Passenger Transport Express - 08/25/2017 (Plain Text Version)

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NEWS HEADLINES

APTA Reviews Legislative Year So Far

"Important issues for APTA members remain on the congressional agenda for the months ahead," according to APTA's Legislative Alert. "As Congress prepares to return to Washington after Labor Day, it is a good time to look back at what has been accomplished thus far and what we are likely to see in the months ahead," specifically the FY 2018 federal budget, passage of the FY 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act and a proposed infrastructure initiative. See the alert here.

DOT Publishes August 2017 Significant Rulemaking Report

U.S. DOT recently released its monthly public Significant Rulemaking Report for August, following a pause in publication related to the change in administrations and re-evaluation in DOT's priorities.

This report provides a summary and the status for all significant rulemakings that DOT has pending or has issued recently. This information can be used in conjunction with other available tools, such as the docket number or Federal Register citation.

Find the report here.
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Save $815 by Taking Public Transit

According to APTA's latest Transit Savings Report, an individual in a two-person household can save $815 per month or $9,777 annually by using public transportation for their daily commute and living with one less car.

The report, available at APTA's Facebook page and Twitter feed, also ranks the top 20 cities with the highest public transportation ridership in order of savings based on the purchase of monthly transit passes. New York City leads the list with monthly savings of $1,215, followed by San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle. [return to top]

Texas Gulf Coast Agencies Prepare for Severe Weather

With the approaching threat of Hurricane Harvey to the Texas gulf coast, the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority advised its riders "looking to use our buses to evacuate ... [to] do so sooner than later" and promised to provide condition updates.

Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County began operating outbound trips for its park-and-ride customers at noon today and advised them to monitor the National Weather Service.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the Category 2 hurricane—which may become Category 3 before making landfall tonight—may bring up to 35 inches of rain, destructive waves and flood waters that could reach heights of six to 12 feet above ground level along the Texas coast. Also, Louisiana has declared a statewide emergency. [return to top]

SAVE THE DATE

APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO
October 8-11, 2017
Atlanta

Don't miss your chance to be part of the largest public transportation event in North America! Register now.
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IN THE MEDIA

SEPTA Heroes—The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia recognized two employees for their heroic acts. A SEPTA police sergeant helped rescue an unconscious driver from his damaged car shortly before it burst into flames, as caught by the officer's dashboard and body cameras. A SEPTA bus operator helped a visually impaired passenger cross the street after leaving the bus. Another rider caught him on video and sent it to a Philadelphia television station.

Transit Fleets in Detail—
A freelance illustrator who loves public transportation has created infographics depicting the variety of vehicles operating in 24 North American cities. CityLab has the story.

Behave Yourself in LA—CBS Los Angeles reports on Los Angeles Metro's crackdown, including $75 fines, on inappropriate rider behavior, i.e. eating, drinking, smoking and disturbing others. [return to top]