March 4, 2016
NEWS HEADLINES
McMillan to Depart FTA for Los Angeles Metro

FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan announced her resignation to accept a position as chief planning officer at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). McMillan is still scheduled to speak at APTA’s Legislative Conference. [More]

CLASSIFIEDS
» The Sacramento Regional Transit District seeks a general manager/CEO. [More]
» First Transit has a general manager position in Capital Heights, MD. [More]
» The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District requests proposals for a new fuel dispensing management system. [More]
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Honolulu Breaks Ground for First Rail Station

Representatives of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and its partner, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, held a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony—complete with leis and other garlands—Feb. 25 as part of the ground-breaking event for its first rail station, West Loch in Waipahu. [More]

DC Streetcar Opens

After more than a decade of planning, construction and testing, the 2.4-mile H/Benning DC Streetcar line opened for passenger service on Feb. 27—the first streetcars operating in Washington, DC, since 1962. [More]

LA Metro Takes the Gold

In anticipation of the March 5 opening of Los Angeles Metro’s Gold Line Foothill Extension, agency officials and board members took an advance ride on the extension, which covers 11.5 miles with six new stations from Arcadia to Azusa. [More]

APTA Delegation to Visit Cuba to Explore Opportunities for Collaboration

APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall invites APTA members to be part of a delegation to Cuba, May 25-29, with Business Member Board of Governors Chair ­Patrick Scully, other APTA members and attendees from partnering associations. [More]

A Workshop for Communication

Sessions on planning large events, social media and campaigns for customers were among the highlights of the recent 2016 APTA Marketing & Communications Workshop in Phoenix. [More]

High-Speed Rail Seminar in Bakersfield

APTA is among the sponsors of a training seminar on high-speed rail technics, March 21-25 at California State University-Bakersfield, designed to help rail professionals and senior students increase skills that can be applied to design and build high-speed rail lines. [More]

CFTE's Free Webinar Is March 8

The Center for Transportation Excellence (CFTE) invites public transit professionals to participate in a free webinar, “Building Support and Combating Critics,” March 8, 2-3 p.m. EST. [More]

Public Transit Helps with Voting Process

Numerous U.S. public transit agencies provided free trips to primary voters heading to the polls. [More]

DOT Accepting Applications for University Transportation Centers Program

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced the availability of up to $377.5 million over five years for the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, including awards of up to $72.5 million for Fiscal Year 2016. [More]

New CEOs Named

A major bus manufacturer, a public transit agency and a transportation think tank have named new chief executives. [More]

In Memoriam: Buckley, Longtime MARTA Board Member

Harold S. Buckley Sr., 72,  the longest-serving ­member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors in the agency’s history, died Feb. 23. [More]

PT: A Real Page Turner

Passenger Transport is also available in a hard-copy format that makes it easy to pass along to colleagues, mark up with handwritten notes, display in your reception area or office and annotate with post-its for future reference. Get your own printed copy today[More]

APTA COMMITTEE PROFILE

Meet the Legislative Committee!

With this issue, Passenger Transport introduces a new column showcasing APTA committees. The subject of this profile is the Legislative Committee, chaired since 2014 by J. Barry Barker, executive director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Zachary Smith!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Zachary Smith, program manager-policy and planning, Policy Department. [More]

LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

Foxx, Members of Congress to Address Legislative Conference

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, FTA senior officials and five members of Congress are among the speakers who will address the APTA Legislative Conference, March 13-15. [More]

A Path Forward: An FTA Safety Rulemaking Update

Every passenger who takes public transportation should feel safe when riding any transit system, whether bus or rail. [More]

The FAST Act by the Numbers; Summarizing Its Key Facts and Figures

As the public transportation industry transitions from advocating for a long-term authorization bill to implementing the new five-year Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), Passenger Transport and APTA’s Government Affairs team offer this summary of its public transportation-related facts and figures. [More]

FAST Act's Fresh Focus on Regulations; Industry Turns Its Attention to Implementation

Now that the FAST Act ensures a predictable federal funding stream to public transit organizations for the next five years, industry experts are engaged in the numerous—and complex—details of administering its implementation and regulatory requirements. Passenger Transport recently took the opportunity to ask several experts to share their assessment of next steps. [More]

Public Transit's Impact at a Glance; APTA's Online Tool Simplifies Outreach

APTA has created an online tool to help its members connect with congressional leaders and public transit providers and businesses in their region. [More]

10 Ways to Say Thanks to Congress

APTA-sponsored Voices for Public Transit (VPT), a national grassroots group of public transportation advocates, has published a list of ways to say thank you to Congress for passing the FAST Act, the first long-term transportation bill in a decade. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

CHSRA Sets Opening of Silicon Valley Route; Coordinates with Regional Agencies

California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) officials announced their intention to complete construction of the high-speed rail line between Silicon Valley and Central Valley by 2024, with operations beginning the next year, according to the authority’s recently released draft 2016 business plan. [More]

MARTA's Parker Named to White House Council

President Barack Obama has announced his intent to appoint Keith T. Parker, general manager/chief executive officer, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. [More]

King County Metro Transit Welcomes All-Electric Buses

King County Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond recently unveiled the first of three Proterra battery-powered, all-electric buses that the Seattle agency will test this year on two heavily traveled routes. [More]

Rock Region Metro Tax Vote Defeated

Voters, by a margin of 57 percent opposed to 43 percent in favor, defeated a March 1 ballot measure in Pulaski County, AR, that would have raised the countywide sales tax by one-quarter percent to support public transportation. [More]

MCI to Build 332 More Commuter Coaches for NJ Transit

New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) has authorized an option on a contract with Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., to purchase an additional 332 MCI 45-foot commuter coaches for an estimated $166 million. [More]

Palm Tran Connection Receives Natural Gas Rebate

Palm Tran Connection, the paratransit division of Palm Tran in Palm Beach County, FL, recently received $381,294 from the state’s Natural Gas Fuel Fleet Vehicle Rebate Program. [More]

LIRR, Metro-North Report Historic Performance Records

The two commuter rail agencies of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and MTA Metro-North Railroad, both experienced the best mechanical performance records in their recorded history in 2015. [More]

Cleveland Event Spotlights Human Trafficking Awareness

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking recently sponsored their fifth annual human trafficking awareness program at Tower City’s Skylight Concourse. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are some brief news items from APTA member agencies, business members and partners. [More]

APTA NEWS

More Bus Conference Sessions Set

The schedule is finalized for the APTA International Bus Roadeo, May 13-17, and Bus & Paratransit Conference, May 15-18, in Charlotte, NC. [More]

Apply for Early Career Program

APTA’s Early Career Program (ECP) is seeking nominations through March 21 for the Class of 2017. [More]

TCRP Dissemination Program Selects New Ambassadors

The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Dissemination Program has selected 11 new individuals to serve as Ambassadors for the program during the 2016-2018 term. [More]

Transit Board Members in San Antonio

VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio is hosting the Transit Board Members & Board Support Seminar, April 30-May 3. [More]

COMMENTARY

A Conversation with APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall; Focus on Expanding Collaboration, Inclusion, Value

Passenger Transport recently sat down with APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall about her priorities in office and what she has learned since becoming chair in October 2015. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Passenger Transport announces 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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