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Highlights of the Year in Public Transportation

Here’s an overview of public transit ­industry milestones during the past year, as reported by Passenger Transport.

January
APTA leaders meet with Vice President Mike Pence prior to the Indiana Society Inaugural Ball, which the association co-sponsored. Then-APTA Chair Doran J. Barnes and Vice President-Policy Art Guzzetti attend President Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.

APTA representatives who joined Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, and his wife Karen at the Indiana Society Inaugural Ball, from left: David Cangany, South Bend Public Transportation Corporation; APTA Chair Doran J. Barnes; APTA Acting President & CEO Richard White; and Paul Jablonski, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Photo by Reflections Event Photography and Video Production

The Maryland Transit Administration (Md. MTA) opens the largest transfer point without a rail component in the Washington, DC, region, the Takoma-Langley Crossroads Transit Center.

Passenger Transport celebrates 75 years of publication.

MTA New York City Transit’s new Second Avenue Subway, first proposed in 1929 and containing 1.8 miles of new track, opens on New Year’s Day with the introduction of three new stations. When completed, the line will cover 8.5 miles.

C-TRAN in Vancouver, WA, launches The Vine, its first BRT service.

Los Angeles Metro and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) each receive more than $1 billion in federal grants for expansion projects.

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) receives $500 million in federal funding for the TEX Rail commuter rail project.

The Charlotte (NC) Area Transit System (CATS) breaks ground for the City­LYNX Gold Line modern streetcar project.

Toronto’s Metrolinx opens GO Transit’s newest commuter rail station, the Gormley GO Station.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) opens Arthur Kill Station in Staten Island, the first new station built by the agency since it incorporated the private rail line into its network in 1971.

Seattle’s Sound Transit breaks ground on the light rail Northgate Link Station.

The Senate confirms Elaine L. Chao as the 19th U.S. secretary of transportation.

February
AC Transit reopens a bus facility following the completion of sustainable design advancements including a low-flow bus wash with internal water recycling and reuse system, two industrial wastewater treatment plants, stormwater treatment and filtration system and a high-efficiency, low-emission emergency generator.

Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority transports record crowds during Boston’s Super Bowl victory parade for the New England Patriots.

Knoxville (TN) Area Transit (KAT) implements service improvements on 13 bus routes, providing increased access to jobs and shopping.

APTA holds its first rail infrastructure summit in Washington, DC, bringing together chief engineers, assistant general managers, chief executive officers and directors of infrastructure.

RTD General Manager and CEO Dave Genova, fifth from right holding scissors, joins board members, representatives of local government and business partners in launching service on the agency’s newest light rail, the R Line, Feb. 24 at the Iliff Station.

Photo courtesy of Denver RTD

MBTA opens a sustainable intermodal center for commuter boats on the ­Hingham Shipyard site.

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) launches service on its newest light rail line, the R Line.

Connecticut DOT announces an additional $50 million for the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program.

The Mass Transportation Authority, Flint, MI, receives a regional Innovation in Transportation Award for a program that transports 300-400 new employees within the region.

AC Transit and the Orange County (CA) Transportation Authority (OCTA) each receive 10 zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell buses from New Flyer through the state Fuel Cell Electric Bus Commercialization Consortium.

March
California’s Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) breaks ground on a 31,000-square-foot operations and maintenance facility, the largest MST has ever constructed.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) breaks ground on the Van Ness Improvement Project, a major civic improvement project meant to revitalize one of the city’s main corridors and feature the agency’s first BRT line.

APTA’s 42nd annual Legislative Conference takes place in Washington, DC.

South Carolina’s Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority (Coast RTA) opens the Ivory Wilson Transfer Center in a repurposed building.

APTA joined with the Transportation Security Administration, FBI and International Association of Public Transport (UITP) for a multi-day, international security and emergency management peer exchange, pairing North American transit leaders with their European counterparts.

April
The Birmingham-Jefferson County (AL) Transit Authority (BJCTA) introduces its newest service, the Magic City Connector, a revamped circulator, as part of an effort to revitalize the downtown district and meet a growing demand for public transit options for young professionals.

TransLink in Vancouver, British Columbia, launches its largest increase in bus service in seven years, funded by its 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation program. Schedule changes are expected to shorten wait times, reduce overcrowding, lengthen bus service hours and add increased service on routes.

Tampa’s Hillsborough Area Regional Transit District (HART) partners with Tesla to expand the former’s HyperLINK service with four fully electric vehicles, enhancing the agency’s fixed routes by extending service into areas that do not have public transit.

May

Congress agrees to fund the federal government through September, providing $18.5 billion in discretionary spending appropriations for DOT, with a priority on programs that enhance safety, efficiency and reliability.

Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Columbus overhauls the system’s bus network under the Transit System Redesign, featuring added frequency and service for an additional 100,000 residents within one-quarter mile of high-frequency bus service.

The Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority (JTA) launches the “TryTransit” Initiative, a program designed to encourage riders with other travel options to try public transit for the first time and current customers to ride more frequently.

FWTA rolls out the largest bus route expansion in its history, including extended hours and weekend service that features common scheduling on both days.

San Antonio’s VIA Metropolitan Transit celebrates Earth Day with the introduction to service of more than 400 new CNG-powered buses, the beginning of its fleet conversion to environmentally-sustainable vehicles.

BJCTA installs free Wi-Fi on all its buses and at Birmingham’s Central Station.

MBTA celebrates 10,000 rides on The RIDE On-Demand Paratransit Pilot Program with ride-share companies Uber and Lyft.

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), Stockton, CA, receives Proterra’s 100th battery-electric bus, bringing its total number of electric buses to 12.

Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), Canton, OH, in collaboration with the Renewable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Initiative and Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, opens the first hydrogen refueling station in central Ohio, located on the Ohio State campus in Columbus, to serve a fuel cell bus owned by SARTA that operates on the campus.

Local and state officials join Delaware Transit Corporation/DART First State CEO John Sisson, center; Delaware Secretary of Transportation Jennifer Cohan, next to Sisson; and Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, next to Cohan, at ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the Lewes Transit Center.

The Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC) expands its service to the state’s beach resorts with the opening of the first phase of the Lewes Transit Center.

California’s Gold Coast Transit District (GCTD) breaks ground for an operations and maintenance facility that will serve a fleet of up to 125 buses with an eight-bay maintenance and repair building.

Chicago’s Metra commuter rail breaks ground on the Romeoville Station—the first new station since 2011—and the Healy Station.

Alberta’s Calgary Transit breaks ground for the 17 Avenue S.E. BRT, in the first stage of a two-part project that will connect the southeast region of the city to its downtown.

FRA and FTA announce the 17 recipients of $197 million, authorized under the FAST Act, to help commuter and intercity passenger rail projects in 13 states meet the Dec. 31, 2018, congressional deadline to implement PTC.

APTA hosts its Bus & Paratransit Conference and International Bus Roadeo in Reno, NV.

June

Gillig LLC, the last heavy-duty bus manufacturer wholly owned and made in the U.S., opens its new headquarters in Livermore, CA, consisting of a 600,000-square-foot main facility with fabrication and assembly buildings and a location to prepare buses for delivery.

During a June 16 visit to Alstom’s Belfast Yard Maintenance and Storage Facility near Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced up to $1.09 billion (Cdn.) in Canadian federal funding for the Ottawa Light Rail Transit Stage 2 Project.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses employees during his visit to Alstom’s Belfast Yard Maintenance and Storage Facility. Behind Trudeau is Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s minister of infrastructure and communities.

Photo courtesy of City of Ottawa

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) breaks ground for a new, ADA-compliant rail and bus station near the Tri-C (Cuyahoga Community College) Metro Campus.

The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) begins to roll out a new fleet of 260 light rail vehicles, part of a partnership with Siemens USA and constituting the largest light rail vehicle contract in modern U.S. history.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail celebrates 25 years in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC.

Sound Transit enters into a 10-year agreement with Puget Sound Energy to enable Link light rail trains to run on wind energy beginning in 2019.

MARTA adds bike racks and repair facilities to improve first- and last-mile connectivity and better accommodate passengers cycling to and from stations.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) installs a large cellular antenna phone service system in its Metrorail system, allowing ­riders access to reliable cellphone service.

Md. MTA unveils BaltimoreLink, an initiative that redesigns the regional bus network and adds 12 new high-­frequency routes to improve connections to jobs and other transit services.

St. Louis Metro breaks ground on the Cortex MetroLink Station, its first new light rail station in more than a decade.

JTA breaks ground on the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center, which will connect local, regional and intercity modes of public transit.

BJCTA opens its MAX Central Station, part of a $32 million intermodal facility.

APTA hosts its Rail Conference and International Rail Rodeo in Baltimore.

July

APTA begins the recruitment process for its next president and CEO.

FTA announces availability of more than $12 billion in formula and discretionary funds for public transportation under the Urbanized Area Formula Program.

Community Transit in Snohomish County, WA, breaks ground for the Swift Green Line BRT, the largest capital project in the agency’s 40-year history.

Park City Transit and Public Works Director Blake Fonnesbeck speaks at ceremonies to unveil Park City Transit’s six Electric Xpress buses from Proterra.

Kitsap Transit, Bremerton, WA, launches the first ferry service in the area in more than 10 years.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), Hampton, VA, christens its newest Elizabeth River ferry, the Elizabeth River Ferry IV.

Utah’s Park City Transit introduces six battery-electric buses from Proterra as part of the system’s 6.8-mile Electric Xpress route.

A 108-unit TOD facility opens across the street from the Sound Transit Othello light rail station in the Seattle area.

The Spokane (WA) Transit Authority (STA) breaks ground for the West Plains Transit Center.

Proterra opens a new manufacturing facility for battery-electric buses in Los Angeles County.

August

Innovations in Transportation Inc. (INIT) holds a grand opening for its new North American headquarters in Chesapeake, VA, combining the company’s formerly separate operations (warehouses, operations and two manufacturing firms) under one roof.

LA Metro launches Workforce Initiative Now-LA (WIN-LA), a workforce development program that focuses on helping Los Angeles County residents find and pursue careers in the transportation industry.

Portland METRO Board President John Thompson, cutting ribbon, and METRO General Manager Greg Jordan, third from left, join local and state officials including Maine Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt, second from left, at launch ceremonies for the extension of BREEZ express bus service to Brunswick, ME.

Siemens opens a locomotive service facility in New Castle, DE, providing digital and predictive technology for service technicians.

St. Louis Metro opens its newly expanded Civic Center Transit Center, serving all 23 downtown MetroBus routes and connecting them to light rail and paratransit with easy access to Amtrak and Greyhound.

The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) in Orlando introduces its third LYMMO line, the Lime Line, while also commemorating the 20th anniversary of LYMMO BRT service.

The opening of Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) commuter rail, Petaluma, CA, restores rail service to the region for the first time since 1958.

Maryland’s Purple Line Light Rail Project receives a $900 million FTA Full Funding Grant Agreement for a route connecting two counties bordering Washington, DC.

The Riverside (CA) Transit Agency (RTA) adds the RapidLink Gold Line, an express route in the 19-mile corridor, to its system.

Maine’s Greater Portland Transit District expands its METRO BREEZ express bus service with 14 weekday round trips and seven trips on Saturdays.

GCRTA reopens its busiest station, Brookpark, after completing renovations.

September

Jane Williams is appointed deputy administrator of FTA. She serves as acting administrator.

San Joaquin RTD converts one of its BRT Express routes to 100 percent electric, operating with four zero-emission vehicles from Proterra and becoming the nation’s first fully electric BRT route.

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, TX, expands its bus service with the introduction of three new routes.

Eugene, OR’s Lane Transit District (LTD) launches the third corridor of EmX (Emerald Express) BRT, adding 4.5 miles of service each way.

Voters in Oklahoma City approve Proposition 8, providing $20 million for public transit projects, including $14.25 million for the purchase of buses for local agency EMBARK.

CTA opens its first new downtown “L” station in 20 years, the Washington/Wabash Station.

The Des Moines (IA) Regional Transit Authority joins the Des Moines Bicycle Collective, connecting DART buses with the BCycle bike sharing system.

WMATA adds discounted on-demand taxi service to its options for Metro­Access paratransit customers in Maryland.

October

The Greater Hartford (CT) Transit District (GHTD) opens a state-of-the-art ADA Paratransit Operations and Maintenance Facility to accommodate one of the largest paratransit operations in New England.

Florida and Texas public transit agencies pool their resources to assist victims, including their own members, affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.

Cincinnati’s Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority breaks ground on the Oakley Transit Center in an area that provides approximately 7,100 jobs.

New Flyer of America Inc. breaks ground on a $25 million building renovation and expansion project in Anniston, AL, that will include an innovation lab dedicated to the advancement of bus and coach technology.

More than 13,000 people attend the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO in Atlanta.

LYNX provides assistance to residents of Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria.

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), St. Petersburg, FL, breaks ground on a new transit center at Clearwater Beach that will provide improved transportation connections on four PSTA routes.

Philadelphia’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) unveils the first of 10 new stations on the city’s Boulevard Direct limited-stop route.

Stadler Rail Group breaks ground on a new manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City.

GCRTA celebrates a $1.7 million upgrade to the Lee-Shaker light rail Rapid Station.

SMART and the Napa Valley Transportation Authority in Northern California assist in evacuating people affected by massive wildfires.

Torrance (CA) Transit introduces express bus service between the city and Los Angeles.

November
Southern California’s Metrolink commuter rail system celebrates 25 years of service.

Derek Kan is confirmed as next DOT undersecretary for policy, the third highest post in the department.

Capital Area Transit (CAT) in Harrisburg, PA, enters into a P3 with pet food and supplies retailer Chewy to provide public transit service to hundreds of employees commuting to the company’s fulfillment center.

As hundreds of thousands of Astros fans gather in downtown Houston for the parade celebrating the team’s first World Series win, METRO joins in with one of the high water vehicles the agency used during Hurricane Harvey to help transport people to shelters and get supplies to those in need.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) approves a naming rights agreement with Sycuan Casino for Green Line light rail that will generate up to $25.5 million in non-fare revenue for MTS operations over a term of up to 30 years.

Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County boasts the largest ridership day in its history—395,000—as Astros fans gathered downtown to celebrate the team’s first World Series win.

SMART launches the Individual Relief Pass and Business Relief Pass programs to help individuals and businesses in Sonoma County, CA, affected by wildfires.

Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA, introduces the nation’s first-ever long-range electric bus, serving a 22-mile round-trip route.

The city of Albuquerque, NM, opens the first four miles of its nine-mile ­Albuquerque Rapid Transit BRT line.

December

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority breaks ground for a $1.5 billion, six-station light rail extension from Glendora to Montclair, CA.

SFMTA introduces the first of more than 200 new light rail vehicles being manufactured by Siemens at its Sacramento facility.
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