New Flyer Celebrates Opening of Bus Assembly Facility

New Flyer cele­brated the grand opening of a new 100,000-square-foot bus final assembly and service facility in Ontario, CA, on April 2 in ceremonies attended by local dignitaries including company executives and staff, ­members of the media, and other guests. [More]

Opening Day on Public Transit

As major league baseball launched its 2014 season, public transportation was ready to help transport sports fans to and from the ballpark. [More]

RTD Breaks Ground for North Metro Rail Line

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) kicked off construction of the North Metro Rail Line, a commuter rail service scheduled to enter service in 2018, with a recent ceremonial spike-pulling event at the future site of the 124th Avenue-Eastlake Station in Thornton. [More]

FRA Issues Final Rule on Critical Incident Stress Plans

FRA has announced a final rule for intercity passenger, commuter, and Class I railroads regarding the establishment and implementation of a critical incident stress plan for employees involved in a critical incident, including those who respond to or witness such incidents. This rulemaking is in response to a mandate in the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. [More]

FTA Seeking Feedback on Performance Measures

Easter Seals Project ACTION is hosting an FTA online dialogue on ­Section 5310 of the Federal Transit Act, which funds public transit for people with disabilities and older Americans. Registration and participation are open through April 18. [More]

Indiana Law Marks Milestone For Public Transit in State

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence recently signed legislation authorizing tax officials in six counties in ­central Indiana to seek voter permission to raise income taxes to fund public transit. [More]

New CEOs Named

Two public transportation agencies have announced their new chief executive officers. [More]

COUNTDOWN TO 2014 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO

Plan Now to Attend the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO; Something for Everyone at Industry’s Largest Gathering
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

EXPO 2014 is coming Oct. 12-15 in Houston!

APTA holds the International Public Transportation EXPO every three years in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. The EXPO is public transportation’s premier showcase featuring the industry’s latest equipment, products, and services, welcoming more than 15,000 public transportation professionals from around the world. [More]

Houston Sizzles: Host City on the Move with METRO
BY THOMAS LAMBERT, Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Houston, TX

Let me fill you in on a secret. ­Houston is hot—and I am not talking about the summer heat.

The Space City is bursting at the seams on many fronts: jobs, housing, cultural enrichment, sustainability, and beyond. Ride along and you’ll see what I mean. METRO is proud to be part of the action, expanding and enhancing its transit reach to keep the city moving.

Come experience it yourself at APTA’s 2014 Annual Meeting & EXPO in this year’s host city. [More]

Use APTA’s Travel and Hotel Partners to Get the Best Rates

Ready to book your trip to the upcoming Annual Meeting & EXPO? Lock in the best rate by using one of APTA’s partners. (All travel discounts are valid between Oct. 9-18.) Here’s how to save. [More]

Win a Free Trip to Houston

Let APTA pay your airfare to EXPO and your registration to the Annual Meeting. Just enter APTA's contest between now and July 18. [More]

All Things EXPO at www.aptaexpo.com

Want to see what businesses are exhibiting at EXPO, get the latest information about the show, learn more about Houston, and find out how to register for the free three-day event? Go to www.aptaexpo.com. [More]

Directory of Exhibitors at APTA's 2014 EXPO and Program-at-a-Glance

More than 800 exhibitors have already registered to participate in APTA's International Public Transportation EXPO in Houston. [More]

ABOUT ADVOCACY

What Makes Grassroots Advocacy Work? Members Offer Insight for Building Relationships

As public transit’s advocacy education campaign, “Where Public Transportation Goes, Community Grows,” takes shape during congressional discussions to authorize the next surface transportation bill, Passenger Transport had an opportunity to ask ­several attendees at the recent Legislative Conference about their grassroots advocacy initiatives. Their responses follow. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Darrell Johnson!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Darrell Johnson, chief executive officer, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), CA, a member of the APTA Board of Directors, Bus and Paratransit CEOs and High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail committees. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Mariah Stanley!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Mariah Stanley, educational services coordinator, Workforce Development and Educational Services Department. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Siemens Enters into Multi-State Order for Locomotives

Siemens has entered into a $225 million contract with five state DOTs, led by Illinois DOT, to build 32 diesel-electric locomotives with options for 225 additional locomotives. The first vehicles are due to arrive in 2016. [More]

More Households Forgo Vehicles

More than 9 percent of U.S. households did not have a light duty vehicle (defined as a car, pickup truck, sport-utility vehicle, or van) in 2012, up from 8.7 percent in 2007, according to a new report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. [More]

ADA Customers Ride Free on Palm Tran

Palm Tran in West Palm Beach, FL, has introduced a policy that permits Americans with Disabilities Act-eligible customers of Palm Tran Connection paratransit to ride the system’s fixed route buses at no charge. Previously, ADA customers paid a half fare on fixed routes. [More]

Flowers on Board in Philadelphia

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Philadelphia Horticultural Society showcased floral-themed artworks by area students in kindergarten through 12th grade in conjunction with the recent Philadelphia International Flower Show. [More]

EE Global 2014 Conference to Focus on Clean Energy

APTA has partnered with the Alliance to Save Energy as an endorsing organization for EE Global 2014, a two-day event in Washington, DC, that convenes executives and policymakers from across sectors, disciplines, and borders to share policies and practices related to the next generation of energy efficiency. [More]

New Website, Logo in South Bend

The South Bend Public Transportation Corporation (Transpo), South Bend, IN, recently unveiled a new website and logo. [More]

Mineta Report Examines Development of Effective Regional Transit

The Mineta National Transit Research Consortium (MNTRC) has published a comprehensive study of the factors that enable and inhibit the development of effective regional public transit. [More]

Albany to Upgrade Fare Collection

The Capital District Transportation Authority, Albany, NY, is preparing to upgrade its fare collection system with remote readers under an agreement with SPX Genfare. [More]

DeWitt Is New Executive Director of University of Denver ITI

The Intermodal Transportation Institute (ITI) at the University of Denver has announced the selection of William J. DeWitt III as its executive director. [More]

Salem-Keizer Transit Receives Two Sustainability Awards

Salem-Keizer Transit (Cherriots), Salem, OR, recently received two awards recognizing its sustainability efforts: the 2014 Mid-Valley Green Award—Sustainable Large Business of the Year, presented by Marion County Public Works Environmental Services, and the 2013-2014 Outstanding Special District Program Award from the Special Districts Association of Oregon. [More]

APTA NEWS

Industry Calls for Restored Funding For Research, Standards

General managers from more than 40 public transit agencies recently sent letters to members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees expressing support for restoring funding for the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) to pre-FY 2012 levels. The letters support authorization of the next surface transportation legislation. [More]

Celebrating 100 Years of Transit Safety

APTA is honoring the 100th anniversary of its transit safety awards program by compiling a timeline of safety innovations, systems, and programs that have changed public transit. [More]

Bus Conference Speakers Named

Civil engineer and certified planner Charles Marohn will give the address at the May 5 Opening General Session of the APTA Bus & ­Paratransit Conference, May 4-7 in Kansas City, MO, and Scott Belcher, president and chief executive officer of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), will provide remarks for the May 7 ­Closing General Session of the conference. [More]

APTA, ITS America Sign Agreement

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy recently signed a three-year memorandum of agreement with ITS America President & CEO Scott Belcher.  [More]

COMMENTARY

Zoom, Zoom: Need for Smart, Transit-Oriented Development Accelerates
BY DEBORAH JOHNSON WOOD

Smart transit has the potential to create jobs, ignite development, and connect a city. But is west Michigan ready for the possibilities—and the challenges—that lie ahead? The projected possibilities are staggering. [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]