APTA Creates Authorization Task Force to Prepare for Next Transportation Bill
BY BRIAN TYNAN, APTA Director-Government Relations

The transportation community may have a new authorization law in place following the passage of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), but given that it is only a two-year law, efforts are already underway to develop recommendations to Congress for the next bill. [More]

Congress’ Primary Focus: Solution to the Fiscal Cliff
BY CHRISTIAN RICHARDS, APTA Legislative Analyst

Congress returned from its Thanksgiving recess the week of Nov. 26 to begin finalizing a number of year-end legislative issues. At the top of the list, it must find a solution to the “fiscal cliff”: a combination of sizable tax increases and spending cuts, set to automatically take effect at the beginning of the new year. Some analysts believe that the combination of tax increases and spending cuts could send the economy into another recession. [More]

 

‘Stuffing the Bus’ in Milwaukee

Milwaukeeans turned out in droves to “Stuff the Bus!” the day before Thanksgiving. The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) partnered with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, a radio station, and a supermarket for the 15th annual event. [More]

Santa Cruz METRO Breaks Ground for Operations Facility

Representatives of the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (Santa Cruz METRO), joined by Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) and other dignitaries, recently broke ground in Santa Cruz, CA, for the agency’s new operations facility. Also on hand were family members of the late Judy K. Souza, in whose memory the new building will be named. [More]

AASHTO Report Spotlights Sustainability

A new report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) Center for Environmental Excellence shows the success of state DOTs and other transportation agencies in implementing sustainable transportation practices that are fast becoming the norm for doing business. [More]

FTA Offers EMS Training

FTA is accepting applications through Dec. 21 for the fourth round of its Environmental Management Systems Training & Technical Assistance Program for Transit Agencies. [More]

Wright to Head AASHTO

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Board of Directors has named Frederick G. (Bud) Wright as the organization’s new executive director. He will succeed John Horsley, who is retiring Feb. 1, 2013. [More]

Johnson Tapped as Next CEO in Orange, CA

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) in Orange, CA, has named Darrell Johnson, the current deputy chief executive officer, to take over as CEO effective March 1, 2013. He will succeed Will Kempton, OCTA CEO since 2009, who will step down Feb. 28 to become executive director of Transportation California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transportation advocacy and education. [More]

LaForce Dies; Longtime SEPTA Employee

John P. LaForce, 79, an employee of Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for more than half a century, died Nov. 20—just days before his 80th birthday. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

BART Teams with UC Berkeley to Adopt Earthquake Early Warning System

Thanks to assistance from the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) can now automatically brake its trains when earthquakes threaten to rattle the region, allowing time for trains to slow down before the ground starts to shake. [More]

In Cincinnati, ‘Recycle & Ride’ Free

Metro in Cincinnati has partnered with the city’s Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ) and the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District to reward residents with free Metro passes when they make the green choice of actively recycling. [More]

Phoenix Central Station Receives Environmental Award

The Phoenix area environmental advocacy organization Valley Forward recently presented the Phoenix Public Transit Department with its Crescordia Award in recognition of the refurbishment of Central Station, the city’s downtown public transit hub. The award honors excellence in providing multimodal transportation and transit connectivity. [More]

Sacramento RT Introduces Citrus Heights ‘City Ride’

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT), in partnership with the city of Citrus Heights, CA, introduced “City Ride”—a curb-to-curb, “dial-a-ride” service for the general public—on Oct. 29. The new shuttle service operates between all destinations within Citrus Heights and Mercy San Juan Medical Center on Coyle Avenue in Carmichael. In the near future, RT also plans to expand service to Kaiser Medical Offices on Riverside Avenue in Roseville. [More]

Phoenix Receives $75 Million Federal Grant for Light Rail Extension

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff recently visited Mesa, AZ, to announce the release of $75 million in FTA money to help fund Valley Metro’s 3.1-mile light rail extension into downtown Mesa. [More]

‘Trolley Dances’ Take Off in Riverside, CA

The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) in Riverside, CA, recently hosted “Trolley Dances Riverside,” a program of site-specific dancing based aboard an RTA trolley-replica bus. [More]

Los Angeles Metro Dedicates El Monte Station

Representatives of Los Angeles Metro recently joined a host of elected and community officials to dedicate the state-of-the-art El Monte Bus Station, which underwent a thorough overhaul and expansion. [More]

MARTA ‘Slide’ Video Promotes Public Transit Safety

 The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is making rider safety not only easy to learn but fun with its introduction of the “Safety Slide” dance. [More]

NY MTA Ad Campaign Promotes ‘Transit Watch’

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun promoting—through ads on board its buses and subway trains—a program that offers rewards of up to $2,000 to public transit riders or others who offer details to police after witnessing a crime against a public transit system employee. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Dwight Ferrell!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Dwight Ferrell, deputy general manager and chief operating officer, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Greg Woodland!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Greg Woodland, office assistant, Corporate Affairs Department. [More]

COMMENTARY

Sketching the Map of the 'Walkable City'
BY NEAL PEIRCE

Jeff Speck’s new book—“Walkable City”—starts off with a chilling quote as he laments the fate of the many American cities plagued by “fattened roads, emaciated sidewalks, deleted trees, fry-pit drive-thrus, and 10-acre parking lots.” [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]