economy is slowly moving in the right direction, the unemployment figures dropping from double to single digits.

These days, things are also looking up for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA). In addition to steady ridership increases in the first quarter of this year, VTA is attracting new riders with its Commuter Express light rail service and plans to revamp its express bus service. Moreover, the VTA budget is balanced for the next two years—with a 15 percent funding reserve. [More]

SEPTA’s Getting ‘Lean’ Initiative: A Low-Waste, High-Efficiency Diet
BY ANDREW BUSCH, Press Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia, PA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is getting “lean” with a business plan that has all the characteristics of a good diet: Reduce unnecessary consumption, eliminate wasteful habits, and maximize energy use to improve short- and long-term health.

These are the values at the core of Lean, SEPTA’s initiative to increase productivity and improve customer service with fewer resources. [More]

FTA Webinar on Sustainability

The Federal Transit Administration will conduct a public 90-minute webinar on the Fiscal Year 2011 Sustainability Program on July 20, beginning at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. Topics will include the Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction and Clean Fuels programs. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Midwest High Speed Rail Promotes ‘Superman 2050’ Tour

He’s faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, but where does Superman stand regarding high-speed rail? He’s for it. [More]

MTA Offers Rental Space at Four Historic Metro-North Stations

MTA Metro-North Railroad is seeking tenants for four 19th-century station buildings it owns, in Port Chester, Peekskill, Ossining, and Tarrytown, NY. [More]

OCTA Accepts County Sustainability Plan; Next Step Is at Regional Level

The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors in Orange, CA, has joined the Orange County Council of Governments in approving a local response to the state’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [More]

MTS Dedicates Station in Honor of Board Chair Emeritus

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) honored Board Chair Emeritus Leon Williams by dedicating the San Diego State University (SDSU) Trolley Station in his honor. More than 100 friends, family members, and elected officials attended the rededication ceremony. [More]

AVTA Completes Renovation Projects

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in Lancaster, CA, in collaboration with Los Angeles County and the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, recently completed two infrastructure projects funded with more than $425,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. [More]

LBT Christens ‘AquaLink II’ Ferry

Long Beach Transit (LBT) in Long Beach, CA, and Catalina Express celebrated the arrival of “AquaLink II,” a sister ship to AquaLink I on June 27, just in time to begin service during the July 4 weekend. [More]

APTA NEWS

NYPTA Inducts Millar into State Public Transit Industry Hall of Fame

The New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA) inducted APTA President William Millar into the New York Public Transit Industry Hall of Fame during its spring conference in Buffalo, NY. [More]

TCRP Releases Latest Reports

The Transportation Research Board recently released the following Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) reports. [More]

30 Years, 10 EXPOs – Were You There?

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first APTA EXPO, held in 1981 in Chicago. If your company exhibited at the first EXPO, APTA would like to recognize you! [More]

Radio Documentary Series Now Available Online

Passengers, a four-part audio documentary on public transportation, is now available for listening or free download at the APTA web site. [More]

COMMENTARY

Public Transportation: Part of a Larger Picture

From east to west, U.S. communities see public transportation projects as part of a larger conversation as they move forward. Whether the issue is a new arena in Sacramento, improved air quality in the Atlanta region, or more public-private cooperation in Nashville, public transit plays a key role. Here are a few examples from the nation's editorial and op-ed pages. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

People on the Move

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