June 27, 2014
NEWS HEADLINES
Conservative Think Tank Addresses Transit Funding; New Report: Create Consensus

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy joined the Washington, DC-based research institute Free Congress Foundation (FCF) at a June 24 event to unveil a report that calls for a renewed consensus to support transportation funding efforts. [More]

CLASSIFIEDS
» The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority is looking for an executive director. [More]
» The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority has an opening for a vice president of organizational development. [More]
» The Detroit Transportation Corporation requests bids to manufacture, deliver, and install one elevator and two escalators at one of its People Mover stations. [More]
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World Bank Report: Public Transit Can Help Stem Climate Change Effects

Public transportation and other policies that improve energy efficiency could help tackle the effects of climate change while saving lives, reducing crop losses, and increasing global economic output by more than $1.8 trillion per year, according to a report released June 26 by the World Bank and the ClimateWorks Foundation. [More]

Green Light for Green Line

Metro Transit’s new light rail Green Line recently opened with celebrations and ceremonies at stations along the 11-mile route, which connects Target Field on the western edge of downtown Minneapolis to Union Depot on the eastern edge of downtown St. Paul. [More]

Metra Dedicates Renovated Cicero Commuter Rail Station

Metra commuter rail in Chicago on June 25 celebrated the completion of a $4.5 million project to renovate the Cicero Station on the BNSF Line. All project funding came from Metra’s share of money from the state bond program. [More]

Dumping the Pump in Los Angeles

Numerous U.S. public transit agencies celebrated Dump the Pump Day, June 19, with innovative and attention-grabbing events. [More]

Out with the Old, In with the New in Cleveland

Representatives of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the city of Shaker Heights broke ground June 25 to launch construction on a new station at Lee Road and Van Aken Boulevard. The project includes demolition of the current Van Aken-Lee Station, one of the busiest on the Blue Line, and replacement with an updated facility. [More]

Advocacy All-Star Clever Devices

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY) recently toured the corporate headquarters of Clever Devices, Woodbury, NY, and viewed a demonstration of the company’s ITS products for fixed route and paratransit fleets, among others. [More]

Estrada Interim GM In Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) Board of Directors, Santa Barbara, CA, has named Jerry Estrada interim general manager, effective July 19. [More]

COVERAGE OF THE 2014 APTA RAIL CONFERENCE

General Sessions Address Latest Rail Trends, Updates

The 2014 APTA Rail Conference, June 15-18 in Montréal, featured four General Sessions focused on different aspects of the passenger rail industry: the importance of federal investment in public transportation, safety trends and advances, DOT policy and practices, and the unique perspective of public transit general ­managers. [More]

STM, AMT Meeting the Needs of Montréal

Representatives of the two host agencies of the Rail Conference, the Société de transport de ­Montréal (STM) and Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT), spoke at the June 16 Host Forum about their agencies’ efforts to keep improving their service to the Montreal region. [More]

Safety & Security Excellence: 100th Anniversary of Awards

APTA Chair Peter Varga and APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy presided at the annual Rail Safety & Security Excellence Awards at the June 17 General Session in a special program moderated by Paul Jablonski, chief executive officer, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. The awards program, celebrating its 100th anniversary, acknowledges rail transit agencies in North America for their excellence in safety and security programs and operations. [More]

Operators, Maintainers Compete in Rail Rodeo; WMATA Takes Team Achievement Award

The best of the best in passenger and commuter rail participated in the 2014 APTA International Rail Rodeo, June 12-15, immediately before the Rail Conference in Montréal. The competition for train operators and maintenance personnel tested their knowledge in several areas, provided opportunities to share and network, exposed them to the unique history of Montréal’s transit system, and celebrated their commitment to excellence at an awards banquet. [More]

More Scenes from the Rail Conference

More than 1,400 rail industry leaders attended APTA's Rail Conference in Montreal, June 15-18, an event that featured General Sessions, educational programs, technical forums, the Products & Services Showcase, awards presentations, committee meetings, and the International Rail Rodeo. Click here to see more scenes from the conference. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Ysela Llort!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Ysela Llort, director, Miami-Dade Transit, member, APTA Board of Directors, Legislative, and Bus and Paratransit CEOs committees. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

First Practicum on Finance, Funding Attracts Global Industry Leaders

More than 150 ­public transportation leaders from seven countries as well as the U.S. and Canada attended the APTA and CUTA first joint International Practicum on Innovative Transit Funding & Financing, an in-depth program held in Montréal immediately before the annual Rail Conference. [More]

COMTO's Cunningham Dies

Julie Cunningham, president and CEO of the Conference of Minority Trans­portation Officials (COMTO) since 2001, died June 24. [More]

MARTA Opens Buckhead Pedestrian Bridge

Keith T. Parker, general manager/chief executive officer, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, joins project engineers and senior staff who worked on the LEED-certified Buckhead Bridge. [More]

San Francisco Muni Installs Between-Car Barriers

In an effort to increase passenger safety, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) recently installed between-car barriers at the ends of its Muni Metro light rail vehicles, covering the gap between two connected trains and preventing riders from inadvertently stepping or falling between adjoined cars. [More]

Metrolinx Honored for Youth Outreach

Metrolinx, the Ontario provincial agency that coordinates and integrates all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has been named one of “Canada’s Top Employers for Young People” by ­Canada’s Top 100 Employers for the ­second consecutive year. [More]

KYDEX LLC Opens 'FSTLab'

KYDEX LLC, a manufacturer of thermoplastics, recently opened its ­“FSTLab,” a state-of-the art materials testing facility, in ­Bloomsburg, PA. The term “FST” refers to flame, smoke development, material toxicity, and heat release testing. [More]

Meet APTA's Newest Members

APTA welcomes its newest members, who joined between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2014. [More]

COMMENTARY

10 Myths About the Highway Trust Fund

Becky Moylan of the American Society of Civil Engineers addresses 10 issues surrounding the future of the federal Highway Trust Fund. [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]

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