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Across the U.S., Transit Riders 'Dump the Pump'
Public transit agencies across the U.S. celebrated APTA’s 11th annual Dump the Pump Day on June 16 with free rides, giveaways, events and other activities. [More]
In Memoriam: Levy, Longtime AECOM Executive
Ira Allan Levy, 68, of Walpole, MA, an executive vice president of AECOM in Boston, died June 15. [More]
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COMMENTARY |
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Columbus Named America's Smart City: Public Transit's Essential Role
By W. CURTIS STITT, CEO, COTA
On Thursday, June 23, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx awarded the Smart City Challenge grant of $40 million to the city of Columbus. Combined with a $10 million pledge from Seattle-based Vulcan Inc. and local business pledges of $90 million, a total of $140 million in new technology investments will transform mobility, access and transportation in Columbus. [More]
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APTA NEWS |
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Early Annual Meeting; Plan Now
This year’s APTA Annual Meeting is earlier than most years—Sept. 11-14 in Los Angeles—and the early registration discount is available until Aug. 1, so add this event to your calendar now! [More]
Barnes Takes International Stage
APTA Vice Chair Doran Barnes, executive director, Foothill Transit, West Covina, CA, recently represented APTA and the U.S. public transportation industry at Transports Publics 2016, an international conference and exhibition held in Paris and attended by 10,000 professionals and stakeholders involved in mobility, rail and road transportation and passenger services. [More]
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NEWS FROM THE APTA RAIL CONFERENCE |
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Opening Session Celebrates Public Transit Investment, Value, Access
At the official conference kickoff on Monday morning, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Valley Metro Interim CEO Scott Smith applauded APTA’s mission and the importance of public transportation. [More]
Legacy System Leaders: Confronting SGR Shortfalls
Representatives of legacy rail systems described their efforts to deal with the funding shortfall they face when they spoke at “Nearing the Breaking Point—Investment Needs at America’s Rail Systems,” the June 21 luncheon General Session. [More]
Flowers: FAST Act Funding 'On the Right Track'
The increased federal funding levels for public transportation in the FAST Act are “on the right track” but “much more needs to be done,” FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers told Paul Jablonski, who presided at the June 20 DOT Update General Session. [More]
Closing General Session: Moving from Vision to Reality
Michael Rogers, technology pioneer, author and journalist, shared insights at the Closing General Session on how rail industry leaders can transform current opportunities into future improvements for better customer satisfaction, productivity and operations. [More]
Concurrent Sessions: Best Practices, Practical Efforts
APTA’s Rail Conference featured dozens of technical programs covering all aspects of rail transportation in small, focused sessions and workshops designed to foster peer-to-peer exchanges, effective and practical strategies, best practices, experiences and solutions. [More]
P3s and Private Funding: Back to the Future
Representatives of rail projects in Florida and Colorado spoke at “Privately Funded Intercity Rail,” June 21, about their return to an earlier era of public transportation: private funding and public-private partnerships (P3s). [More]
Implementing State of Good Repair, Transit Asset Management
As state of good repair (SGR) becomes increasingly important to rail transit operators, agencies are using FTA performance measures to develop Transit Asset Management (TAM) plans—a process discussed at a June 21 session by representatives of FTA and four public transit systems. [More]
PTC Implementation and Operation
With increased government oversight and growing public interest in rail safety, APTA assembled a panel of representatives from diverse agencies and organizations to discuss ongoing efforts to install federally mandated PTC systems. [More]
Many Sides of Planning
Panelists at a June 20 session discussed the ins and outs of the federal performance-based planning and programming (PBPP) process covered in MAP-21 and the FAST Act. [More]
Transit System Safety Is FTA Priority
Thomas Littleton, FTA associate administrator, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight, spoke to a packed crowd about the new safety initiatives coming out of the FAST Act, including recently released requirements on the National Public Transportation Safety Plan (NPTSP) and the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP)—requirements that affect all public transit agencies. [More]
Emerging Technologies Changing Transit's Landscape
A panel discussion on the use of emerging technologies in the public transportation sector offered a glimpse of three different approaches to improved customer service—Berlin, Germany; Newark, NJ; and Phoenix. [More]
Honolulu: 'The Perfect City for Rail'
A representative of Honolulu’s under-construction rail system called the Hawaiian capital “the perfect city for rail” and said the line’s driverless operation will be “the future of our industry” during “Mega Capital Projects.” [More]
Valley Metro Host Forum: Investment Attracts National Mega Events
Panelists at the Host Forum June 20 talked about TOD along Valley Metro’s 26-mile light rail line and how it is spurring economic growth and attracting national mega events to the region. [More]
Getting Railcar Procurement Right
“Design it right. Run it right. Maintain it right. Measure it right.” These are the recommendations for building—and delivering—a reliable railcar, according to Kam Kwok, chief vehicle engineer, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), who opened the session on rail procurements and partnerships. [More]
Industry Gathers for Security Roundtable
TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, left, and APTA Acting President & CEO Richard White kicked off a special security roundtable on June 18, prior to the start of the Rail Conference, to give attendees an additional opportunity to share information, best practices and collaborate on safety- and security-related issues. [More]
Power of Diversity: Supporting Communities
APTA Vice Chair Doran Barnes, chair of the Diversity Council and executive director, Foothill Transit, West Covina, CA, moderated “The Power of Diversity,” a panel discussion to address industry efforts to encourage greater diversity and inclusiveness at member agencies and businesses through local community and customer outreach. [More]
Awards Are Highlight of Sunday Gala Banquet; LA Metro Takes Top Rodeo Award
Los Angeles Metro received the prestigious Rail Transit Team Achievement Award at the 24th annual APTA International Rail Rodeo, held June 19 in conjunction with the Rail Conference. [More]
APTA Honors Agencies for Safety
APTA recognized rail agencies for their safety and security efforts as part of the Rail Rodeo and Safety and Security Awards Banquet June 19. [More]
JR East Sends First Team to Rodeo
The East Japan Railway Company (JR East) was the first Rail Rodeo participant from outside North America. [More]
Rail Conference Sizzles
Click here to see more photos from the 2016 APTA Rail Conference. [More]
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE |
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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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