Passenger Transport Express - 02/02/2018 (Plain Text Version)

View Graphical Version


NEWS HEADLINES

APTA Responds to State of the Union Address

APTA was encouraged that President Trump talked about the critical need to move forward with an infrastructure initiative in his State of the Union address on Jan. 30.

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said in a statement that "public transportation is an essential component of our nation's infrastructure, and increased investment is needed to fuel the economic growth the president lauded in his speech. APTA strongly urges President Trump to act on his proposal to dramatically improve our country’s infrastructure, including public transportation." Read the full statement here.

Transportation Experts Testify Before House Committee on Homeland Security

The House Committee on Homeland Security's Transportation and Protective Security and Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications subcommittees held a hearing Jan. 30 titled “Securing our Surface Transportation Systems: Examining the DHS Role in Surface Transportation Technologies.” The subcommittees' goal was to gain a holistic understanding of the unique security challenges facing surface transportation and how to address them.

Sonya Proctor, director, Surface Division, Office of Security Policy and Industry Engagement, TSA, and Robert Pryor, director, Intermodal Division, Office of Requirements and Capabilities Analysis, TSA, provided testimony. Both said securing surface transportation is critical, complex and necessary. TSA is committed to protecting the nation's public transportation systems from attack.

Donald E. Roberts, program manager, Explosive Threat Detection, Explosives Division, DHS, and Brian Michael Jenkins, director, National Transportation Security Center of Excellence, Mineta Transportation Institute, also testified. View all testimonies here. [return to top]

Business Members Discuss Public Transit's Future at Annual Meeting

APTA’s Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) held its annual business meeting in Indian Wells, CA, Jan. 25-26.

APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas addresses the BMBG.

APTA Chair Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. and APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas delivered remarks, following an introduction by BMBG Chair Jeff Wharton and SunLine Transit Agency CEO and General Manager Lauren Skiver.

Ford provided a progress report on his five priorities and highlighted the important contributions business members can make on issues such as defining the new mobility paradigm, workforce development, leveraging big data, enterprise risk management and advocacy in Washington.

Speaking at his first major APTA member meeting as president, Skoutelas acknowledged the contributions made to public transportation by APTA business members: "Having had the pleasure of serving with you as a business member for 12 years, I know the vital role that you play. You are able to do things that our agencies cannot because of what you represent in terms of jobs and private sector positions across the U.S. and internationally. That is a huge strength for our association," he said.

Skiver, along with Lester Bryant, APTA Executive Committee member and VIA Metropolitan Transit board secretary, and David M. Stackrow Sr., APTA vice chair and Capital District Transportation Authority board chair, discussed their operations, including the selling of hydrogen to local businesses, interfacing transit centers with e-libraries and increasing ridership with BRT.

Dr. Dan Sperling, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Davis, gave a presentation on the evolution of mobility and its critical effect on public transit. [return to top]

Investigation Continues into Amtrak Crash

Investigations continue into the collision between an Amtrak train and a truck outside Crozet, VA, on Jan. 31. One occupant of the truck was killed, and several passengers on the train sustained injuries.

The train was carrying Republican members of Congress to a retreat in West Virginia. No serious injuries were reported among members or staff. [return to top]

SAVE THE DATE

APTA Study Mission to Canada on Innovative Infrastructure Development and Implementation
July 22-27, 2018
Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver
Contact Petra Mollet at pmollet@apta.com
More information will be available soon.

Legislative Conference
March 18-20, 2018
Washington, DC [return to top]

IN THE MEDIA

Need to Modernize Public Transit—APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas describes how, with ridership increasing faster than the U.S. population and the use of highways, investment in public transit infrastructure is essential for economic growth.

Uber Lays Out Infrastructure Principles—The transportation network company has laid out a set of principles that it hopes the Trump administration will address in its infrastructure proposal.

SF Muni Metro's Ghost Station—Thousands of riders pass through Eureka Valley Station every day, but no trains ever stop at this "ghost station."

Video Shows Path of Light Rail under UW—Sound Transit has published an engaging video showing the underground path of its next northward push from the University of Washington station to the U-District station.

'Life Underground': Subway Stories from Around the World—In celebration of LA Metro's Red Line's 25th birthday, an immersive media installation and interactive web documentary will be featured at Union Station until Feb. 5. [return to top]