NEWS HEADLINES

Blumenauer: ‘You Are Driving This Effort’ to Rebuild America; Addresses Rail~Volution in Washington, DC
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), one of the founders of Rail~Volution, praised attendees who promote sustainable and livable communities through rail when he addressed the Oct. 18 Opening Plenary Session in Washington, DC. [More]

DOT: $928.5 Million for Public Transit Projects

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced on Oct. 17 the release of $928.5 million in federal funds to more than 300 public transportation projects in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Funding for the grants comes from the Federal Transit Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 Alternatives Analysis, Bus Livability, and State of Good Repair programs. [More]

LaHood Won’t Stay for Second Obama Term

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that he will not remain in that post if President Obama is re-elected to a second term. [More]

Metro-North Wins International Rail Design Prize; Seven U.S. Agencies Receive Brunel Awards, Commendations

MTA Metro-North Railroad is the first American railroad to receive the 2011 Jury Prize for Overall Design Excellence, given by The Watford Group and the Center for Industrial Design in Transportation, in the 26-year history of the honor. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood presented the award to Metro-North representatives at the Brunel Awards ceremony Oct. 14 in Washington, DC. [More]

MORE FROM THE 2011 APTA ANNUAL MEETING AND EXPO

Capitol Hill Staffers Provide an Inside View of Process
BY CHAD CHITWOOD, Program Manager-Communications

Four senior Congressional transportation staffers offered an inside view of public transportation-related issues at the federal level before an overflow crowd at the “View from Capitol Hill” session during the APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans. [More]

Desire for Streetcars Powers Recovery in New Orleans
BY STEPHANIE BRUNO, Special to Passenger Transport

At the Oct. 5 Closing General Session of the APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans, a panel of public transportation professionals delivered the message that the city’s rebuilt and growing public transit system is helping to advance economic and physical recovery in the area. [More]

APTF Adds 2 Scholarships

The American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) raised $50,000 for a scholarship in the name of APTA President William Millar, who leaves his position Oct. 31, at the Oct. 1 “Tribute to Bill Millar” that preceded the 2011 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans. [More]

More Scenes from the Annual Meeting and EXPO

Here are a few more scenes from the 2011 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans. [More]

COMMENTARY

It’s Been a Great Ride!
BY WILLIAM MILLAR, APTA President

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu.

You know, no matter what language you use, it’s never easy to say goodbye.

I have to tell you I’m finding it tough to acknowledge that this is the last time I’ll write a commentary for Passenger Transport.

It’s been an incredible journey—these last 40 years in transit, and especially the last 15 at APTA.

I’ve made life-long friendships; I’ve been fortunate to work with thousands of talented people, and sincerely hope I have left a positive mark on public transportation across North America. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

California’s Montebello Bus Lines Celebrates Eight Decades of Public Transit Service

In 1931, a loaf of bread cost 8 cents, gas was 10 cents a gallon, and passengers on the new Montebello Bus Lines paid a nickel to ride one of four buses in the fleet in the city of Montebello, CA, an agricultural community located eight miles east of downtown Los Angeles. [More]

HART Partners with Movie Theaters for Free Rides

Thanks to a partnership with a local multi-screen movie theater, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) in Tampa, FL, is providing free rides on its TECO Line Streetcar System when the passenger shows his or her ticket stub. [More]

MANAGEMENT NOTEBOOK

It Takes Great People to Move People
BY JERRY PREMO, Global Transit Director/Executive Vice President, AECOM, Orange, CA

Fellow Vermonter and former President Calvin Coolidge said: “The most common commodity in this country is unrealized potential.” When it comes to public transit, he could not have been more right. [More]

APTA NEWS

APTA Releases 'Public Transportation Vehicle Database' for 2011

APTA recently released its 2011 Public Transportation Vehicle Database report. This comprehensive, annual report examines revenue vehicles by such fleet characteristics as date of manufacture, manufacturer, model, length, and equipment, representing almost 250 U.S. transit agencies and 15 agencies in Canada. [More]

Submit Photos for APTA’s 12th Annual Photo Invitational

Calling all photographers…
Are your public transit photos so good you think they should be on display somewhere important? Then enter the 2011 APTA Photo Invitational. The deadline to submit entries is Nov. 4, 2011, and the winning entries will be featured in the 2012 APTA Calendar. [More]

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]