Gas Price Volatility: An Opportunity for Public Transportation Ridership
BY SUSAN R. PAISNER, Senior Managing Editor

What happens to public transportation ridership when gas prices spike—and then drop—and repeat? According to a just released analysis from APTA and Building America’s Future (BAF) that used historical trends and independent research data to make predictions, nationwide public transportation systems will add nearly 200 million new trips this year, even as gas prices fluctuate by as much as 50 cents per gallon. [More]

White House Celebrates Transportation Week

On Wednesday, May 16, APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy joined other APTA members and partners at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building where the White House Office of Public Engagement, DOT, and Office of Science and Technology Policy convened to celebrate National Transportation Week and to highlight the launch of Safety.Data.gov. [More]

LaHood Attends UTA Ground Breaking

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) in Salt Lake City at ground-breaking ceremonies May 9 in South Salt Lake for a two-mile modern streetcar line. The Sugar House streetcar will run from the 2100 South TRAX Station to the Sugar House commercial district near Highland Drive at approximately 2235 South, with seven stations. [More]

NYC Transit Completes Terminus Rehabilitation

MTA New York City Transit has completed a three-year rehabilitation project at the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue Station, the southern terminus of the subway A Line. [More]

APTA-ARTBA Ad Featuring Reagan, Clinton Honored

 APTA and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association recently received the 2012 Hermes Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals for their television and radio ad campaign relating to the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill that featured former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. The radio ad won the Gold Award in the Audio Advocacy category, while the television spot took an honorable mention for TV Advocacy. [More]

HDR Acquires Stetson Engineering Firm

The global architecture and engineering firm HDR Inc. has acquired the business of Stetson Engineering Inc., a Wyoming-based firm with offices in Gillette and Riverton. [More]

Jack Boorse Dies; Longtime Traffic Engineer

Jack W. Boorse, 78, principal professional associate for transport engineering in the Philadelphia office of Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) since 1988, died May 9. Before joining PB, Boorse had served the Philadelphia Streets Department since 1957, spending the last five years of his tenure as chief traffic engineer. [More]

Harold Williams Dies; A Founder of COMTO

Harold Williams, 90, of Woodland Park, MI, a founder of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), died May 11. [More]

COVERAGE OF THE APTA 2012 BUS & PARATRANSIT CONFERENCE

McMillan Stresses Connection Between Public Transit and Jobs
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

President Obama and his administration remain “totally committed to strengthening the public transportation industry,” FTA Deputy Administrator Therese McMillan told the more than 900 attendees at the May 6 Opening General Session of the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference in Long Beach, CA. [More]

Meeting Challenges in Bus Transit Security
BY JOHN CRANDALL, For Passenger Transport

Whether it’s snowballs, graffiti, bus hijackings, or bomb plots, the public transportation industry needs to be aware of the threats it faces every day. [More]

Your Customers Have Changed: What To Do About It!
BY KATHY GOLDEN, Director of Publications and Passenger Transport

In the May 7 General Session, titled “Wired: How Your Customers Have Changed and What To Do About It,” keynote speaker John R. Patterson gave an enthusiastic presentation on ways APTA members can help improve customer satisfaction. [More]

Closing Session: Innovation Helps Agencies Survive in Tough Economic Times
BY JOHN CRANDALL, For Passenger Transport

During the May 9 closing session of the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, five public transit professionals shared the innovative ideas that have helped their organizations survive, and even thrive, in the current recession. [More]

Long Beach: Mecca for Film Industry
BY KATHY GOLDEN, Director of Publications and Passenger Transport

The May 8 Host Forum at the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, titled “Lights, Camera, Long Beach!”, gave attendees an entertaining look into how Long Beach has become a filming mecca for Southern California. [More]

DART Takes Top Honor at Bus Roadeo Banquet

Award presentations are a major component of the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, recognizing the top operators and maintenance teams, the agencies with the strongest safety records, and the leaders in superior customer service. Here is a roundup of the award winners from this year’s events. [More]

Scenes from the 2012 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference

Here are some more scenes of the 2012 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference in Long Beach, CA. All conference photos by Juan Ocampo. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Jolene Molitoris!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Jolene M. Molitoris, president, US Railcar Company, and chair, APTA High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Nicole DuPuis!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of stories showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Nicole DuPuis, program manager-policy and plannng, Policy Department. [More]

CASE STUDY

Valley Metro Notes: Rider Information in Music and Video
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

A clever promotional campaign can encourage non-riders to try public transportation. How can an agency know what will work? Just ask the public—and listen. [More]

APTA NEWS

Universities Conference Will Convene in Fargo

APTA invites representatives of universities, and public transportation agencies that provide service to university communities, to participate in the 2012 Public Transportation and Universities Conference, June 16-19 in Fargo, ND. [More]

Submit AdWheel Entries by June 18

APTA member organizations can gain the recognition they deserve at the 2012 AdWheel Awards competition.

APTA is accepting nominations through June 18 for the annual award program, which acknowledges the creative excellence of member public transit systems and business members in advertising, communications, and marketing. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Nashville Mayor Takes the Bus

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean emphasized the importance of healthy habits—such as taking public transportation—in his May 14 appearance on CBS This Morning. [More]

Omnitrans Receives Statewide Award

Omnitrans in San Bernardino, CA, was one of several recent recipients of the Challenge Award presented by the California Council for Excellence and the California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE). The California Challenge is a self-assessment recognition program designed and administered exclusively by CAPE as a way to help organizations understand their strengths and opportunities for improvement as defined by the criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program (BPEP). [More]

COMMENTARY

The Importance of Public Transportation

Editor's Note: From coast to coast, concerned citizens weigh in on the importance of public transportation. [More]