DOT Announces $300 Million for Passenger Rail Projects

DOT has awarded grants totaling more than $300 million to enable the expansion of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors from coast to coast. [More]

 

Napolitano Announces Implementation of National Terrorism Advisory System

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced the implementation April 20 of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), which provides timely information to the public about credible terrorist threats. This system replaces the former color-coded process of alerts. [More]

Organizations Release Transportation Principles

A joint statement released on April 14 by several organizations representing state and local officials—the National Governors Association (NGA), National Conference of State Legislatures, National Association of Counties, and National League of Cities (NLC)—calls for strong partnership among all levels of government as part of any new national vision for surface transportation. It includes seven policy principles to help guide discussion in Congress. [More]

Realtors: Americans Prefer Smart Growth Communities

More than half of U.S. residents surveyed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)—56 percent—said they would prefer to live in walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods rather than neighborhoods that would require more driving between home, work, and recreation. NAR defines the term “walkable communities” as referring to areas where shops, restaurants, and local businesses are within walking distance from homes. [More]

Invest in Infrastructure, Support U.S. Economy

The Organization for International Investment (OFII), a Washington business association representing the unique interests of U.S. subsidiaries of global companies, has launched a campaign aimed at strengthening America’s infrastructure to enhance U.S. competitiveness and attract foreign direct investment. [More]

Claypool to Head CTA

Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel has named Forrest Claypool the next president of the Chicago Transit Authority. He will succeed Richard Rodriguez after Emanuel is inaugurated in May. [More]

BART, HART Name Interim Heads

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Board of Directors in Oakland, CA, has named Sherwood Wakeman as interim general manager, effective April 23. [More]

Register Now for High-Speed Rail Practicum

Register now for the 2011 International Practicum on High Speed Rail presented by APTA and the International Union of Railroads, May 3-5 in Baltimore. International high-speed rail practitioners and top domestic rail experts will offer their perspectives at this in-depth workshop on implementing both high and higher-speed intercity rail in the U.S. [More]

Orange County’s Measure M: A Success Story
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

More than two decades ago, in 1990, voters in Orange County, CA, approved a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements. By the time Measure M expired on March 31, 2011, it had provided more than $4 billion in aid to public transportation, freeways, and local roadways. [More]

DOT Announces Challenge for ITS Technologies

DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) is accepting entries through June 30 for its Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Video Challenge: a new national competition highlighting innovative ways local communities use smart transportation technology to improve safety, mobility, and the environment. [More]

AECOM Report Cites PPPs to Build Infrastructure

A report released by AECOM describes the consequences of continued underfunding of U.S. infrastructure as “dire, affecting the United States’ global standing as a leader in economic growth, productivity, competitiveness, capital inflow, job creation, sustainability, and lifestyle”—and proposes public-private partnerships as a timely and practical solution. [More]

NTI Webinar Focuses on Senior Ridership

The National Transit Institute (NTI) will conduct a free 90-minute webinar, “Attracting Senior Drivers to Public Transportation,” May 5 beginning at 2 p.m. [More]

Preparing for Earth Day

As Passenger Transport went to press, public transportation agencies across the U.S. were preparing to celebrate Earth Day, April 22. [More]

Powell Dies; Birmingham Transit Board Member

Doris Powell, 69, a board member and former chairwoman of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority (BJCTA) Board of Directors, died April 13. She had served on the board since 2005. [More]

COMMENTARY

A Small Effort Can Yield Big Results
BY MICHAEL MELANIPHY, Vice President, Public Sector, Motor Coach Industries Inc., Schaumburg, IL

Have you ever noticed that sometimes our greatest rewards come from our smallest actions? Think about the words, “I appreciate you.” It feels pretty good to hear that, doesn’t it? Absolutely! Now, think about how others feel when they hear that from you. Such a small, simple thing, yet it can brighten a person’s entire day. [More]

COUNTDOWN TO 2011 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO

EXPO: A Spectacular Presentation of Public Transit
BY SUSAN R. PAISNER, Senior Managing Editor

What is an EXPO? According to definition, it’s a public showing. It’s also an array, an exhibition, a pageant, a panorama. And in the most positive sense, it’s something spectacular. [More]

Crescent City Prepares to Serve as 2011 Host
BY JUSTIN T. AUGUSTINE, Vice President, Veolia TransDev, Delegated Manager to Regional Transit Authority in New Orleans

New Orleans is the perfect setting to host APTA’s 2011 International Public Transportation EXPO. I personally invite all of you to come and visit my hometown. [More]

Preliminary Program At-a-Glance

Here is a preliminary list of events at the 2011 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO. [More]

APTA Announces Specially Reduced Airline Fares for EXPO 2011

American and Delta Airlines are offering special discount rates to the APTA 2011 Annual Meeting and EXPO in New Orleans. [More]

APTA Volunteers Can Give Back to New Orleans

Before Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish was an industrious community comprising middle-class and working-class families. Generations of families lived within blocks of one another and neighbors could trace their friendships back to their grandparents and beyond. The parish had 27,000 homes and 14,000 businesses. The onslaught of Katrina rendered all homes in the parish uninhabitable. [More]

A First Look at the 2011 APTA Annual Meeting

The 2011 APTA Annual Meeting, convening Oct. 2-5 in New Orleans in conjunction with the International Public Transportation EXPO, will unite the public transportation community and give industry professionals an unparalleled opportunity to enhance their knowledge and exchange information on best practices, research, and new trends in public transit. The Annual Meeting theme is “Public Transportation Takes Us There.” [More]

Show Your EXPO Spirit Online!

APTA is offering a free trip to EXPO 2011 in New Orleans, as well as one registration for the APTA Annual Meeting, as part of a promotion on the EXPO 2011 Facebook page. [More]

Check Out the Showcases

Transit Technology Showcases right on the EXPO floor will provide added value for exhibitors and visitors alike. [More]

Business Networking: Now on the Menu

What does “business networking” mean? More than 750 companies that do business in the public transportation industry are coming to EXPO 2011—which makes New Orleans not only a great place to find new customers, but a premier venue to identify new business partners. [More]

Directory of Advertisers at APTA's 2011 EXPO

To see who's already signed up to exhibit at the 2011 International Public Transportation EXPO, click here! [More]

New Orleans Offers a Variety of Activities

No matter where you go or what you do—from taking a literary house tour to helping rebuild a home, New Orleans will leave you, as they say, spoiled for choice. Here are a few examples of how you can enjoy the Big Easy experience—and they’re [almost all] free! [More]

Delectable Tidbits for All Palates in the Big Easy

New Orleans is famous for its food. Here's a rundown of some of the highlights. [More]

APTA NEWS

‘Change Expert’ May to Keynote at APTA Bus Conference in Memphis

 Matthew May, an internationally recognized expert on change, innovation, and design strategy, will give the keynote address at the May 23 General Session of the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference at the Memphis Marriott Downtown in Memphis, TN. [More]

Spread the Word: ‘I [heart] transit’

APTA invites public transportation professionals to spread the message about the benefits of public transportation through its “I<3 transit” (I heart transit) campaign. [More]

Call for Sustainability Presentations

The APTA Sustainability Committee invites all APTA members to submit abstract proposals by May 6 for presentations at the 2011 Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop, July 31-Aug. 2 in Los Angeles. The theme of this year’s workshop is "The Value of Sustainability: Increasing Quality, Efficiency, and Community Benefits in an Ever-Changing Environment.” [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

KCATA Adds All-Electric Truck

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) welcomed its first all-electric maintenance vehicle on April 12. The Smith Electric Vehicle will be used to service and clean the agency’s Troost MAX and Main Street MAX Bus Rapid Transit lines, along with other Metro stops. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Passenger Transport announces the following hirings and promotions in public transportation agencies and suppliers. Items appear in People on the Move in the order in which they are received. [More]