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AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Industry Briefs

FRA Joins Google in Rail Crossing Safety Effort — Google is partnering with FRA to help make rail crossings safer for drivers and their passengers by integrating the agency’s Geographic Information System data into its mapping services. These data pinpoint the locations of the nation’s approximately 250,000 public and private railroad crossings. FRA Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg said, “Adding railroad crossing data to smartphone mapping applications just makes sense—it means supplying drivers and passengers with additional cues that they are approaching a crossing.”

GoTriangle Launches New ­Season of ‘Soap Opera’ — ­GoTriangle, Research Triangle Park, NC, has launched the second season of its public transit-centered soap opera, “As The Bus Stops,” using student actors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University. “We had fun with our first year and have expanded the themes that highlight the benefits of using transit in the Triangle area and how to use the Emergency Ride Home program on those days that the unexpected happens,” said Lauren Parker, marketing manager for GoTriangle, GoDurham, GoSmart and the GoTransit Family of Commuter Services. “The videos communicate our many travel options and services to the ­general public.”

RIPTA Introduces ‘Clean Air Challenge’ — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) in Providence recently introduced the “Try Transit Clean Air Challenge.” While in the past RIPTA offered free rides on Air Quality Alert days for high ozone or particulate levels, announced by the state’s Department of Environmental Management, the new summer program offers five free all-day passes to riders who fill out a brief online survey about their travel habits. Funding for the Try Transit Clean Air Challenge comes from a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant with a local match from RIPTA.

CTfastrak Users Can Earn Rewards — Connecticut DOT invites users of CTfastrak BRT to participate in its new rewards program. Riders need only present the appropriate bus transit fare ticket at participating central Connecticut businesses to receive a discount; businesses can participate for no fee.

KCATA Blog Provides Forum for Public Transit News — The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority has launched a blog with information about the latest developments in the creation of a regional public transit network. The blog also will share information about the agency and related public transportation topics.

LIRR Opens Renovated Smithtown Station Building — MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) opened its newly renovated Smithtown Station building to the public on July 13. Smithtown is the latest construction project completed under the LIRR’s State of Good Repair program to modernize station facilities around the system. Crews from the Building and Bridges Division of the LIRR’s Engineering Department demolished the old ticket office to make room for restrooms, installed flooring with radiant heat and added decorative elements to the waiting room.

Kiel Delivers Seats for Refurbished IndyGo Buses — Kiel North America provided 39 seats for each of IndyGo’s 21 refurbished zero-emission electric buses, or a total of 819 seats. The lightweight seating, necessary for the buses to operate up to 130 miles per charge, is ergonomically molded and not upholstered.

Coast RTA Introduces Buses from Dallas — The Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority (Coast RTA), Conway, SC, has added five buses previously owned by Dallas Area Rapid Transit to its fleet after retiring 16 buses for mechanical issues. Coast purchased the vehicles from DART for less than $80,000 and plans to acquire five more in September.

New York Adds Eighth ‘Select Bus Service’ Route — New York City DOT and MTA New York City Transit introduced service July 13 on its eighth Select Bus Service (SBS) route, along 86th Street in Manhattan. This corridor currently serves 24,000 commuters daily and is the busiest route citywide per mile; the new line provides direct connections to 12 different bus routes and six subway lines. SBS routes operate with three-door articulated buses and provide off-board fare collection and real-time passenger information signs.

Safe Fleet Acquires Hadley’s Mirror Product Line — Safe Fleet, Balton, MO, has acquired the mirror product line for buses, shuttles and coaches from ­Hadley, based in Grandville, MI. The Hadley mirror business will remain at its current base in Elkhart, IN, but will relocate from the Hadley site to its own production facility over the next few months. Management, engineering, customer service, administrative and production personnel will remain with the business and transition to Safe Fleet.

Voltabox Opens Plant in Texas — Voltabox, a subsidiary of paragon, celebrated the official opening of its plant in Cedar Park, TX, on July 21. The company, based in Germany, manufactures battery packs for buses and other vehicles and previously operated out of leased premises.

VRE Extends Contract with ­Keolis — Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has exercised its option to extend its contract with Keolis for an additional five years to operate VRE commuter rail, which serves Washington, DC’s Northern Virginia suburbs. The contract, which also includes providing maintenance for the trains, is valued up to $21 million for the first year. Keolis has operated VRE trains since 2010 and will be eligible for an additional extension up to five years in 2020

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