RTA New Orleans Celebrates Grand Opening of Loyola Avenue/UPT Streetcar Line
BY JUSTIN T. AUGUSTINE III, Vice President, Veolia Transportation North America, In Service to the Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans

The Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans (RTA) and the entire city celebrated in true New Orleans style on Jan. 28, when streetcars rolled down Loyola Avenue for the inaugural ride of  he nation’s newest streetcar line. [More]

  

Public Transit Industry Moves Forward on New Technology
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

The term “public transportation technology” covers a vast amount of ground, from advanced navigation systems to enhanced ways of providing customer information. The rapid pace of change means that public transit agencies and businesses must make plans far in advance to stay ahead of the coming changes. [More]

TTI: Public Transit Saves 865 Million Hours of Delay

By using public transportation in 2011, commuters in 498 U.S. urban areas saved 865 million hours of delay in congested traffic and 450 million gallons of gasoline, according to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) 2012 Urban Mobility Report released Feb. 5. The report also noted that, without public transportation, the cost of congestion would have increased from $121 billion to $142 billion. [More]

Celebrating at Grand Central

APTA Chair Flora Castillo joined public transportation and political leaders from New York and New Jersey at the recent celebration of the 100th anniversary of New York's Grand Central Terminal. [More]

Recognizing AASHTO Officials

APTA recognized three longtime officials of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) at a reception in honor of their retirement. [More]

Business Members Focus on Authorization, Financing, Work Plan
BY FRAN HOOPER, APTA Staff Advisor

The APTA Business Member Board of Governors met recently to discuss key issues facing the public transportation industry and develop a work program for their activities over the next two years. APTA Chair Flora Castillo and APTA President and CEO Michael P. Melaniphy welcomed the group of 100 members and speakers, reinforcing the importance of the private sector in public transit. [More]

DOT Frees Up $2 Billion for Sandy Relief

On Feb. 4, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced the availability of $2 billion in grants through FTA to help protect, repair, reconstruct, and replace public transit equipment and facilities that suffered severe damage last year from Hurricane Sandy. These funds are the first installment of $10.9 billion appropriated to FTA through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, which President Obama signed into law Jan. 29. [More]

Cubic Names Boyle CEO

The Board of Directors of Cubic Corporation has named William W. Boyle chief executive officer. [More]

Trapeze Group Acquires Mentor Engineering

Volaris Group has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Trapeze Group, has signed an asset purchase agreement to acquire Mentor Engineering Inc. [More]

Cubic Transportation Systems Acquires NextBus

Cubic Transportation Systems has announced its acquisition of NextBus Inc. from Webtech Wireless Inc. for a total consideration of $20.75 million (Cdn.), subject to the terms of the purchase agreement. [More]

Veolia Brings a Family Home AND Gains an Employee

When APTA went to New Orleans for the 2011 Annual Meeting and EXPO, more than 300 attendees signed up to help the St. Bernard Project (SBP), a disaster recovery organization that partners closely with the United Way to rebuild houses for New Orleans families who could not return home years after Hurricane Katrina. One SBP worker who led an APTA team has now found a job in the public transportation industry. [More]

Walker Dies; Longtime FTA Official

Hiram Walker, 75, of Oceanside, CA, a 33-year employee of FTA and its predecessor, the Urban Mass Transit Administration (UMTA), died Jan. 6. [More]

Linnertz Dies; FTA Associate Administrator

Ann Linnertz of Arlington, VA, FTA associate administrator for administration since 2006, died Jan. 26 following a long fight against lung cancer. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Dr. Jill Hough!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Dr. Jill Hough, program director, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, chair of the APTA Higher Education Subcommittee. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Nigel Andrews!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Nigel Andrews, accounting manager, Finance Department. [More]

FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY

Public Transit Leads in Clean Technology Use

Public transportation agencies are on the cutting edge of investment in and adoption of innovative clean technologies and fuels while moving away from diesel-fueled buses and other long-standing technologies. That was the finding of Transit on the Cutting Edge of Clean Technology, an APTA report issued in late 2012. [More]

The Human Element: Technology and Wellness in Austin, TX

Technological advances help create more efficient buses, railcars, and vans; reduce carbon emissions; save money and time; boost productivity; and improve scheduling and rider communications, but the Capital Metro Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) in Austin, TX, also uses technology as the centerpiece of its employee wellness program. [More]

Public Transportation Training Goes High-Tech

Everyone knows that practice makes perfect, but practicing under the right conditions can be a challenge for bus and rail operators. Increasingly, public transportation systems are turning to technology for answers. [More]

Making Better Decisions on Technology Projects
BY JONATHAN McDONALD, Vice President, Practice Leader-Transit & Rail, Atkins, San Francisco, CA; GRAHAM STROUD, Product Director, Atkins, London, U.K.; and and NAVIL SHETTY, Director and Technical Chair for Asset Management, Atkins, London, U.K.

How many times have we seen projects go forward ill-conceived, hatched out of political expediency or a desire not to lose funding? With the plethora of challenges such as increasing demand, a deteriorating asset base, and funding constraints, can public transportation agencies really afford this anymore?

To fix the problem, those with responsibility for transport assets need to make informed choices concerning where to invest and must be able to justify those choices to stakeholders and funders. [More]

No Wasted Space: Detroit People Mover’s Green Roof

In winter, the top level at the Detroit Transportation Corporation’s People Mover station at Joe Louis Arena is buried under ice and snow. Come spring, however, the station roof will turn into an environmental “superhero” as its 6,000 square feet sprout, creating an urban meadow that yields a range of green benefits. [More]

APTA NEWS

Legislative Conference: March 10-12

Plan to participate in APTA’s 38th Annual Legislative Conference, March 10-12 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference program, updated daily as details are finalized, can be found under the Meetings and Conferences section of the APTA website. [More]

APTA Launches Website for Veterans

On Feb. 1, APTA unveiled the online Veteran and Military Family Resource Center to strengthen the connections between public transit systems and military communities via job fairs, industry-wide hiring goals, and information. [More]

TCRP: A Valuable Resource

The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) focuses on issues significant to the public transit industry, with emphasis on developing near-term applied research solutions to a variety of industry problems involving facilities, vehicles, equipment, service concepts, operations, policy, planning, human resources, maintenance, and administrative practices. TCRP is a unique undertaking for anyone interested in public transportation. [More]

COMMENTARY

Cities for all: No skipping generations
BY NEAL PEIRCE

WASHINGTON—We’re in a new age of celebrating America’s cities, no longer disparaging and fleeing them as we did through the suburban-expansion era.

But who are the cities really for?

Are they for waves of young professionals drawn to glitter and opportunities? Or for America’s seniors, seeking community, support, activity in their twilight years?

Yes on both counts. [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]