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COMMENTARY

Passenger Transport--Our 75th Year of Celebration

It’s often said that a free press is the cornerstone of democracy. It’s also an essential element of any successful association. Researching, reporting, analyzing and disseminating our industry’s news through Passenger Transport keeps our readers in the know.

For 75 years, Passenger Transport has steadfastly focused on being “the source for public transportation news and analysis.” During this 75th year, our publication has highlighted the people and progress that have transformed our industry over these past decades.

We kicked off our diamond anniversary in February with a special celebratory issue complete with timelines, which you can view here. As our editors combed through almost 3,000 issues, they discovered that many of the subjects our industry leaders addressed all those years ago remain today—but with a modern twist.

Our public transit vehicles and equipment may look different, but our work to deliver safe and efficient mobility has remained constant.

For example, our association and our industry have consistently worked toward:

* Ensuring the safety and security of people and assets
* Adapting to and maximizing new and changing technologies
* Recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce
* Advocating for sufficient resources and
* Serving new riders and their needs

If these goals sound familiar, it is because these are initiatives that are at the very core of APTA’s strategic plan:


Along the way, Passenger Transport and APTA have kept pace with the evolving nature of our industry. We’ve highlighted breaking news—the good and the bad.

We’ve reported on the need for continued and increased investment in our nation’s infrastructure and the passage of federal legislation such as ­SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21 and the FAST Act. We’ve celebrated anniversaries such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the start of the Civil Rights Movement, which began on a bus with Rosa Parks in 1955.

During times of national crisis and tragedy, we paid tribute to the brave operators and safety personnel who delivered people from harm and protected communities.

We highlighted for our readers the latest technological innovations, newest standards, modern sustainability initiatives and advances in workforce development.

We’ve made our vehicles safer, more convenient and more accessible to accommodate our riders’ changing lifestyles.

To keep pace with the evolving nature of our industry, the look of P­assenger Transport has changed as well. Today, readers can rely on regular features about APTA committees, members and shared goals, in print, on their computers and via mobile devices.

What hasn’t changed, however, is our ongoing commitment to bringing readers timely, accurate and useful information.
As we promised in our inaugural issue: “Passenger Transport will endeavor to record the news of passenger transportation from whatever sources it may originate—operating companies and personnel; executive, judicial and regulatory agencies of government; manufacturers and other organizations serving the industry.”

We’ve made good on that promise for 75 years—and whatever changes are in store for our industry, Passenger Transport will keep you informed with cutting-edge news and resources you can use today and well into the future.

The editors of Passenger Transport thank all our loyal readers. We look forward to being your trusted source for news and analysis.

Here’s to the next 75 years!

 

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