APTA Chair David M. Stackrow Sr. addressed the Transit Industry Breakfast at the New York Public Transportation Association’s (NYPTA) Annual Conference and EXPO in Albany, Oct. 25.

From left: Stephen Goodman, FTA Region 2 regional administrator; David M. Stackrow Sr.; Paul Karas, commissioner, New York State DOT; Bill Carpenter, president, NYPTA and CEO, Regional Transit Service.

Stackrow acknowledged the work that state public transportation associations such as NYPTA do to help promote the interests of public transportation during this exciting time for the industry. “In the last 20 years,” he said, “the number of people who use public transportation increased by 30 percent—a growth rate higher than the 22 percent increase in the U.S. population."

He outlined the ways in which APTA is working with Congress on issues ranging from funding to PTC installation and State Safety Oversight certification. Nearly 90 percent of public transportation initiatives in 17 states were approved by voters last year and more than 74 percent of Americans want Congress to increase federal investment in public transportation. “In communities across the country, people want more mobility options. We see evidence of this at voting booths throughout the country, year after year,” he said.

Stackrow urged participants to attend APTA’s Industry Leadership Summit and associated Industry Leadership Week events in Washington, DC, Nov. 26-30—a gathering that will bring together public transit agency leaders, business executives and transit board members. He closed by outlining the issues on which he will focus as APTA chair, including creating a new, three-year strategic plan for APTA that is sufficiently dynamic and pragmatic to redefine the future of public transportation. Also, he stressed continuing to advance the new shared mobility paradigm, the importance of embracing new partners and ideas and ensuring the industry continues to speak with a single, strong voice.

California, Oklahoma Achieve SSO Certification

California and Oklahoma have obtained federal certification of their rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs, becoming the 26th and 27th of 30 states and 31 programs to meet the FTA's April 15, 2019, deadline.

The California Public Utilities Commission is responsible for providing safety oversight of the following rail transit agencies:

• San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District heavy rail, light rail and automated guideway systems;
• San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency light rail, cable car and streetcar systems;
• Sacramento Regional Transit District light rail system;
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail system;
• San Diego Metropolitan Transportation System light rail system;
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority light rail and heavy rail systems; and
• North County Transit District light rail (trolley) system.
  

Oklahoma DOT is responsible for providing safety oversight of the Oklahoma City streetcar system.

If a state fails to meet the deadline, FTA is prohibited by law from awarding any new federal transit funds to transit agencies within the state until certification is achieved. A certification status table by state is available here.

FTA Re-establishes TRACS; Names New Members

FTA has re-established the Transit Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) through a new charter, naming 15 members to serve for the next two years. These members represent a diverse cross section of the public transit industry, including large and small bus and rail operators, State Safety Oversight agencies, labor unions and others. TRACS is a Federal Advisory Committee that provides transit safety information, advice and recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and FTA Administrator.

Under the new charter, TRACS will provide research and analysis to develop recommendations on key safety topics including the review of emerging technologies and safety innovations to implement into the public transportation sector. More information is available in the Federal Register.

SAVE THE DATE

Clarence E. Anthony to Address APTA Industry Leadership Summit

APTA is pleased to announce that Clarence E. Anthony, former mayor of South Bay, FL, and CEO / executive director of the National League of Cities, will provide the keynote address on "The Role of Public Transit in Reinventing Cities" at APTA’s Industry Leadership Summit Nov. 28 in Washington, DC.

The summit, Nov. 27-30, is the cornerstone of APTA’s Industry Leadership Week, a series of events that will bring together public transportation and associated leaders to discuss and address the issues and trends transforming public transit and the community. Learn more about the week's calendar and register here.

IN THE MEDIA

Chicago's Ambitious Projects to Reimagine the L—Fixing mass transit: how Chicago’s L is making a comeback.

In 60 Minutes, correspondent Bill Whitaker examines the state of the New York City subway and interviews the man tasked with fixing it: Andy Byford, president of MTA New York City Transit.

Port Authority Begins Replacing Bus Shelters—The Port Authority of Allegheny County, PA, will be replacing 190 bus shelters over the next three years as part of a plan to upgrade major bus stops and light rail stations throughout the system.

Sale of Vintage Bus, Subway Items Draw Huge Crowds in Montreal—Hundreds of vintage lovers and history buffs lined up outside a soon-to-be-closed bus garage in the city to bring home a piece of the city's transit history.