May 27, 2016
NEWS HEADLINES
From the City to the Ocean: Expo Line Extension; 'Train to the Beach' First Since 1953

Los Angeles Metro officially ­dedicated the Expo Line Extension to Santa Monica—including seven new stations and 6.6 miles of track and restoring rail transit service to within steps of the Pacific Ocean for the first time since 1953—during ceremonies May 20 at the new Downtown Santa Monica Station. [More]

CLASSIFIEDS
» Hampton Roads Transit seeks a director of transit development, [More]
» The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority has an opening for a senior vice president, finance/chief financial officer. [More]
» The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation requests qualifications for professional engineering and program management services for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. [More]
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National Infrastructure Week Events Call for Funding, Fixes

APTA was among the nation’s organizations participating in the fourth annual National Infrastructure Week, May 16-23, to create greater awareness of the critical role of infrastructure systems in bolstering economic development and to call for funding to strengthen infrastructure systems, from public transportation to the electrical grid. [More]

Bus Conference Blends Best Practices, Trends, Values

Approximately 1,460 industry professionals gathered at APTA’s annual Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo, Charlotte, NC, May 13-18, to share best practices, network, see the latest products and services and gain insights on a wide range of topics and trends, from the core values of diversity and inclusion to BRT innovations, complete streets policies and ridership. [More]

NJ Transit Opens Wesmont Station as Part of TOD

New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) opened the state’s newest rail station, Wesmont, May 15 as part of a new TOD in Wood-Ridge. [More]

PSTA Opens Largo Transit Center

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), St. Petersburg, FL, recently opened the Largo Transit Center in the heart of Pinellas County, located on three of the agency’s highest-ridership routes. [More]

LIRR Wantagh Project First Upgrade Since 1968

MTA Long Island Rail Road recently broke ground for a $23.9 million modernization and accessibility project for the Wantagh Station, the first significant upgrade since the station was built in 1968. [More]

RTD Starts Extension

Denver’s Regional Transportation District recently broke ground for its Southeast Rail Extension Project, which will add three new stations and 2.3 miles of track to the current 19-mile light rail line when it is complete in 2019. [More]

House Appropriations Committee Approves THUD Bill

The Fiscal Year 2017 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill approved May 24 by the House Appropriations Committee includes $12.5 billion for FTA and about $1.7 billion for FRA. [More]

INIT Breaks Ground on New Headquarters

INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. broke ground May 26 on its new, 70,000-square-foot North American headquarters building in Chesapeake, VA, where the company has been based since 1999. [More]

Foxx Visits Smart City Challenge Finalists; DOT Secretary Conducts Tour to Mark National Infrastructure Week

As part of DOT’s observance of Infrastructure Week, Secretary Anthony Foxx met with public transit officials, mayors and other local leaders in the seven finalist cities for the Smart City Challenge to discuss their proposals. [More]

Transit Speaks Out During Infrastructure Week

Public transit agencies across the U.S. hosted events and issued statements as part of the fourth annual Infrastructure Week, May 16-23, to highlight the need for greater investment in public transportation infrastructure and to meet state of good repair challenges. [More]

Acting GM, New CEO Named

Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced an acting general manager who will succeed Frank DePaola when he retires June 30, and Urban Engineers named a new CEO. [More]

COVERAGE OF THE BUS & PARATRANSIT CONFERENCE

Opening General Session: Focus on Diversity Sets Tone for Conference

“Public transpor­tation makes change happen; we don’t just open doors, we open minds,” said APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall, who officially kicked off the conference at the Sunday afternoon Opening General Session. [More]

FTA Update: FAST Act Helps But Doesn't 'Completely Satisfy' Needs

The FAST Act provides steady, reliable funding for public transportation, beginning at $11.8 billion this fiscal year and increasing to $12.6 billion by FY 2020 when the bill will expire, but the industry has more to do, advised FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers at a Monday afternoon General Session moderated by APTA Vice Chair Doran Barnes. [More]

Breakthroughs General Session: Panel Explores Transit's Future

The growing connection between public transit and shared modes (bike sharing, car sharing and ride sourcing services) was the topic of “Breakthroughs and Building Blocks,” a May 17 General Session. [More]

Two Special Diversity Sessions

Diversity and inclusion were prominent and timely topics at two special sessions conducted during the Bus & Paratransit Conference. [More]

Closing General Session: Futurist Cites Trends in Public Transportation

John W. Martin, one of the industry’s leading futurists, shared his insights on “Transcendent Trends Reshaping the Future of Transportation” at the Closing General Session. [More]

Dallas Wins Grand Champion Title at Bus Roadeo; Top Bus Operators, Maintenance Crew Also Named at Banquet Honoring Participants

Dallas Area Rapid Transit received the Grand Champion Award at the 41st Annual APTA International Bus Roadeo, recognizing the agency’s bus operator and maintenance team for achieving the highest combined team score. [More]

A Champion of Customer Service

Bennie Williams of the Maryland Transit Administration in Baltimore was honored as first-place winner of the Customer Service Challenge at the roadeo banquet. [More]

Collaboration Initiative Co-Chairs Report Progress

The APTA Task Force on Member Collaboration held its fourth listening session at the Bus & Paratransit Conference to report on its progress. A fifth and final session is scheduled during the Rail Conference in Phoenix, June 19-22. [More]

Md. MTA, KCATA Take the Gold; Agencies Win Top Safety, Security Honors

The Maryland Transit Administration (Md. MTA) in Baltimore and the Kansas City Area (MO) Transportation Authority (KCATA) received Gold Awards in the 2016 APTA Bus Safety and Security Excellence Awards, presented May 15 during the Opening General Session. [More]

All About the Bus

Click here to see more photos from the 2016 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference. [More]

COMMENTARY

Public Transportation Infrastructure 'Crumbling,' Say APTA Members; Agency GMs Speak Out on SGR during National Media Call

To mark this year’s National Infrastructure Week, APTA conducted a national press call with CEOs of large, mid-size and small public transportation systems who sounded the alarm for the urgent need to increase infrastructure investment. [More]

APTA NEWS

Rail Conference Sessions Address Safety, Security, SGR

What’s next for the rail industry—and how can professionals stay on top of the changes? Technology expert and futurist Michael Rogers will share his views at the Closing General Session of the APTA Rail Conference, June 19-22 in Phoenix. [More]

Expert Discusses Impact of Private Providers on Public Transit

Richard Alexander, senior vice president, business development, Transdev North America, offered a “lunch and learn” program for APTA staff on new developments involving the contracted management of public transportation, which comprises about 25 percent of all transit service. [More]

Dump the Pump Day, June 16

Again this year, APTA is offering a National Dump the Pump Day toolkit to help public transportation agencies, businesses and supporters promote the 11th annual event on June 16. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Leanne Redden!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Leanne Redden, executive director, Regional Transportation Authority, Northeastern Illinois, member, APTA Board of Directors, Authorization Task Force; Legislative, Policy and Planning, Sustainability committees; and Commuter Rail, Rail Transit CEOs subcommittees. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Dennis Lytton!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Dennis Lytton, program manager-safety and security, Member Services Department. [More]
AROUND THE INDUSTRY

FTA, FHWA Release Final Rule on Planning

FTA and FHWA jointly issued the final rule on statewide and nonmetropolitan transportation planning-metropolitan transportation planning on May 27. [More]

SEPTA Launches Reconstruction of Key Transit Hub

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority kicked off a thorough overhaul of a major transit hub in West Philadelphia at a May 23 event attended by local officials and neighborhood leaders. [More]

WMATA Extends Metroway Route in Arlington, VA

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority recently extended its Metroway premium bus service further into Arlington County, VA, completing the 4.5-mile route along the Crystal City-Potomac Yard Corridor. [More]

OCTA Welcomes First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus

Officials of the Orange County (CA) Transportation Authority and partnering agencies and bus companies participated in an event May 23 to welcome the agency’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric bus. [More]

Nelson\Nygaard Partners with Perkins+Will

Transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard has entered into a strategic partnership with architecture and design firm Perkins+Will. [More]

CCW Completes Jobs for California, Maryland Agencies

Complete Coach Works (CCW) recently completed a rebranding project for Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA, and remanufactured five new fully electric refurbished buses for TransIT Services of Frederick County, MD. [More]

TIGER Grant Update: Agencies Collaborate on Joint Application; Amtrak Receives 10M Grant

Two Florida public transportation agencies, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority in Tampa and the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in St. Petersburg, have partnered on an application for a $9 million joint TIGER program grant. [More]

Knoxville Introduces New Downtown Trolley Routes

Knoxville (TN) Area Transit recently introduced three new downtown trolley routes—the Green, Blue and Orange lines—replacing its previous service. [More]

FTA Updates: FTA Requests Comments, Issues Advisory on Safety Issues

FTA recently issued a safety advisory regarding third rail traction power electrification systems and, separately, a Federal Register notice seeking comments on a compendium of existing public transportation safety standards and protocols. [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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