A six-page document leaked Jan. 22 that purports to be an outline of the Trump administration’s infrastructure proposal explicitly includes public transportation, but does not identify dedicated funding for transit projects. [More]

Santa Barbara MTD Supports Commnity After Mudslide

The Santa Barbara (CA) Metropolitan Transit District resumed full service Jan. 22 on all but two bus lines with the reopening of Highway 101, which had been closed by destructive mudslides earlier in the month. [More]

Public Transit Agencies Explore Options for Reaching More Riders

As travelers turn to transportation network companies (TNC) such as Uber and Lyft to meet their first-mile, last-mile and off-peak needs, public transit agencies are responding with on-demand services of their own—adapting existing services and even teaming up with TNCs to get riders to the nearest transit stop, often providing access with the use of apps used similar to those used by rideshare operators. [More]

Denver's RTD Welcomes Light Rail L Line

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) recently introduced service on the L Line, a newly configured light rail line that operates on existing track formerly identified as part of the D Line. [More]

'Fleet of Future' Enters BART Service

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) began updating the oldest heavy rail fleet in the nation on Jan. 19, when the agency welcomed the first 10 railcars in its Fleet of the Future to service. [More]

$1.4 Billion Subway Car Order in New York

New California Rail Authority Holds Inaugural Meeting

At its inaugural meeting Jan. 17 in Livermore, CA, the Tri-Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority Board of Directors elected Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty its chair and Tracy Mayor Pro Tem Veronica Vargas vice chair. [More]

New CEOs Named

Capital Metro in Austin, TX, the California High-Speed Rail Authority and District DOT, Washington, DC, have named new chief executives. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Andre Gibson!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Andre Gibson, board vice president, Memphis Area Transit Authority; member-at-large, APTA Executive Committee; and member, Transit Board Members Committee; Member Services Committee; APTF; Legislative Committee; Transit Board Members Legislative Subcommittee. [More]

APTA NEWS

Apply by Feb. 5 for Emerging Leaders Program

Public transit professionals interested in APTA’s Emerging Leaders Program Class of 2019 have until Feb. 5 to submit their applications. [More]

Application Sites Now Open for 2018 Safety and Security Awards

APTA is now accepting applications through March 15 for the 2018 Bus Safety and Security Awards and through April 15 for the Rail Safety and Security Awards. [More]

APTA Report Shows Value of Public Transportation to Rural Communities

007 to 2015, public transit ridership in rural and small-town areas increased nearly 8 percent over the same period, according to a new APTA study, Public Transit’s Impact on Rural and Small Towns. [More]

TCRP Releases Four Reports

The Transit Cooperative Research Program has made available four public transit research reports. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

RTA to Disney: 'Full Buses, Happy Customers'

The Riverside (CA) Transit Agency (RTA) recently launched Route 200, a new CommuterLink Express bus route that operates on the roughly 50-mile route between San ­Bernardino and the Disney resort area in Anaheim for the standard CommuterLink fare of $3. [More]

Survey: Most Transit Riders Prefer Cashless Fares

Almost 90 percent of public transit riders prefer to pay their fares without cash, according to a 2017 national Facebook survey conducted by ETA Transit: 51.7 percent with prepaid fares, 31 percent with a smart device and 7 percent with a credit card. [More]

COTA Celebrates Opening of CMAX

The Central Ohio Transit Authority in Columbus marked the opening of CMAX, the first BRT line in central Ohio, Jan. 23 with a ribbon cutting, ceremonial ride and panel discussion on development opportunities along the route and the role of public transportation in economic expansion. [More]

SFMTA Honors Past Board Chair

Representatives of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) board unveiled a plaque in honor of past Chair Tom Nolan at the Castro Station earlier this month. [More]

Proterra Honored in 'Global Cleantech 100'

Cleantech Group (CTG), a research and events services group that follows emerging trends, has named Proterra, a manufacturer of electric buses, its North American Company of the Year as part of its inclusion on the 2018 Global Cleantech 100 list. [More]

Oregon Agencies Launch New Long-Distance Vanpools

Valley VanPool, a ­collaboration of Oregon public transit agencies including Cherriots in Salem and Lane Transit District in Eugene, this month launched four new long-distance commuting options among those cities and Albany, OR. [More]

Updated Transit Map Available

An updated version of the National Transit Map, a geospatial database containing information from more than 350 U.S. public transit agencies, is now available from DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. [More]

Md. MTA Partners with Zipcar

The Maryland Transit Administration is partnering with Zipcar to provide 15 car-sharing vehicles at eight stations. [More]

SMART Commuter Rail Adds Third Car

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District, Petaluma, CA, recently added a third rail car to some of its morning and early afternoon commute runs, which depart southbound from the Sonoma County Airport Station and northbound from the San Rafael Station. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are some brief news items from public transit agencies and businesses. [More]

COMMENTARY

America's Infrastructure: Time to Modernize

The U.S. Chamber has made infrastructure a driving focus for this year.
It’s time to invest in a 21st-century infrastructure system to support and grow our 21st-century economy. [More]

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]