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AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Industry Briefs

Texas HSR Reaches Milestone — Texas Central, private developers of a 240-mile high-speed rail line that will connect North Texas and Houston in a 90-minute trip, has announced it has reached option agreements on about 30 percent of the land parcels estimated to be needed for the route. This action follows the withdrawal of legal measures regarding property access. Negotiations have resulted in option agreements in 10 counties, according to Texas Central, including half the parcels in two of the counties at roughly the midpoint of the proposed route. The option program compensates owners today in exchange for the right to acquire a parcel at a future date at an agreed price. “This is a significant step in the progress of the high-speed train and it reflects the positive dialogue we have had with landowners along the route,” said Texas Central Chief Executive Officer Carlos Aguilar.


Metra Seeks Customer Help with ‘Ride Nice’ Campaign — Metra commuter rail in Chicago invites its customers to help choose the next topics of its “Ride Nice” courtesy campaign through an online vote at the agency’s website. Participants can select from a list of suggestions or write in their own. The topics with the most votes will be covered in future campaign posters.


Rochester’s New ‘Fast Pass’ — Regional Transit Service (RTS) in Rochester, NY, recently introduced the “Tap & Go! RTS Fast Pass,” a farecard that allows customers to pay their fares by tapping it on a target on the farebox when boarding. RTS offers the passes in five-day unlimited, 31-day unlimited and stored value versions.


Clean Energy Contracts with ­Torrance — The city of Torrance, CA, has entered into a six-year CNG fueling contract with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. that will allow the city to use Clean Energy’s Redeem™ brand of renewable natural gas.


Transit on Campus — Four public transit organizations have entered into new agreements with college partners.

Transdev has entered into a contract with North Carolina State University in Raleigh to operate and maintain free campus shuttle service beginning in August. The university will purchase 40 new buses and Transdev will employ 77 people for the $7.6 million annual contract.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, TX, retired its fleet of burnt orange and white UT Shuttles on the University of Texas at Austin campus, replacing the buses with new blue Capital Metro-branded vehicles. The previous fleet had been in operation since 1998.

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), Canton, OH, and Stark State College provide express bus service from downtown Akron to the college’s main campus in North Canton. In addition, all Stark State students and staff can ride any of SARTA’s 34 fixed routes for free by showing their college ID when boarding.

BYD is supplying the University of California, Irvine, with 20 all-electric buses for $15 million for its student funded and operated Anteater Express service. BYD is manufacturing the buses at its plant in Lancaster, CA, and plans to deliver them for the 2017-2018 academic year when they will join a hydrogen-electric bus already in service.


Real-Time Information in Delaware — Delaware DOT’s new mobile and web apps allow DART First State customers to view real-time bus arrival information. Users can select a bus stop, get arrival times and view live updates as a bus icon travels along its designated route. Delaware DOT staff members developed the app using data collected by DART’s existing statewide transit dispatch operational system.


NYC Cellular, Wi-Fi Connections Ahead of Schedule — Travelers in MTA New York City Transit’s underground subway stations now have access to cell phone coverage on all four major carriers—a year ahead of schedule—and Wi-Fi—two years ahead of schedule. The project included the installation of 120 miles of fiber optic cables, 4,000 antenna connection points and 5,000 Wi-Fi access points.

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