BY K. JANE WILLIAMS
Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration

Safety is the number-one priority for U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao and for all of us at FTA. In that spirit, I am excited to share some good news.

On July 19 of this year, FTA issued two final regulations to strengthen the safety of our nation’s public transportation systems: the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan (PTASP) rule and the Public Transportation Safety Certification Training Program rule (PTSCTP). [More]

Senate Passes THUD Appropriations Above FAST Act Levels

On Aug. 1, the Senate voted 92-6 to approve H.R. 6147, which was amended to include four Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills including the Senate’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act, 2019. [More]

Valley Metro, Waymo Launch Partnership

At an event July 31 at the Valley Metro Rail Operations and Maintenance Center in Phoenix, Valley Metro joined self-driving vehicle provider Waymo to introduce a partnership that is expected to help drive the future of transportation. [More]

St. Louis Metro Opens Cortex Station

Metro in St. Louis celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of MetroLink light rail during a July 31 event to dedicate the newest station on the line, Cortex. [More]

APTA Study Mission to Canada Focuses on Best Practices

An APTA delegation representing public transportation agencies and businesses visited four Canadian cities July 22-27 to learn about how major investments in public transit infrastructure north of the U.S. border are being structured, developed and financed. [More]

APTA's Ford, Skoutelas Address COMTO Meeting

FTA Announces Four More SSO Certifications

FTA has announced that ­Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Wisconsin have obtained federal certification of their rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs in advance of the April 15, 2019, deadline. [More]

Tribal Transit Webinar Aug. 8

FTA has scheduled a webinar with information about its Tribal Transit Program competitive funding activity at 2 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Aug. 8, relating to the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the program issued July 11. Advance registration is required for the webinar. [More]

SEPTA Enters Partnership with NRG Energy

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and NRG Energy announced a partnership July 26 that includes the renaming of SEPTA’s Broad Street Line station originally known as Pattison Station at the Sports and Entertainment Complex in South Philadelphia as NRG Station. [More]

APTA Recognizes Members' Sustainability Accomplishments

TCRP Announces New Ambassadors, Webinars

The Transit Cooperative Research Program has announced the 2018-2020 class of TCRP Ambassadors. [More]

Agencies Purchase Buses, Locomotives

Several public transit agencies have announced the purchase and renovation of buses in their fleet and the North County Transit District, Oceanside, CA, has approved the purchase of five new diesel-electric Siemens locomotives for its Coaster commuter rail service. [More]

COMMENTARY

Growing the Commuter Rail Workforce Improves Service, Provides Meaningful Careers

CASE STUDY

Kansas City: Building Partnerships to Expand Mobility Services

The Kansas City Area (MO) Transportation Authority (KCATA) started to adopt the mobility management concept in the early 2010s, identifying all mobility services (private and public) available in the Kansas City metropolitan area to facilitate access for the community. [More]

COUNTDOWN TO 2018 ANNUAL MEETING

The World of Public Transit in One Place

Public transportation professionals, business leaders, board members and government officials will gather Sept. 23-26 in Nashville to participate in the 2018 APTA Annual Meeting, the industry’s flagship event with numerous opportunities to learn about and share best practices, network, hear about product and service trends and participate in tours. [More]

WeGo Public Transit: Connecting People, Enhancing Lives

As APTA and its members prepare for the association’s 2018 Annual Meeting, Sept. 23-26 in Nashville, Passenger Transport asked Stephen Bland, chief executive officer of WeGo Public Transit, host system for the meeting, to describe the evolving public transportation landscape in the region and how the agency is meeting the changing needs of its riders. [More]

Travel Discounts Available

APTA has partnered with United Airlines, Delta Airlines and Amtrak to provide discounts on travel to Nashville, TN, between Sept. 20-29 for the APTA Annual Meeting. [More]

Annual Meeting Educational Sessions: Second to None

2018 APTA Awards Recipients Announced

APTA has announced the individual and agency winners of the 2018 APTA Awards, who will be honored at an awards ceremony and luncheon Tuesday, Sept. 25, as part of the 2018 Annual Meeting in Nashville. [More]

AdWheel Awards Honor Members for Strategic Accomplishments Through Communications and Marketing

APTF to Present Record-High 33 Scholarships in Nashville

The Lowdown from Those in the Know: Nashville Insider Insights

Passenger Transport asked the experts—WeGo Public Transit employees—to share some of their ­favorite area hotspots to help attendees enhance their Annual Meeting experience. Here are their recommendations of a few places you might not find in a tourist guide. Enjoy! [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

New Lane Designed for BRT Use

Community Transit in Snohomish County, WA, has opened a new right-turn/public transit lane that will be used by Swift Green Line BRT when it opens in the spring of 2019. [More]

LTK Engineering Acquires NDYLTK Rail

LTK Engineering Services, based in Ambler, PA, has acquired NDYLTK Rail, an Australian firm that has changed its name to LTK Australia Pty Ltd. [More]

Rail Movers Can Safely Push or Pull More than 225 Tons

If safety, ergonomics and productivity are key factors for equipment selection when moving massive rolling stock, Power Pusher’s line of electric tugs provide a safe, cost-effective way to move heavy railcars. The company offers several models for moving rolling stock from one-quarter ton to 225 tons (500 pounds-450,000 pounds). [More]

Travel Training 'Summer Camp' in Reno

The Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County (RTC), Reno, NV, recently hosted a travel training session for students as part of a week-long Community Based Summer Camp co-hosted by the Washoe County School District Transition Services Department and the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living. [More]

'Grand Central Reads' Brings Online Literature to Commuters

MTA Metro-North Railroad has partnered with Penguin Random House to bring literature celebrating New York authors, New York City and Grand Central Terminal to travelers with a program called “Grand Central Reads.” [More]

RATP Dev USA Supports Nonprofits in Texas

RATP Dev USA recently donated $5,000 to the Transit Empowerment Fund (TEF) in Austin, TX, on behalf of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority to support 10,000 day passes and 1,110 seven-day passes to nonprofit organizations with older clients, persons with disabilities or students. [More]

Career Days for Girls in Denver

As part of U.S. DOT’s Career Days for Girls initiative, the Regional Transportation District in Denver recently hosted 12 girls from Colorado and New Mexico for a week-long introduction to transportation and construction careers. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are some brief news items regarding U.S. public transit agencies. [More]

NEW APTA MEMBERS

APTA Welcomes New Members

APTA welcomes its new members who joined between February and May 2018. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry