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AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Industry Briefs

LYNX Launches ‘See & Say’ App — The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) in Orlando has released a mobile app, developed by ELERTS Corporation, that allows customers to communicate threats and safety and security concerns in real-time. The LYNX See & Say app allows users to connect with 911 or agency security.

Mobile Health Screening Unit in St. Louis Area — Bi-State Development, operator of St. Louis Metro, has partnered with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health to bring a mobile health screening unit to four Metro transit centers in the county. The agency—through its not-for-profit enterprise, the Bi-State Development Research Institute—received a $940,000 federal grant to fund a pilot program to bring basic health screenings to public transit riders and the surrounding communities.

‘VIVA Passport’ Benefits San Antonio Riders — VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, TX, recently introduced the VIVA Passport Program, offering visitors and locals a ticket to explore the heart of San Antonio with convenient and affordable bus service. The passport is a collectible booklet with offers from VIA partners with venues, storefronts and events along all three VIVA corridors.

HART Expands Wi-Fi — Tampa’s Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) now provides free Wi-Fi for passengers at its top transit and transfer centers, as well as the TECO Line Streetcar System, in addition to its bus fleet.

SEPTA Riders Should ‘Watch Their Step’ — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia recently introduced the “Watch Their Step” campaign to remind rail passengers to walk safely on the station platform and be aware of other riders at risk for falling.

Cubic to Upgrade MBTA Fare System — Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has selected Cubic Transportation Systems to design, build, operate and maintain a next-generation fare payment system, including account-based ticketing using mobile and contactless bankcard options for the region’s multimodal transit system. The base contract award includes approximately $575 million for implementation with 10 years of operations and maintenance in addition to two five-year extension options.

San Joaquin’s ‘Token Transit’ App — The San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), Stockton, CA, has partnered with Token Transit to launch an app that allows passengers to buy and use bus passes on their smartphones or other mobile devices. Users can also purchase tickets online and send them to another passenger.

San Diego MTS Adds Articulated Buses to Route — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System recently began operating 60-foot articulated buses from New Flyer on two rush hour commuter routes in response to high ridership demand along the Otay Mesa border area. The new vehicles join the 40-foot buses that previously operated on the routes.

CNG Facility Planned in Flint — The Mass Transportation Authority in Flint, MI, has entered into an agreement with a utility company to build and operate a public-private CNG fueling station. Fifty new CNG vehicles for MTA service are scheduled to arrive in Flint over the next 20 months.

State Agency Honors SORTA for Clean Audit — The Ohio Auditor of State’s office, an independent watchdog agency, recently presented the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority in Cincinnati with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for the agency’s clean audit report.

Sacramento Discounts Student Pass — The Sacramento (CA) Regional Transit District has cut the price of its student monthly pass by 65 percent, from $55 to $20, through a six-month pilot that ends June 30. The discounted price is expected to encourage young people to learn about the system.

‘Walking Safe’ in Seattle — King County Metro Transit in Seattle recently launched a campaign to remind pedestrians to be aware of their surroundings. The “Walk Safe” effort includes ads on 300 Metro buses, posters and cards listing awareness tips.

LANTA Employees Support Veterans — Employees of the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, Allentown, PA, recently donated 350 bus passes to the Lehigh Valley Homeless Veterans Task Force. The employees paid for the passes through a program that allows administrative staff to wear jeans on Fridays if they contribute $2 to a charity fund.

Free Wi-Fi on Des Moines Buses — The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) has begun providing free Wi-Fi on all its routes, following a year-long pilot program on one route. A major reason for the implementation of Wi-Fi is that new fareboxes being installed this summer will require an Internet connection on each bus.

ABC Delivers Buses to ­Charter Operator — ABC Companies recently delivered two new Van Hool TX45 coaches to Croswell Bus Line, a charter bus operator based in Ohio. Comfort and safety features on board the 56-­passenger vehicles include Wi-Fi, 110-volt outlets, an entertainment system, side view cameras, three-point seatbelts, lane departure warning, fire suppression systems and automatic ­stability control.

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