House Appropriations Panel Approves FY 2012 THUD Bill; Cuts Public Transit and High-Speed Rail

The full House Appropriations Committee voted Sept. 8 to approve the Fiscal Year 2012 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill with discretionary spending at $55.15 billion. This will reduce public transportation investment by more than 30 percent and eliminates funds for high-speed rail. [More]

EPW Committee Passes SAFETEA-LU Extension

On Sept. 8, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) voted unanimously to approve a four-month extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), which expires Sept. 30. This legislation, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, would fund surface transportation programs at current levels through Jan. 31, 2012. [More]

NEWS HEADLINES

FTA: Lack of Federal Funding Threatens Transit Projects

According to a just-released report from the Federal Transit Administration, The Impacts of Failing to Extend Surface Transportation Funding, if Congress does not approve a long-term surface transportation bill by the time the current authorization expires on Sept. 30, the shortfall in funding could imperil close to 5,600 active public transportation projects. California is home to the most transit projects to be affected (615), followed by 333 in Texas and 319 in Florida. [More]

Trains, Buses Provide Fascination, Enjoyment to Children with Autism
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

Professionals who work with young people on the autism spectrum have found that many people with this condition have a fascination with public transportation. Some of these children memorize bus and rail schedules, or simply enjoy riding on trains or watching as the vehicles pass. [More]

Hurricane Irene Batters East Coast—and Transit

As Hurricane Irene traveled up the East Coast in late August, dumping large quantities of rain and causing floods from North Carolina to Vermont, public transportation agencies found themselves and their fleets stranded along with other residents. [More]

Reopening a Platform Near Ground Zero

Elected officials joined New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Jay H. Walder to reopen the southbound platform of the Cortlandt Street R subway station in lower Manhattan on Sept. 6. The station underwent damage in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001; reopened in 2002; and closed again in 2005 to allow continued construction. [More]

Citilink Breaks Ground for Transit Center

Citilink broke ground Aug. 29 for its new transit center in downtown Fort Wayne, IN. The $4.4 million facility, of which 80 percent is funded through federal sources, will stand on property owned by the public transportation agency adjacent to the Baker Street Train Station, on the former site of Citilink’s south transit terminal. [More]

APTA’s First Virtual Election Set for Sept. 21

APTA has scheduled its first virtual annual business meeting and election of officers for Wednesday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. This is the meeting that, in previous years, was held at noon on Sunday of the APTA Annual Meeting. [More]

Crunican Is New BART GM

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) has named Grace Crunican as its new general manager. [More]

Emergency Response Report Released

The Transportation Safety Advancement Group (TSAG), a multidisciplinary forum promoting technology for public safety and providing guidance to DOT’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, has released the NG9-1-1 What’s Next Forum Report, a series of white papers created by stakeholders in four emergency response disciplines—law enforcement, fire-rescue, emergency medical services, and transportation—addressing the future of the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) emergency response system. [More]

APTA NEWS

Momentum Continues to Build for ‘Don’t X Out Public Transit Day’; Public Transit Advocates Gearing Up for Outreach on Sept. 20

Momentum is building as local public transportation advocates prepare to promote “Don’t X Out Public Transit Day” on Sept. 20. The effort will feature rallies and press events in communities around the country, focusing on speaking out against proposed federal funding cuts of more than one third for public transportation. These cuts will result in more waiting, more crowding on public transportation, and fewer transportation options.
 [More]

Tardy to Speak in New Orleans

In case public transportation professionals did not have enough reasons to participate in the 2011 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans, the schedule now boasts an additional speaker. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

New Haven Welcomes 22-Foot ‘HyRide’ Hydrogen Vehicle

The Greater New Haven Transit District (GNHTD) in New Haven, CT, has introduced the “HyRide” vehicle—Connecticut’s first 22-foot hydrogen-powered bus—to enhance its service for seniors and persons with disabilities. HyRide will provide shuttle service, taking older riders to shopping centers, pharmacies, and other locations. [More]

TriMet Celebrates 25th Anniversary of MAX Light Rail

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) in Portland celebrated the 25th anniversary of its first light rail line, Eastside MAX, with events Sept. 1 in Portland and Gresham, OR. [More]

Houston Metro Reaches Milestone on New Southeast Light Rail Line

 Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) marked a milestone in construction of its Southeast (Purple) light rail line Aug. 6 with the end of construction on an 80-foot bed for light rail track—the first the city has seen in 10 years. [More]

SkyTrain Observes Silver Anniversary of Service in Vancouver, BC

South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) in Vancouver, BC, marked the 25th anniversary of SkyTrain service with an Aug. 17 event at the SkyTrain Operations and Maintenance Centre in Burnaby, BC. The Expo Line entered operation in 1986, followed by the Millennium and Canada lines. [More]

COMMENTARY

The current extension of SAFETEA-LU expires on Sept. 30. There is growing sentiment across the country to support a short-term extension of the legislation. [More]