Obama Signs 90-Day Authorization Extension

President Obama signed a 90-day extension of the SAFETEA-LU surface transportation authorization bill on March 30. Both the House and Senate passed the extension—the ninth since it expired Sept. 30, 2009—the previous day before sending it to the president in time to meet the March 31 deadline when the current extension would expire. [More]

DOT Awards $13.1 Million in Fuel Cell Bus Grants

On April 2, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $13.1 million in federal funding for 11 innovative research and demonstration projects under the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. This program advances hydrogen fuel cell power for use in public transportation buses. [More]

MTI Report: ‘Vibrant’ Downtowns Mean More Public Transit Use

Cities with vibrant downtown areas tend to show lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels from driving and higher public transportation use than areas with more suburban sprawl, according to a new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute. [More]

GCRTA Sets a Record on St. Patrick’s Day

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority provided almost 100,000 rides in seven hours on March 17—possibly the largest single special event in the agency’s history. [More]

FTA Develops Safety Course for Public Transit Workers

In keeping with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s emphasis on the hazards of distracted driving, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has developed an online instructional course on this topic for public transportation workers. [More]

New Database Gives Global Perspective on BRT

Three global organizations have teamed up to launch a comprehensive, public database of bus rapid transit (BRT) systems around the world. The organizations are EMBARQ, the World Resources Institute’s center for sustainable transport; the Across Latitudes and Cultures-Bus Rapid Transit Centre of Excellence (ALC-BRT CoE); and the International Energy Agency (IEA). [More]

Québec Launches Public-Private Partnership to Produce Electric Buses

During a recent visit to the Nova Bus manufacturing facility in St-Eustache, QC, Québec Premier Jean Charest announced the launch of a provincial effort to support the development of electric buses. The province is investing $30 million (Cdn.) as part of a $73 million public-private partnership that will work to develop electric buses for the international public transportation market. [More]

Bloomberg Rankings: New York Leads the World

New York City has outpaced London, Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong as global business centers—and investment in public transportation is one of the reasons why, according to the Global Cities Index released April 2 by Bloomberg Rankings. [More]

LeighFisher Acquires Transport Consultancy Business

LeighFisher, based in London, U.K., has acquired the London and Netherlands?based transportation practice of Booz & Company. This acquisition doubles the size of LeighFisher’s European operation, allowing the company to expand into new markets globally. [More]

Harrell Joins Hampton Roads Transit

William E. Harrell joined Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) in Hampton, VA, April 2 as its new president and chief executive officer. [More]

COMMENTARY

Public Transit Holds Key to America’s Hidden Energy Reserve
BY SHIN-PEI TSAY, Director of Cities and Transportation, Energy and Climate Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC

With gasoline prices barreling upward, policymakers will undoubtedly continue debating the search for new North American oils. But this focus is misplaced. The real debate should be about our future mobility or how Washington can better manage federal transportation and oil investments. Ushering in a low-carbon, integrated transportation system is the key to navigating the pitfalls of global oil markets. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Mary Ann Collier!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Mary Ann Collier, director of operations, Swayzer Engineering Inc., Dallas, TX--chair, APTA Human Resources Committee, and member, APTA Board of Directors. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Joni Zielinski Carlton!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of stories showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Joni Zielinski Carlton, senior legislative representative, Government Affairs Department. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Sound Transit Honors Civil Rights Activist with Portrait at Station Site

Representatives of Sound Transit in Seattle joined state, city, and neighborhood leaders at dedication ceremonies March 24 for a mural celebrating the life and accomplishments of civil rights activist Cal Anderson at the Seattle park that now bears his name. [More]

Finding Art in New York MTA System? Now There’s an App for That

A new mobile app now allows users to browse through more than 200 works of contemporary art found throughout the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA): MTA New York City Transit, MTA Long Island Rail Road, MTA Metro-North Railroad, and MTA Bridges and Tunnels. [More]

OCTA Unveils Indoor Transit Simulator for Paratransit Eligibility

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has unveiled a new indoor public transit simulator facility to be used to determine eligibility for OCTA’s ACCESS paratransit service. It incorporates a 40-foot OCTA bus, sidewalks, wheelchair-accessible curbs, a crosswalk, and operating traffic signals to fully replicate a bus stop. [More]

CCRTA Initiates Internship Program

The Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) in Corpus Christi, TX, recently welcomed the first two participants in its Professional Management Internship Program. [More]

STV Celebrates Centennial Year

The engineering and architectural firm STV is commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2012. [More]

Valley Metro Hosts Events for Region’s Bike Month

Valley Metro in Phoenix encourages area residents to park their cars and ride bicycles instead with numerous Valley Bike Month events during April. [More]

Sun Metro Introduces Solar Lighting at Bus Stops

Sun Metro in El Paso, TX, has installed a new solar lighting system at 13 poorly lit bus stops throughout the region. [More]

KCATA Joins Pinterest Social Media Site

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has joined the social media website Pinterest to share stories, inspirations, tips, and news. The agency previously instituted an online presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Transit trip planner, and its own website. [More]

IndyGo Receives Mayor’s Sustainability Award for Second Consecutive Year

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard has presented IndyGo with the third annual Indianapolis Sustainability Award in the air category. The award recognizes the public transit agency’s aggressive efforts in advancing sustainability throughout the community in 2011. [More]

RTA New Orleans Launches Streetcar Public Safety Campaign

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in New Orleans recently launched a new campaign dedicated to promoting public safety around its streetcars, titled Tracks Can Kill: Live Outside the Lines. The overall goal of the campaign is to educate the public—specifically pedestrians, drivers, joggers, cyclists, and others who encounter the streetcars on a regular basis—about the safest ways to coexist with streetcars in an effort to eliminate all preventable accidents. [More]

APTA NEWS

Register Now for APTA Bus Conference

The 2012 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference is less than a month away—May 6-9 in Long Beach, CA. Register now to participate in four days of educational opportunities, hear a variety of speakers, and attend the Bus Roadeo Banquet honoring North America’s best bus operators and maintenance teams. [More]

DOL Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Addresses Embassy Roundtable
BY JULIA WALKER, APTA Program Manager-International Programs

A critical part of public transportation is its role in improving the lives of seniors and persons with disabilities. At the March 22 Public Transportation Embassy Roundtable, hosted by APTA, Assistant Secretary of Labor Kathleen Martinez spoke about this critical element of the industry. Lifelong disability rights advocate Michael Winter, senior program analyst, International Research Office, Federal Transit Administration, moderated the event, which was attended by representatives of foreign embassies. [More]

With BOSS, Public Transit Can Invest in Bus Operators
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

Public transportation agency heads understand that their operators are as important an investment as the vehicles they will operate. APTA’s Bus Operator Selection Survey (BOSS) provides a tool that will help them make the correct hiring decisions. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

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]