February 5, 2016
BREAKING NEWS
Obama Releases 'Clean Transportation System' Plan

On Feb. 4, President Obama announced his proposal for a “21st-Century Clean Transportation System,” funded by a new $10 per barrel fee to be paid by oil companies, as part of his Fiscal Year 2017 budget to be announced Feb. 9. [More]

CLASSIFIEDS
» The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking for a manager for its certification program. [More]
» Pierce Transit seeks a senior program administrator. [More]
» Culver City, CA, requests proposals for its SmartBus System Project. [More]
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FTA Schedules NPRM Listening Session During APTA Conference

FTA will hold a listening session March 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the JW Marriott Hotel, Washington, DC, during the APTA Legislative Conference, regarding a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on public transportation agency safety plans as authorized by MAP-21 Section 20021. [More]

Past DOT Secretaries Join Foxx to Celebrate Agency's 50th

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx welcomed six former secretaries to a Feb. 3 event kicking off the 50th anniversary of the department. [More]

APTA Chair McCall Appoints Two to Executive Committee

APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall has appointed APTA members Greg Percy and Catherine Rinaldi as liaisons to the association’s Executive Committee. [More]

NEWS HEADLINES

MARTA Opens Two Facilities

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) recently commemorated the openings of the renovated Brady Mobility Facility and a MARTA Police Department (MPD) precinct in Clayton County in separate events. [More]

PRTC Operates New State-Funded Bus Routes

The Potomac and ­Rappahannock Transportation Commission, Woodbridge, VA, began operating two new OmniRide commuter bus routes to the Mark Center in Alexandria, located in suburban Washington, DC, on Feb. 1, fully funded by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. [More]

Houston Displays CNG Buses, Opens Fueling Station

 Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) unveiled 50 new CNG-powered buses at an event Jan. 26 that also marked the opening of one of the state’s largest CNG refueling stations. [More]

SEPTA Opens Renovated Terminal at 69th Street Facility

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officially opened the renovated West Terminal at its 69th Street Transportation Center, Upper Darby, PA, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 29. [More]

Transit CEOs Gather to Share, Network; Funding, Safety, Technology on the Agenda

Top public transit executives and deputies had an opportunity to engage in high-level discussions with FTA and TSA officials, industry leaders and APTA officers on some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing their agencies during the recently concluded Transit CEOs Seminar in Orlando. [More]

BMBG Looks Forward at Annual Meeting

The APTA Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG)—chaired by Patrick Scully, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Motor Coach Industries—considered its plans for the coming year, including how to support APTA’s strategic plan and initiatives, at its recent Annual Business Meeting. [More]

New CEO, Interim Named

Public transportation authorities have announced new and interim chief executives. [More]

'S2S' Service in Minnesota Suburbs

As Passenger Transport went to press, four public transit agencies in the west suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul formally launched suburb-to-suburb service connecting the towns of Plymouth, Maple Grove, ­Hopkins, Eden Prairie and ­Shakopee on Feb. 4. [More]

JTA's Ford Addresses APTA

Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., chief executive officer, Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority, and a member of the APTA Executive Committee, spoke to APTA staff about JTA’s history and plans for the future during a Feb. 3 visit to the new APTA offices in Washington, DC. [More]

Beavers Dies; Longtime Duo-Gard Employee

James M. (Jim) Beavers, 84, of South Lyon, MI, an employee of Duo-Gard since its founding in 1984, died in January. [More]

IN-DEPTH

Connecting the Sectors: Weaving a New Transit Network

Click here to see the first part of a two-part story about public transit agencies working with private transportation providers such as Uber to extend service. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Natalie E. Cornell!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Natalie E. Cornell, director of business development, LTK Engineering Services, Ambler, PA, a member of the APTA Board of Directors; chair, Business Member Procurement Committee; co-chair, Procurement Steering Committee; secretary, Rolling Stock Equipment Technical Forum; and member, Fare Collection Systems Committee. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Kwakuita Spence!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Kwakuita Spence, registration coordinator, Member Services Department. [More]
AROUND THE INDUSTRY

McCall, Castillo Among COMTO's 'Women Who Move the Nation'

APTA members including Chair Valarie J. McCall and Past Chair Flora Castillo are among the 2016 Women Who Move the Nation whom the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) will honor March 16 in Washington, DC. [More]

When 'Snowzilla' Struck, Public Transit Stepped Up; Snow Belt Transportation Agencies Offer Best Practices

Winter Storm Jonas, colloquially known as “Snowzilla,” slammed the northeastern U.S. Jan. 22-24 with snowfalls measured in feet rather than inches, accompanied by high winds. Public transit agencies (and the public) had several days’ warning before the storm struck, but its intensity was such that systems in some metropolitan areas—including New York City and Washington, DC—shut down completely before digging out and restoring service. [More]

Flint MTA Assists Community in Water Distribution

As the city of Flint, MI, faces a crisis caused by a contaminated water supply, the Flint Mass Transportation Authority has stepped up its efforts to assist the community with transporting volunteers to neighborhoods and distributing water, filters and other supplies to the city’s affected residents. [More]

JTA Joins Clean Energy to Open CNG Facility

At ceremonies Jan. 26, the Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority and Clean Energy Fuels celebrated the opening of a public-access CNG fueling facility at the agency’s Myrtle Avenue operations campus, [More]

VTA, ATU "Grow Your Own" Initiative Receives $1 Million Grant to Create More Public Transit Jobs

A program to train much-needed public transit operators and maintenance workers at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority is ­taking shape thanks to a $1 million grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. [More]

Metro-North Launches Close Call Reporting System

MTA Metro-North Railroad recently announced the extended implementation of the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), an initiative designed to encourage workers to report any potential safety hazard or breach of procedures they might observe by providing them with a convenient, non-confrontational and anonymous method to do so. [More]

PSTA Hosts Electric Bus Demo

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), St. Petersburg, FL, hosted a demonstration of New Flyer of America’s all-electric Xcelsior® bus on Jan. 26. [More]

MCTS Transitions Away from Paper

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) is nearing the end of a process upgrading technology on buses and online and working with passengers on adopting the M•CARD, and on Leap Day, Feb. 29, the agency will phase out paper tickets, passes and transfers. [More]

Lansing's CATA Remembers Departed Employees

The Capital Area Transportation Authority, Lansing, MI, recently added a “memorial wall” to its administrative building honoring 18 employees who lost their lives while working for the agency, but not in the line of duty. [More]

Report: BRT Yields Positive Economic Benefits

In many mid-sized U.S. cities, BRT operations can generate economic development and attract jobs, retail and housing at an affordable cost, according to the National Study of BRT Development Incomes released by Transportation for America, Smart Growth America’s TOD Technical Assistance Initiative and the National Institute for Transportation and Communities at Portland State University. [More]

Georgia DOT Program Reports Uptick in Clean-Commuting Atlantans

Despite falling gas prices, metro Atlanta commuters seem to be driving alone less and ridesharing more. [More]

LA Metro CEO Washington Takes Long View in State of the Agency Message

In his first annual State of the Agency report, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO and APTA Immediate Past Chair Phillip Washington called the agency sound, with both challenges and opportunities ahead. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are some brief news items from public transit agencies throughout the U.S. [More]
APTA NEWS

FAST Act, Elections, National Partners Focus of March Legislative Conference

The 2016 APTA Legislative Conference, March 13-15 at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, puts attendees in a front-row seat with members of Congress and DOT who will report on the FAST Act and the upcoming elections. [More]

APTA's Gore in Top 3 Meeting Pros

Lenay Gore, APTA senior director-meetings and tradeshows, was named one of three national finalists for the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) Meeting Professional of the Year honor during the recent PCMA Convening Leaders annual meeting in Vancouver, BC. [More]

Transit Board Members, Support Staff Seminar Begins April 30

Have you registered for the 2016 Transit Board Members & Board Support Seminar yet? [More]

TCRP Releases Updated List of Transit Reports

Public transportation professionals can find research on a variety of public transit topics at a single site through the efforts of the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) of the Transportation Research Board. [More]

Standards Program Offers New Efficiencies Online

Participants in APTA’s Standards Development Program have found new efficiencies through using collaboration websites that allow them to share files and hyperlinks, collaboratively review and edit documents in real time and conduct lengthy discussions online. [More]

COMMENTARY

Want to Connect with Millennials? Become a Social CEO; Agency GM Offers Practical Tips for Getting in the Game

Social media is changing how the world communicates. Your customers and employees are always connected, sharing their knowledge and experiences and aware of what is being said about companies, people and services they like and use. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Click here to see the latest 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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