Passenger Transport Express - 04/24/2015 (Plain Text Version)NEWS HEADLINESMelaniphy, Foxx, McMillan Testify Before Senate Committees
APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy testified April 23 before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee about the importance of public transportation investment to American jobs and global competitiveness. He cited the $86 billion backlog in state of good repair capital investment needs industry-wide and stressed the need to pass a long-term bill with increased funding for program growth. Melaniphy urged the committee to pass a six-year, $100 billion transit title to the next surface transportation authorization bill that would grow the transit program from $10.7 billion to $22 billion by 2021. Foxx Announces 'LadderSTEP' Technical Assistance Program
DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced a new technical assistance program, “LadderSTEP,” that will help seven cities foster sustainable economic development related to planned transportation projects. In his announcement April 23, Foxx explained that the pilot program will provide technical assistance for planning and economic growth in Atlanta, Baltimore, Baton Rouge, LA, Charlotte, NC, Indianapolis, Phoenix and Richmond, VA. LadderSTEP is part of DOT’s Ladders of Opportunity program. Learn more here. [return to top] SAVE THE DATE
Early registration for the APTA Rail Conference closes May 5, so make plans now to attend! This year's conference, June 21-24 in Salt Lake City, will offer six tracks of educational sessions: technology and technical forums, operations and maintenance, safety, security and emergency preparedness, planning, finance and sustainability, capital programs and workforce development, management and policy. [return to top] IN THE MEDIA
Chicago RTA turns Earth Day into Earth Week by featuring events that focus on the regional service’s value to commuters and the environment. Read more here. Anything but “boring:” Crowds turn out at 2 a.m. to see a pair of 400-ton boring machines transported through Toronto’s streets. Metrolinx provided bleachers, hot chocolate and coffee. See details here. There’s (almost) an app for that: Apple is making progress on adding public transit to its mapping function—one of its “most anticipated features.” Read all about it here. [return to top] |