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2015: THE YEAR IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION |
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Following Public Transportation in 2015: Openings, Ground Breakings, Improvements and Acquisitions
Public transportation agencies and businesses achieved numerous milestones during the past year, from the openings of new rail, bus and BRT lines to the beginning of high-speed rail construction in California and top-to-bottom overhauls of entire bus route systems.Here’s a month-by-month look at these events as they appeared in Passenger Transport.
December 2014 Los Angeles Metro launched Valley-Westside Express bus service, which provides nonstop service between Van Nuys and Westwood operating in carpool lanes.
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) opened its second BRT line, the Cleveland State Line, using specially designed 60-foot articulated buses on a route with 19 new stations.
The Atlanta Streetcar entered service, serving 12 stops with vehicles manufactured by Siemens. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) was among the partners that created the system.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) reopened its Damen Station, one of 13 stations on the O’Hare branch of the CTA Blue Line undergoing renovations and improvements. The renovation preserves historic features that date to 1895 while upgrading customer facilities and service capabilities.
The city of Dearborn, MI, opened an intermodal passenger rail station named in honor of former Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), a longtime transportation advocate and the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history—59 years.
The Ventura County (CA) Transportation Commission (VCTC) welcomed 14 new intercity buses from Motor Coach Industries at ceremonies that also rebranded the service as “VCTC Intercity Bus.”
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the city of Anaheim, CA, jointly opened the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center, which provides connections to OCTA buses, Metrolink commuter rail, Amtrak, taxis, bikes, shuttles and tour buses.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) introduced the Love Link shuttle, offering an eight-minute, curb-to-curb ride between DART’s Inwood/Love Field Station and Dallas Love Field airport.
January The California High-Speed Rail Authority broke ground for the state’s high-speed rail line at the site of a future station in downtown Fresno.
DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan visited Boston to present the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) with a $996 million Full Funding Grant Agreement to help finance a 4.7-mile extension of Green Line light rail.
Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) introduced the first six of 39 new light rail vehicles from CAF USA.
Sound Transit in Seattle received a $1.3 billion federal loan under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)—the largest single TIFIA loan to a public transit agency in the nation and the second largest loan overall—that was expected to help the agency restore some voter-approved projects that had been suspended as a result of the recession.
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) reopened Kennedy Plaza, its 15-bay hub in downtown Providence, followed by formal dedication ceremonies.
The Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY, upgraded its free ZeroBus downtown shuttle service by replacing its diesel-powered trolley-replica buses with all-electric, zero-emission buses from Proterra.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), St. Petersburg, FL, opened its first new customer service center in 13 years, the Pinellas Park Transit Center.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), Kansas City, MO, entered into a two-year Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Transit Management and Administration with neighboring Johnson County, KS.
Milwaukee County Transit Services launched two new MetroEXpress limited-stop bus routes, the GoldLine and the PurpleLine, while reconfiguring two existing regular bus routes.
After operating out of trailers for the past 30 years, the SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, CA, opened its first permanent administration building.
The Regional Transit Authority of New Orleans broke ground for the 1.6-mile North Rampart Street/St. Claude Avenue Streetcar Project, which will connect the French Quarter and Treme neighborhoods to Canal Street and Loyola Avenue when it opens in 2016.
Prevost, a division of the Volvo group specializing in touring coach and bus assembly, opened its first U.S. production line in Plattsburgh, NY, in the expanded facility of its sister company Nova Bus.
Alstom and other partners entered into a contract worth $372 million with MTR Corporation, operator of Hong Kong’s metro network, to resignal and upgrade the signaling systems of seven metro lines in Hong Kong.
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the San Diego Association of Governments introduced new low floor trolley cars on MTS’ Blue Line, which connects the U.S.-Mexico border with downtown San Diego.
Detroit DOT received the first of 80 buses from New Flyer, part of an order consisting of 70 40-foot vehicles and 10 60-foot articulated buses.
February Houston METRO opened its 25th and newest station on the METRORail Red Line, Central Station Main. This station also began providing service to the Green (East End) and Purple (Southeast) lines when they opened in May.
CTA opened its newly constructed Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station on the city’s Near South Side, filling a 2.5-mile gap between stations that has existed since 1977.
Wabtec Corporation, Wilmerding, PA, acquired Railroad Controls L.P., Benbrook, TX.
Irwin Transportation Products, Irwin, PA, acquired VECOM USA LLC, based in Tampa.
VHB, based in Watertown, MA, acquired GMB Engineers & Planners Inc., a transportation firm with offices in Florida and Atlanta.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel participated in ribbon-cutting ceremonies at the new office space for Freedman Seating Company, located on the city’s West Side.
March VCTC, Ventura, CA, introduced service on its new fixed route bus system, Valley Express. This service, comprising four lines in three communities, replaced VISTA, the agency’s dial-a-ride service, which previously was its only offering except for a regional intercity route that remains in operation.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA, opened an Innovation Center at its River Oaks headquarters as a space where agency teams, companies, startups and students can develop, test and showcase new transportation technologies.
Safe Fleet, headquartered in Belton, MO, acquired Elkhart Brass, Elkhart, IN.
AC Transit, Oakland, CA, began operating a 42-foot double-decker bus from Alexander Dennis on a pilot basis. The agency first deployed the 80-seat coach on a route between Fremont and Stanford University, then moved it to other daily routes crossing San Francisco Bay and operating on city streets.
Greater Cleveland RTA began testing four prototype “NexGen” dual-mode electric trolleybuses that can operate either on or off the agency’s overhead electric system. Gillig built the buses, with conversion by Complete Coach Works and Vossloh-Kiepe.
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) introduced the Free Muni program for low-to-moderate-income older riders and persons with disabilities.
MARTA marked the first jurisdictional expansion in its history with a ribbon-cutting event in Clayton County, where residents voted by three to one in 2014 to join the agency and increased the county sales tax by 1 percent to finance the service.
Lee County Transit, Fort Myers, FL, dedicated its $42.9 million headquarters facility at ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
Houston METRO broke ground for the Harrisburg Overpass, the last component of the Green (East End) METRORail light rail line.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), Las Vegas, launched a $40.3 million project to improve the Flamingo Road corridor, which connects to 15 RTC routes.
SEKISUI Polymer Innovations LLC recently purchased a third manufacturing facility two miles from its headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bloomsburg, PA.
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan and Connecticut DOT Commissioner James Redeker participated in ceremonies to launch CTfastrak, the state’s first BRT system. A 9.4-mile bus-only guideway with 10 stations connects Hartford, West Hartford, Newington and New Britain.
The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) introduced service on its third “BRT Lite” corridor, Charlotte Pike. The service operates faster than standard fixed-route service but MTA uses the term “BRT Lite” because the routes operate in traffic rather than using dedicated lanes.
Chicago DOT and CTA broke ground for the Loop Link project, designed to ease bus travel through the Loop (the city’s central business district) with dedicated bus lanes, stations with bus-level boarding, protected bike lanes, two traffic lanes and additional sidewalk space.
The Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority (JTA) broke ground for a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility, which will include a public access station where other CNG customers can refuel their vehicles.
Metrolink commuter rail in southern California introduced PTC technology as a revenue service demonstration along the San Bernardino Line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
VIA Metropolitan Transit introduced “The E,” a new free circulator service in downtown San Antonio, in a six-month pilot program in partnership with the city and Centro San Antonio, the downtown public improvement district.
April More than 360 entities from across the U.S. participated in APTA’s Stand Up for Transportation Day (SU4T) on April 9. The nationwide grassroots advocacy effort in support of long-term federal funding for public transportation brought together public transit passengers and elected officials as well as business, community and transportation leaders at more than 150 events and on social media.
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) in Pompano Beach, operator of Tri-Rail commuter rail, joined Miami-Dade Transit—in conjunction with SU4T Day—at the formal opening of the Miami Airport Station, part of the Miami Central Station at the Miami Intermodal Center.
As part of its SU4T activities, the Greater Cleveland RTA broke ground for an $11.3 million reconstruction of the Brookpark Rapid Station, the last station on the Red Line before Hopkins International Airport.
Los Angeles Metro and Los Angeles DOT opened five miles of peak hour bus lanes on Wilshire Boulevard, reducing travel times by up to 15 minutes for the entire 6.8-mile corridor.
For the first time in almost 50 years, streetcars again connect downtown Dallas with Oak Cliff. DART oversees the city’s first modern streetcar line, which operates free on a 1.6-mile dedicated track.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority introduced its newest railcars, the 7000 series manufactured by Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. in Lincoln, NE, on the Metrorail Blue Line.
Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) kicked off the West Terminal Improvements Project at its 69th Street Transportation Center.
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transportation Authority in Tampa, FL, welcomed 22 40-foot CNG buses from Gillig.
Metro in St. Louis began testing a 40-foot electric bus from BYD Co. Ltd. on its Downtown Trolley route.
The Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation (CityBus), Lafayette, IN, opened a fast-full CNG fueling station from TruStar Energy in conjunction with Energy Systems Group.
The Antelope Valley Transit Authority, Lancaster, CA, became the first public transit agency in California to display digital advertising on the side of a public transit bus as part of a five-year pilot program to determine if such advertising is a distraction to drivers.
During a visit to the Nova Bus/Prevost plant in Plattsburgh, NY, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) met with senior executives, toured the plant and held a press conference at which she announced the Manufacturing Universities Act of 2015, which she co-sponsored. The legislation would designate 25 universities as “Manufacturing Universities” that would receive federal funds to prepare engineers for careers in innovation and advanced manufacturing.
The Rapid, Grand Rapids, MI, welcomed four new paratransit shuttles from Roush CleanTech, powered with propane autogas.
SFMTA took delivery of its first new electric trolleybus and biodiesel-electric hybrid buses, all from New Flyer, at an event that also commemorated Earth Day.
May At ground-breaking ceremonies for its intermodal center in Greensboro, NC, the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation announced that it would name the facility in honor of former Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC).
The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation opened its second new platform at the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan.
LYNX in Orlando broke ground on its third BRT line, the LYMMO Lime Line, with nine stops and 2.3 miles of service to the city’s core.
Athletic shoe manufacturer New Balance is funding construction of MBTA’s Boston Landing Station on the Worcester-Framingham commuter rail line through a public-private partnership and participated in ground-breaking ceremonies at the station site near the company’s headquarters. When the station opens in 2016, it will be the first in the neighborhood in more than half a century.
Houston METRO opened two new light rail lines, the Green (East End) and Purple (Southeast) lines,with events including community pep rallies, a free concert and fireworks.
The Port Authority Transit Corporation introduced the first six of its long-awaited rebuilt railcars to service on the High-Speed Line at ceremonies in Cherry Hill, NJ.
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a community open house and dedication ceremony—months ahead of schedule—for its state-of-the-art Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus in Monrovia, CA, which also includes maintenance facilities.
The Greater Cleveland RTA unveiled 90 new CNG buses from Gillig at a ceremony at the city’s Great Lakes Science Center.
IndyGo in Indianapolis received the first of 21 electric buses built by Gillig and fully refurbished by Complete Coach Works.
June Days before the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes, MTA Long Island Rail Road officially reopened its Belmont Park Station with more than $5 million in infrastructure improvements.
Metrolinx in Toronto introduced Union Pearson Express rail service between Toronto Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The KCATA Board of Commissioners voted to begin managing public transit services for Independence, MO, for the first time since 2012.
The Greater Lynchburg (VA) Transit Company’s multimodal Kemper Street Transfer Station received LEED Platinum certification.
The Greater Hartford (CT) Transit District commemorated the centennial of Hartford Union Station—owned by the district—and opened a new downtown Transit Center on the east side of the historic station.
July SouthWest Transit in Eden Prairie, MN, introduced SouthWest Prime, a shared ride service designed to improve connectivity throughout the area served by the agency. The agency expanded Prime service to neighboring communities in September.
The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) in Española, NM, took over operation of the Chile Line from the city of Taos. Through an agreement between the transit district and the town, NCRTD assumed all of the town’s public transit assets for the renamed “RTD Chile Line.” The service includes two fixed routes, seasonal premium service to ski resorts and paratransit.
Link Transit, Wenatchee, WA, initiated Current service, a fare-free service that operates on three routes with battery-electric trolleys and propane-powered cutaway buses.
Officials of Metra and Flossmoor, IL, dedicated the newly completed $4 million reconstruction of the platform and related facilities at the Flossmoor Station on Metra’s Electric District Line.
SEPTA invited members of Congress, other officials and media to its Frazer Maintenance Facility for a demonstration and update on the agency’s PTC implementation progress.
SFRTA began construction on its first LEED-certified station, adjacent to the agency’s new headquarters site in Pompano Beach, FL.
The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, operator of Cincinnati Metro, partnered with Transdev Services in a $38 million contract agreement regarding operations and maintenance for Cincinnati’s streetcar service, scheduled to open in September 2016.
The Gold Coast Transit District, Oxnard, CA, unveiled its new fixed-route and paratransit vehicles and branding.
MBTA and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker proposed an $83.7 million Winter Resiliency Plan, which includes purchasing additional snow removal equipment, upgrading infrastructure and bolstering operations during harsh weather—all recommendations from an APTA peer review regarding system disruptions during the previous winter.
Colorado DOT introduced Bustang, the state’s first-ever state-owned and operated bus system. The system runs on three routes connecting Denver with Fort Collins, Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs.
The Charlotte Area Transit System opened its CityLYNX Gold Line streetcar line—the first streetcar in Charlotte, NC, in 77 years—at ceremonies attended by DOT Secretary and former Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx and FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan.
Los Angeles Metro commemorated the 25th anniversary of the opening of Metro Blue Line light rail with an event at the original site.
The Midland Odessa Urban Transit District, Odessa, TX, opened an 8,000-square-foot administration building adjacent to the Midland International Air and Space Port.
San Diego MTS entered into a 30-year agreement with UC San Diego to rename the system’s light rail Blue Line the “UC San Diego Blue Line.”
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) toured Los Angeles Metro’s under-construction Downtown Santa Monica Expo Line Station, which will also be served by Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus.
The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) welcomed Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State and former Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to its LEED Platinum-certified DART Central Station.
August SFMTA launched its second historic streetcar line, the E Embarcadero Line. The line operates weekends only, connecting AT&T Park with Fisherman’s Wharf.
Wabtec Corporation, Wilmerding, PA, announced its plans to acquire Faiveley Transport S.A., headquartered in Gennevilliers, France.
Hallcon, based in Toronto, acquired Loop Transportation Inc. and SFO Shuttle Inc. of San Francisco, which operate as Loop.
GlobeSherpa has become part of RideScout LLC, which is part of Daimler AG.
New Jersey Transit Corporation purchased 772 45-foot buses from Motor Coach Industries for $395 million, with delivery spread over six years beginning in 2016.
Houston METRO launched a substantially new bus network—78 updated routes, including 22 scheduled to run every 15 minutes or more often at least 18 hours a day, seven days a week.
Greater Cleveland RTA opened its first new Red Line rail station in 46 years, Little Italy-University Circle, which replaced a functionally obsolete station nearby.
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority in Los Angeles held a series of ceremonies to mark the substantial completion of the six stations along the 11.5-mile light rail project that ultimately will link Pasadena and Azusa.
The Sacramento Regional Transit District marked the grand opening of its Blue Line light rail extension to Cosumnes River College—a month ahead of schedule..
Omnitrans dedicated its San Bernardino Transit Center in ceremonies that included the release of 200 butterflies as a symbol of the multimodal hub’s transformational role in the city, connecting 10 local and two freeway express bus routes, a BRT line and bus routes operating by neighboring agencies.
Valley Metro in Phoenix opened the 3.1-mile Central Mesa Light Rail Extension.
The Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority (C-TRAN) began construction of the Vine, the region’s first BRT project, with ceremonies at the site of the future Turtle Place Station in downtown Vancouver, WA.
King County Metro Transit in Seattle introduced the first of 174 replacement trolleybuses from New Flyer—the agency’s first new electric trolleybuses in almost three decades—with the rest of the order being phased in over the next two years.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) attended a ground-breaking event for a rail station in Dwight, IL, about 70 miles southwest of Chicago, that will be part of a future high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis.
September DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced 19 Innovative Public Transportation Workforce Development Grants totaling $9.5 million during a visit to the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.
TriMet in Portland celebrated the opening of its newest light rail service, the MAX Orange Line, a 7.3-mile extension that crosses the Willamette River via Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People—the first bridge in the U.S. to carry public transit, bicycles and pedestrians but not private vehicles.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) opened the 34 St.-Hudson Yards station, the 469th station in the MTA New York City Transit subway system. The new station, MTA’s first to open since 1989, is the terminus of a 1.5-mile extension of the 7 line that brings the subway to the far west side of Manhattan.
During a visit to the Lane Transit District in Eugene, OR, FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan announced the award of $75 million in federal Small Starts funds for the third expansion of the agency’s Emerald Express (EmX) BRT system.
The city of Torrance, CA, broke ground for the Torrance Transit Park and Ride Regional Terminal, a facility that will feature eight bus bays and a park-and-ride lot and is designed to achieve LEED certification.
Clever Devices, Woodbury, NY, acquired Houston-based RSM Services Corporation.
Public transportation agencies in Washington, DC, New York City and Philadelphia rose to the challenge when crowds flooded the cities during Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority celebrated the purchase of 23 new buses valued at $16.3 million, which will add capacity to several public transit fleets in Northern Virginia.
SPX Genfare announced that it is rebranding its corporate name to Genfare while expanding its product line.
Volvo broke ground in Plattsburgh, NY, for a customer delivery center serving Nova Bus and Prevost, members of the Volvo Group.
The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Allentown, PA, dedicated its new Fred A. Williams Transit Station in downtown Easton.
Wabtec Corporation, Wilmerding, PA, has acquired the assets of Track IQ, based in Australia.
October Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto and FTA Region 3 Administrator Terry Garcia Crews were among the participants to relaunch the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s rebuilt East Liberty Station.
The San Joaquin Regional Transit District celebrated the grand opening of its $51.1 million Regional Transportation Center in Stockton, CA, with an event that featured explosions of ribbons from nearby cannons.
The Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus joined representatives from two neighboring communities to introduce the Groveport Rickenbacker Employee Access Transit shuttle service.
Solano County Transit in Vallejo, CA, held ribbon-cutting ceremonies to mark the completion of the renovated Curtola Park & Ride Hub.
More than 250 supporters welcomed the first Cincinnati Streetcar when it arrived at Cincinnati Metro’s maintenance and operations facility from the CAF USA assembly plant in Elmira, NY. Service on a 3.6-mile route with 18 stations will begin in 2016.
November The Kansas City Streetcar Authority welcomed KC Streetcar #801, the first new streetcar in Kansas City, MO, in more than 50 years, upon its arrival from the CAF USA manufacturing plant. Service begins next year on a two-mile route, operated by the streetcar authority with the Herzog Transit Group and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the city of Kansas City, MO.
New Flyer Industries Inc., Manitoba, MB, Canada, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Motor Coach Industries International Inc., Des Plaines, IL, from an affiliate of KPS Capital Partners L.P., subject to certain purchase price adjustments.
Virginia Railway Express (VRE) extended its service area for the first time since its launch in 1992 with the opening of the new Spotsylvania Station. The commuter rail station, located near Fredericksburg, is the new southern terminus for VRE service.
SEPTA celebrated the opening of its first new regional rail station in almost 20 years, the 9th Street Regional Rail Station in Lansdale, three days after the agency marked the completed reconstruction of the historic Wayne Junction Station in the city’s Nicetown neighborhood. Earlier, the agency broke ground for ADA accessibility improvements at its 40th Street Station.
RIPTA launched its newest route in a pilot program, which operates only on Fridays between 9 a.m.-2 p.m., that provides connections to residents of previously unserved regions of the state.
VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio dedicated its newest hub, Centro Plaza at VIA Villa.
Metra kicked off new evening rush hour express service to the Tinley Park/80th Avenue Station on the Rock Island Line.
December Public transit agencies across the U.S. commemorated the 60th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, AL.
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Metro in St. Louis tested a 40-foot electric bus from BYD on its Downtown Trolley routes. |
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DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, second from right, at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) where he announced workforce development program grants in September. Joining Foxx were Los Angeles Metro Chief Executive Officer and APTA Chair Phillip Washington, left, and LATTC officials. |
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Peter Varga, chief executive officer of The Rapid, Grand Rapids, MI, and a past APTA chair, introduced the system’s four new propane autogas paratransit shuttles from Roush CleanTech on April 21. |
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LYNX, Orlando, FL, broke ground in May on its third BRT line, the LYMMO Lime Line. This artist’s rendering shows a 68-acre mixed-use, transit-oriented urban infill neighborhood.
Art courtesy of Baker Barrios, Architects
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Hundreds braved the heat at the Duarte/City of Hope Station to celebrate the substantial completion of the six-station, 11.5-mile Foothill Gold Line. |
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COTA and regional officials cut the ribbon to launch GREAT shuttle service in the Columbus area.
Shellee Fisher Photography |
FTA’s 2015 ADA Circular Clarifies, Simplifies Rules FTA issued its ADA Circular in October, which clarifies the regulation and its rules, making it easier for public transportation agencies to find definitive answers to complex questions.
“The new 200-plus-page circular provides enhanced guidance for agencies as well as riders in a one-stop shop for ADA requirements,” said Acting Administrator Therese McMillan in “Fast Lane,” DOT’s blog. The guide, she stated, “provides a wealth of great information as well as compliance checklists such as the template for rail station construction and renovations.”
She added, “Let me tell you what the circular doesn’t do. The guidance does not amend or supersede the DOT ADA regulation nor is FTA creating any new rules. Instead, the circular offers scenarios in a user-friendly volume to increase understanding about how to comply.”
McMillan said nearly all public transit buses and two-thirds of railcars are ADA accessible, which she called “a great start, although we know there’s more to be done to improve station accessibility and pedestrian access to stations and bus stops.”
McMillan added that the circular helps FTA and the industry ensure access to transportation for everyone, saying, “We know that public transportation provides a lifeline to jobs, education, medical care and other critical services. And we want to be sure that everyone, regardless of age or ability, has an opportunity to ride.”
Find details here, search on FTA Circulars and Americans with Disabilities Act: Guidance. FTA’s Office of Civil Rights is planning a series of webinars to discuss the Circular in more depth.
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