Los Angeles is the center of what public transportation is and where it’s going and so was the ideal location for APTA’s 2016 Annual Meeting, Sept. 11-14, as more than 2,500 attendees gathered to share best practices, discuss industry challenges and learn about new products and services. [More]

The 3Rs of Emergency Planning: Rapid Response and Recovery; NJ TRANSIT Responds to Bombing

As public transit agencies worldwide increasingly focus on issues of safety and security as a top priority, NJ TRANSIT put its plans to the test when a pipe bomb detonated as it was being disarmed by a bomb squad robot near the agency’s Elizabeth station—one of a series of explosions in the New York City metropolitan area during the weekend of Sept. 17-18. [More]

FTA Issues $1 Billion FFGA for San Diego Mid-Coast Trolley

At a recent event in San Diego, FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers announced a $1.04 billion federal Full Funding Grant Agreement with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to extend existing Blue Line Trolley service from downtown San Diego to the growing University City area. [More]

Cincinnati Streetcar: 50,000 Rides in First Weekend; City's First Streetcar Since 1951

The Cincinnati Bell Connector, the city’s first streetcar in 65 years, provided more than 50,000 passenger trips during its grand opening weekend, Sept. 9-11, followed by 12,740 rides for the following three days—the first in revenue service. [More]

Lane Transit District Adds 14,000 Hours of Service

The Lane Transit District (LTD), Eugene, OR, rolled out one of its largest service overhauls in decades on Sept. 18, investing $1.2 million to add 14,000 hours of new service this year—a 5 percent increase over last year—to improve frequency, span of service and coverage areas in the second year of a three-year, $3 million service investment. [More]

Transit, PennDOT Break Ground for CNG Station; First of 29 Facilities in Statewide P3

Cambria County Transit Authority (CamTran) Executive Director Rose Lucey-Noll, PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation Toby Fauver and other dignitaries hosted a ground breaking for a new CNG fueling station at the agency in Johnstown—the first of 29 such facilities throughout the state, an initiative made possible by a 20-year P3 agreement. [More]

Sound Transit Prepares to Open Angle Lake Station on 1.6-Mile Extension

As Passenger Transport went to press, Sound Transit in Seattle was preparing for the Sept. 24 opening of Link light rail service to Angle Lake, including a dedication ceremony, ribbon-cutting on the station platform and a community celebration in the city of SeaTac. [More]

NVTA Breaks Ground for Bus Garage Expansion

Representatives of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and Fairfax County broke ground Sept. 22 on a major expansion to the West Ox Bus Garage in Fairfax, VA, at an event held in conjunction with Virginia’s statewide Try Transit Week and the Washington region’s Car Free Day. [More]

Tampa's TECO Streetcar Adds Morning Service

APTA Members Receive Safety, Security Grants

Seven APTA members recently received nine FRA safety upgrade grants totaling $13.8 million, part of $25 million in Fiscal Year 2016 grants to 23 projects in 14 states and the District of Columbia to increase safety at railroad crossings, train stations and tracks. [More]

New APTA Staff: Brady, Hayward-Williams; Bring Capitol Hill, Industry Experience

APTA announces the hiring of Andrew Brady as senior director in the Government Affairs Department and Carolyn ­Hayward-Williams as director of engineering and transit technology in the Member Services Department. [More]

New Plan to Reduce Cars on LA County Roads

The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), APTA, LA Metro, LA DOT and representatives from Uber and Lyft released a Shared Mobility Action Plan that would reduce the area’s reliance on private cars. [More]

DOT Issues Automated Vehicle Safety Policy

DOT issued federal policy for automated vehicles on Sept. 20 in preparation for the safe testing and deployment of new auto technologies. [More]

COMMENTARY

Excellence and Value at the Heart of Our Efforts: New Chair Thanks Industry; Previews Priorities

Our session is entitled “Where public transportation goes, community grows.” When I think about community, I think about my first involvement with APTA at the Houston EXPO in 1990. I realized that this was a special industry, a community of people. [More]

COVERAGE OF THE 2016 APTA ANNUAL MEETING

FTA Officials Recount Priorities

FTA Acting Administrator Carolyn Flowers brought seven members of her senior team to the 2016 Annual Meeting to answer attendees’ questions and discuss the multitude of initiatives her agency has undertaken in the past year. [More]

Diversity Is Not the Problem; Differences Are Organizational Assets

As public transportation agencies and businesses strive to implement policies and practices to strengthen diversity among their workforces, riders, advocates and other stakeholders, they could be tackling the wrong problem. [More]

Women Leaders Tell Their Stories

Wednesday’s Wake Up Breakfast: “Boots on the Ground, Flats in the Boardroom” featured a career advice discussion led by women leaders featured in a book by the same title. [More]

People, Processes, Plan Bs Are Critical to Transformational Leadership

What does it take to be a “transformational leader” in the transportation industry—one who can engage, empower and energize employees; overcome internal and external resistance; communicate and delegate effectively; leapfrog silos; create cross-functional teams and transform workplace culture? [More]

Pundits Opine on 'Crazy' Election Year

Pundits Mike Murphy of NBC News Los Angeles, center, and Paul Begala of CNN, right, joined Patrick Scully, APTA Business Member Board of Governors, at the “2016 Political Overview” General Session sponsored by the APTA Business Member Activity Fund. [More]

Transit Investments Can Transform Communities

Before investing in their communities, public transit agencies must ensure that all customers will benefit, transportation consultant Beverly A. Scott said at a Sept. 12 session she moderated, “Transforming Lives and Communities: The Power of Transportation Investment.” [More]

First-Ever Procurement Super Session Invites Super-b Questions

Navigating the maze of continuously evolving procurement rules and policies is a challenge for even the most seasoned public transportation professionals. [More]

Members, Partners Make News at Annual Meeting

FTA and two APTA members maximized the Annual Meeting’s large gathering of industry professionals and members of the trade press to make news. [More]

The 'Shining Stars' of Public Transportation

APTA presented 18 awards during the Annual Meeting. For details about the winners, see the Aug. 1 and Aug. 29 issues of Passenger Transport. [More]

Early Career Class Graduates

The APTA Early Career Program held graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2016 during the Annual Meeting. [More]

Collective Wisdom, Insights

APTA COMMITTEE PROFILE

Meet the Small Operations Committee!

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Albuquerque Moves Forward on BRT

Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry joined representatives of a local construction firm at a recent ceremony to sign a $82.6 million agreement to construct Albuquerque Rapid Transit, a 13-mile BRT line—nine of those miles on a dedicated guideway—with 21 stations. [More]

Denver RTD Introduces New Shuttles

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) recently provided a first look at its new 16th Street Free MallRide buses, which will enter service this fall. [More]

Business Members Partner, Invest, Expand

Three APTA business members have been involved in acquisitions and investments with other firms. [More]

Agency Data Requested for DOT's National Transit Map

DOT invites public transit agencies to join the 270 systems that have already submitted information to its first National Transit Map, a catalog of fixed-guideway and fixed-route public transit service gleaned from publicly available information, which features a geospatial database that can be used to display agencies’ stops, routes and schedules. [More]

Reno's 250 Millionth Rider

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC), Reno, NV, recently selected Christina Fisher as the 250 millionth rider in the agency’s history, which dates to 1979, during an event at RTC 4th Street Station. [More]

Industry Briefs

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 as space permits. [More]