Public Transportation’s Legislative Issues for ’14; Crowded Agenda Features MAP-21, Highway Trust Fund
BY CHRISTIAN RICHARDS, APTA Legislative Analyst

Happy New Year! The new year presents a number of challenges to our industry, but at the same time also affords us an opportunity to shape public transportation policy for years to come. [More]

Industry Leaders Share Top Priorities

Passenger Transport asked public transit agency general managers and business executives to share their top priorities for their organizations in 2014. Their thoughts follow. [More]

The Real Polar Express: Transit Recovers from Arctic Blast

A blast of record-breaking frigid air—a “polar vortex”—affected about 240 million people in an area from North Dakota to Texas and the Great Lakes to Maryland, temporarily closing public transit agencies or curtailing service on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 6-7, and further complicating public transit travel following a recent major blizzard. Most public transit systems returned to normal schedules and hours as temperatures rose during the week. [More]

Third Quarter Ridership Up 1.5 Percent

 U.S. public transit ridership during the third quarter of 2013 totaled nearly 2.7 billion trips, a 1.5 percent increase over the same quarter in 2012, according to APTA statistics. The increase represents more than 39 million trips. [More]

Houston Launches North Light Rail

 Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County reported 4,500 boardings on its Red Line light rail extension on its recent opening day. Passengers rode free all day for the entire Red Line, including the existing 7.5-mile section as well as the 5.3-mile extension, and ridership on the whole line totaled 22,054. [More]

$5 Billion for MTA Weather Improvements

A year after Superstorm Sandy struck the east coast, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority has allocated $5.1 billion in federal and state emergency funding to implement the most comprehensive reconstruction of MTA New York City Transit’s subways in its 110-year history. The funds are part of $7.1 billion to also replace 100 at-risk bridges, renovate roads, and provide severe weather support for city airports. [More]

Giulietti Named Next President of Metro-North

MTA Metro-North Railroad has announced that Joseph J. Giulietti, executive director, South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail in Pompano Beach, will become Metro-North’s president following the Jan. 31 retirement of Howard Permut. [More]

Trottenberg to Head New York City DOT

Polly Trottenberg, under secretary of transpor­tation for policy at DOT, has been nominated New York City transportation commissioner by new Mayor Bill de Blasio. She earlier served DOT as assistant secretary. [More]

New and Interim Chief Executives Named

Four public transportation agencies have announced their new and interim chief executive officers. [More]

LaHood Joins BAF

Former DOT Secretary Ray LaHood has joined Building America’s Future (BAF) as a new co-chair, joining former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. [More]

New Capital Projects for 2014: An Overview

Public transportation agencies throughout North America are moving forward on major projects in a variety of modes: commuter rail, light rail, heavy rail, modern streetcar, and bus rapid transit (BRT). Here’s a preliminary list of new and expanded services scheduled to open in 2014. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Frederick L. Daniels Jr.!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Frederick L. Daniels Jr., treasurer and immediate past chair, Board of Directors, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), member, APTA Board of Directors; chair, Transit Board Members Committee; member, Finance Committee, Diversity Council; APTA Nominating Committee. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Richard Weaver!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Richard Weaver, director, planning, policy, and sustainability, Policy Department. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

NYC Transit Opens 7 Line Extension

Outgoing New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg joined officials of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Dec. 20 for the first ride on the extension of the MTA New York City Transit (NYC Transit) 7 Subway line, the first extension funded by the city in more than 60 years.
 [More]

Philips Contracts with WMATA for Energy-Saving Lights in Parking Garages

Philips has entered into a contract with the Washington Metro­politan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to upgrade the lighting in 25 of the authority’s parking garages. [More]

Cleveland RTA Celebrates Centennial of Light Rail Lines

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) marked the centennial of its Green and Blue light rail lines on Dec. 17. [More]

Las Vegas Student Art Contest Boosts Anti-Graffiti Efforts

The Regional Transpor­ta­tion Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) in Las Vegas recently recognized the winners of its annual Anti-Graffiti Art Contest: Lyle Anthony Abapo of James Cashman Middle School and Catelyn Kaufman of Roy Martin Middle School. The theme of this year’s campaign is “Keep Southern Nevada Graffiti Free.” [More]

Valley Metro Rail Achieves Saturday Ridership Record

Phoenix hosted numerous activities Dec. 7, and record numbers of riders used Valley Metro Rail to travel to and from the events, resulting in the highest Saturday ridership in the light rail line’s history—58,408 boardings. [More]

LTD Receives 'Ripple of Hope' Award

Lane Transit District, Eugene, OR, recently received the 2013 Ripple of Hope Award from the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lae County. [More]

First of WMATA’s New Metrorail Fleet

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) welcomed the first of its new 7000-series railcars Jan. 6 at Greenbelt Station. [More]

CTA Holds Online Auction of Agency Memorabilia

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) recently completed its first-ever online auction, providing public transit fans with their own piece of CTA history in time for the holidays. [More]

Amtrak Debuts Portland Express

Riders on the Amtrak Cascades line can get a taste of Portland, OR, as they grab a bite to eat when they ride in the specially wrapped and designed dining car that is part of the rail line’s Portland Express. [More]

COTA Celebrates 40th Anniversary

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Columbus launched a year-long celebration of its 40th-anniversary year with a family-friendly celebration Dec. 31 at First Night Columbus, followed by free fares on New Year’s Day. [More]

APTA in January

Each year, APTA publishes and distributes to its members a wall calendar that presents some of the many facets of public transportation, offers interesting data points about the value of public transit, and tracks key APTA events. Here’s what’s on tap for January. [More]

Public Transit Gives Back During the Holidays

Public transportation agencies throughout the U.S. reached out to their communities with donations of cash, clothes, and gifts from passengers and employees. Here are a few examples. [More]

COMMENTARY

Building a Solid Board Chair-CEO Alliance
BY DOUG EADIE, Doug Eadie & Company

Consider this true story from the field: When the board-savvy general manager (CEO) of the regional transit authority approached his board chair about the need for a better designed process for board evaluation of his performance, suggesting that the board’s governance committee devote a couple of work sessions coming up with a new approach, he got the gut response he’d expected: “If it ain’t broke, why bother trying to fix it? We’ve got plenty going on already.” [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]