New Transit Messages At Center of Campaign

Emerging social and technological trends are driving ridership practices, especially among millennials, resulting in opportunities to strengthen support for public transportation nationally and locally. That was the theme of the panelists at “It’s All About Advocacy: How to Engage Our Stakeholders,” a concurrent session at APTA’s annual ­Legislative Conference. [More]

The View from State, Local Governments

Public transportation efforts require support at all levels of government: local, state, and federal. Representatives of state and local governments described the challenges of supporting public transit projects at a session during the APTA Legislative Conference. [More]

Three Days of Advocacy

More than 700 leaders from public transportation systems and businesses that serve the public transportation market gathered in Washington, DC, March 9-11 for APTA's 39th annual Legislative Conference. [More]

Influencing the Influencers: An Inside Look at Capitol Hill Visits

APTA members from public transit agencies and businesses fanned out in pairs, small groups, and statewide delegations on Capitol Hill during APTA’s Legislative Conference to meet with elected leaders and key staffers to discuss public transportation’s role in their communities as a catalyst for development and to advocate for a long-term authorization bill. [More]

Advocacy Tips: What Works

The following suggestions—compiled by legislative consultant Shawna Russell and APTA’s government affairs team—can help APTA members plan and conduct successful congressional visits. [More]

 

BMBG Breakfast Kicks Off Busy First Day

Transportation is the backbone of the U.S. and has been since the nation’s founding, former Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) said at the March 10 breakfast session, “The ‘Insider’ Perspective for the Transit Industry.” [More]

NEWS HEADLINES

U.S. Transit Ridership at 57-Year High: 10.7 Billion Trips

Public transit ridership in 2013 reached a 57-year peak with 10.7 billion trips—115 million more than in 2012. As APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy said at the APTA Legislative Conference, the last time ridership was this high was in 1956, when Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House and Elvis Presley dominated the pop music charts. [More]

MBTA Opens Yawkey Commuter Rail Station

 Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick participated in ceremonies March 10 to mark the opening of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s new Yawkey Station and the start of enhanced commuter rail service on the Framingham/Worcester Line. The fully accessible new station serves Fenway Park and the Longwood Medical area. [More]

Ann Arbor Opens Blake Transit Center

 The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) opened its newest facility—the Blake Transit Center—on March 17.
The downtown facility has been certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council for such state-of-the-art elements as a snowmelt system that will reduce the use of salt and a process to collect roof storm water runoff for “gray water” use. [More]

BJCTA Breaks Ground for Intermodal Facility

The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA), ­Birmingham, AL, broke ground recently for its $30 million Intermodal Transportation Center and Terminal. The new facility will replace the agency’s current Central Station and Amtrak Station. [More]

New CEO, Interim GM Named

One APTA business member has announced its new president and chief executive officer, and a public transit agency named its interim general manager. [More]

Nominate a ‘Champion of Change’

In May, DOT and the White House Office of ­Public Engagement will host a Champions of Change event focused on the theme, “Transportation and ­Ladders of Opportunity.” DOT is accepting nominations for this program through March 27. [More]

Breen Dies; Past APTA Chair

Howard C. Breen, 83, of Kansas City, MO, APTA chair in 1997-98 and a 35-year member of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) Board of Commissioners, died March 11. [More]

Wearing the Green in Cleveland

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority reports that St. Patrick's Day is its highest-ridership day of the year when the holiday falls on a weekday. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Desmond Cole!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Desmond Cole, senior project engineer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia, PA, member, Leadership APTA Class of 2010, Human Resources and Research and Technology committees, and Diversity Council. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Montreal’s AMT Acquires Deux-Montagnes Commuter Rail Line

The Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), the commuter rail provider in Montreal, QC, has acquired the right-of-way on the Deux-Montagnes rail corridor, including infrastructure, tracks, and other railway equipment, in a $92 million (Cdn.) transaction with CN. [More]

Scholarship for Children of Transit Workers Killed, Disabled on Job

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) will accept applications postmarked by April 4 for the 2014 Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program, open to children of transportation workers—including public transit—killed or permanently disabled in work zone accidents or related construction or maintenance activities. [More]

AC Transit Upgrades Bus Fareboxes

AC Transit, Oakland, CA, recently retrofitted all 569 buses in its fleet with “talking” fareboxes designed to make boardings quicker, less confusing, and much easier to tally. They replace fareboxes in service for 14 years. [More]

RTA Donates Vehicle to New Boys and Girls Club

The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA), Riverside, CA, recently donated a 2008 Ford El Dorado to the newly established Perris Valley Boys and Girls Club. The vehicle has exceeded its recommended service life and can no longer be used in RTA’s active fleet, but remains in good condition. [More]

Greensboro Facility Earns LEED Gold Status

The Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA), Greensboro, NC, recently received LEED Gold Status with its new 66,000-square-foot Operations/Maintenance Facility and Administrative Offices. [More]

APTA NEWS

APTA’s Early Career Program: Now Accepting Applications

APTA is seeking candidates through March 28 for its Early Career Program (ECP) Class of 2015. The year-long national program, launched last year, is dedicated to providing public and private sector public transportation professionals, early in their careers, with the skills, knowledge, insights, and networks they will need to grow and succeed. [More]

APTA Awards Open for Nominations

Is your organization one of the “best of the best,” or do you know an individual who has greatly advanced public transportation?
It’s time to submit nominations for the 2014 APTA Awards, which recognize excellence in the public transportation industry in North America, both on individual and organizational levels. APTA will accept nominations through April 23. [More]

APTA Issues New Rail Standards

APTA’s Technical Services and Program Management teams recently issued two new s­tandards for rail. [More]

COMMENTARY

The Real ‘Best Places to Work’ Have Great Commuting Options, Too
BY JEFF LA NOUE

Area magazines often issue lists of the “Best Places to Work,” but they don’t consider what the commute to those places is like. The real best places to work don’t make employees sit in traffic for hours each day. [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]