Congress Schedules Action on THUD Appropriations

The Senate will continue consideration of S. 1243, that chamber’s version of the Fiscal Year 2014 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, on Monday, July 29. [More]

NEWS HEADLINES

Foxx, Trottenberg Testify at Congressional Hearings

New DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and Polly Trottenberg, DOT undersecretary for policy, testified on ­transportation funding issues last week before separate ­Congressional hearings. [More]

COMTO Collaborates with APTA

APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy and several APTA staff recently joined 500 attendees at the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ (COMTO) annual National Meeting & Training Conference in Jacksonville, FL, “Expanding the Routes of Transportation: Infrastructure Investment and Job Creation.” [More]

Board Members, Support Staff Focus on Governance, Policy at Workshop
BY LYNNE MORSEN, APTA Director-Program Management

Public transit board members and staff members learned about legislative goals at the federal level, institutional models for providing mobility in a region, strategic planning, and other topics of importance during APTA’s Transit Board Members Seminar & Board Support Employee Development Workshop, July 20-23, in Austin, TX. [More]

Investments in Public Transit Key to Economic Growth and Job Creation; Voters Support Bus Rapid Transit

Voters in Boston, ­Chicago, Nashville, and Pittsburgh say investments in public transit are key to community development, economic growth, and job creation, according to a new survey commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation and conducted by Global Strategy Group. [More]

Winter Dies; Longtime Disability Advocate

Michael Winter, a disability advocate since the 1960s and longtime DOT employee, died suddenly July 11. He was a lifetime wheelchair user born with osteogenesis imperfecta, known informally as “OI” or “brittle bones.” [More]

MBTA Officially Opens Four Corners Station

Massachusetts Gov. Deval ­Patrick joined Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, ­Massachusetts DOT Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Richard Davey, and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Beverly Scott July 17 to officially open the Four Corners Commuter Rail Station and celebrate recent improvements made along the entire Fairmount Commuter Rail Line. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Murphy Is New Head of MBCR

The Massachusetts Bay ­Commuter Railroad Co. (MBCR) which operates commuter rail service under contract to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston, has named Bonnie Murphy its new general manager. She succeeds Hugh J. Kiley Jr., who had served in the position since 2010. [More]

VIA Enhances Paratransit Service with Taxi Subsidy Program

VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio has introduced a new Taxi Subsidy Service to support VIAtrans paratransit service for persons with disabilities who cannot use the agency’s regular bus service. [More]

Dahl Dies; Veolia GM for Sprinter

Richard (Rick) Dahl, 55, general manager of the North County Transit District’s Sprinter rail operation for Veolia Transportation in Escondido, CA, died July 15 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident the previous day. [More]

Gilles Dies; Safety, Security Expert

Wayne Gilles, 48, a public transit safety and security expert with CH2M HILL in Los Angeles, died June 25. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Ron L. Brooks!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Ron L. Brooks, vice president, paratransit and IntelliRide development, Veolia Transportation, a member of the APTA Access Committee, Mobility Management Committee, and APTA Diversity Council. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Samantha Smith!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Samantha Smith, program manager-technical services, Member Services Department. [More]

APTA NEWS

APTA Honors Systems and Organizations for Sustainability Excellence

APTA will recognize nine public transportation systems and organizations for their high-level achievements in sustainability initiatives at a July 29 luncheon during the Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop in San Francisco. [More]

Addressing Energy Issues

Speakers and panelists gather July 23 at “Energy2030 on the Road” in Seattle. Energy2030, a set of bipartisan policy recommendations being advanced by the Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy, focuses on investing, modernizing, and educating people about the benefits of doubling U.S. energy productivity by 2030. [More]

COUNTDOWN TO 2013 ANNUAL MEETING

APTA Invites Members to Attend Meeting; Variety of Topics Addresses Needs of Industry

Make plans now to attend the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 in Chicago—only two months from now! [More]

Chicago Transit Authority: At the Heart of the City’s History and Regional Development
BY FORREST CLAYPOOL, President, Chicago Transit Authority

The city of Chicago and the ­Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) are delighted to host the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting, and we look forward to welcoming you and your colleagues to our great city. [More]

2013 Annual Meeting Program-at-a-Glance

Here's the preliminary schedule of events at the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting in Chicago. [More]

Educational Sessions Cover A Broad Variety of Topics

The following is an overview of the concurrent ­sessions scheduled during the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting in Chicago. [More]

APTA Awards Committee Announces 2013 Honorees

APTA has selected the winners of the 2013 Awards. Honorees will be recognized at a Oct. 1 ­luncheon during the APTA Annual ­Meeting in Chicago. [More]

Chicago Agencies Schedule Tech Tours

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), host system for the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting, has scheduled the following technical tours for Tuesday, Oct. 1, and Wednesday, Oct. 2. [More]

AdWheel Celebrates 34th Year of Awards

APTA will honor the best and most creative public transportation marketing and promotional efforts during the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting at the 34th annual AdWheel ceremony, Monday afternoon, Sept. 30. [More]

Discounts for Travel to the APTA Meeting

APTA has partnered with several air carriers and Amtrak to provide discounts for travel to and from the 2013 Annual Meeting in Chicago. [More]

APTF to Name Scholarship Winners at Gala

The American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF), the charitable affiliate of APTA, will honor 14 scholarship recipients at its 2013 Gala, 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, during the Annual Meeting in Chicago. [More]

COMMENTARY

Homes Near Public Transit Are Less Likely to Go Into Default
BY KAID BENFIELD, Natural Resources Defense Council

An exhaustive analysis of 37,000 mortgages on multifamily rental properties has found that, when other factors are appropriately controlled, those properties in smart locations are substantially less likely to incur default on payments than those in average locations. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

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