NEWS HEADLINES

Rep. Earl Blumenauer: ‘Make Your Voices Heard’; Addressing Rail~Volution in Los Angeles
BY JOHN CRANDALL, Special to Passenger Transport

 Make your voices heard, transportation professionals: that’s the message of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) when he addressed a gathering of more than 1,100 at the Oct. 15 Opening Plenary Session of Rail~Volution in Los Angeles. [More]

Sound Transit Institutes Sounder Service to Lakewood

In advance of beginning regular service this month, Sound Transit in Seattle commemorated the launch of Sounder commuter rail service to Lakewood and South Tacoma with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lakewood Station and celebrations at three stations attended by about 2,000 people. [More]

 

Charlotte Receives FFGA for LYNX Blue Line Extension

FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff visited the 9th Street Trolley Station in Charlotte, NC, Oct. 16 to present a federal Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) to the Charlotte Area Transit System for the LYNX Blue Line light rail extension. The agreement will provide 50 percent of project costs for the extension; it is the last major funding source needed to advance the project toward construction. [More]

Twin Cities Metro Transit Unveils New Light Rail Vehicle

Metro Transit in Minneapolis/St. Paul unveiled the first light rail vehicle (LRV) built for the Central Corridor Light Rail Line in ceremonies Oct. 10 at Target Field Station. [More]

CATA Completes Bus Storage Facility

The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) in Lansing, MI, marked the recent completion of its new, 212,500-square-foot bus storage facility with a “ribbon-busting” ceremony. The day-long event also featured a public open house, guided tours, vehicle showcase, and rides through the bus wash bay aboard an articulated hybrid. [More]

STV Acquires ARCHITECTURE/vbn Firm

STV has acquired ARCHITECTURE/vbn (VBN), an award-winning architectural design firm based in Oakland, CA. STV will integrate VBN into its West Coast operations. [More]

Ford Takes Top Post in Jacksonville, FL

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Jacksonville, FL, has selected Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. as its next executive director/chief executive officer. He succeeds Michael Blaylock. [More]

BJCTA Names Dawson-August Executive Director

The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) in Birmingham, AL, has named Ann Dawson-August its new executive director, effective January 2013. [More]

VIA’s Parker Selected to Head MARTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors has selected Keith T. Parker as its next general manager and chief executive officer. He will succeed Dr. Beverly A. Scott, who is taking on the top job with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Citilink Breaks Ground for Downtown Transit Center

Citilink in Fort Wayne, IN, recently opened its improved Downtown Transit Station, culminating a planning process that began in 2002. [More]

New Syracuse Transit Center Opens

The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (Centro) recently opened its new Transit Hub in downtown Syracuse, NY. The facility is the main transfer location for the agency’s bus services in Syracuse and surrounding communities; it also is designed to serve as the linchpin for future development of the city’s downtown business district. [More]

APTA NEWS

APTA to Honor Veterans on Nov. 12

There are never enough opportunities for people to show their appreciation for and properly thank veterans for the tremendous sacrifices and dedicated service they have given to this country.

That’s why we look forward to Veterans Day—Nov. 12—when APTA and the public transportation industry will pay tribute to these heroes. [More]

What Would Public Transit Supporters Ask the Presidential Candidates?

What if one of the presidential or vice presidential candidates went along with you on your commute and you had the opportunity to ask him a question about improving our nationwide surface transportation system? What would you ask? [More]

Melaniphy Tours CTA

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy recently visited the facilities of the Chicago Transit Authority. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Ralign T. Wells!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Ralign T. Wells, administrator and CEO, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, MD. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Martha Coffin!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Martha Coffin, executive assistant to the vice president, member services. [More]

MORE FROM THE 2012 APTA ANNUAL MEETING

Strategies for Transporting Riders to Mega Events
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

When a metropolitan area hosts an event of national or international significance, the spectators should not leave thinking about transportation challenges. [More]

Fishmongers: Near Bankruptcy to ‘World Famous’
BY KATHY GOLDEN, Editor

To what does Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market owe its success? According to owner John Yokoyama, a generous mother-in-law, a positive attitude, and a powerful vision. [More]

Nigerian University Students Participate in APTA Annual Meeting
BY CHERYL PYATT, APTA Program Manager-Educational Services, and and JULIA WALKER, Program Manager-International Programs

Public transportation is global and will remain so for generations to come. It is the duty of public transportation officials from around the world to train and educate future leaders and support initiatives that engage and excite young people to become dedicated and lifelong public transit professionals. [More]

COMMENTARY

Poll Says Americans Support Transit Investment Over Building New Roads
BY PETER LEHNER

On average, Americans spend more than 100 hours commuting to work every year. That means we spend more time on the road, trying to get to work, than we do on a standard two-week (80-hour) vacation. And when gas prices approach $4 a gallon, as they seem to do on a regular basis, those hours spent on the road, idling in traffic, become even more painful.

A new bipartisan poll released Wednesday [Sept. 12] makes it clear that Americans hate traffic, and are looking to transit as a solution to end our traffic woes. Nearly three out of four Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, say that poor transportation options force them to drive more than they would like. Two out of three people support government investment in expanding and improving public transportation; twice as many people, in fact, preferred a transit solution over building new roads. [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]