Melaniphy: ‘We Are Encouraged by Recent Revenue Proposals’; Testifies Before Senate Banking Committee

In testimony March 6 before the Senate Banking Committee, APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy called on Congress to act quickly to solve the current funding challenges in the Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account, which DOT warns could result in reimbursement delays or reductions to public transit agencies and state highway departments. [More]

APTA Members Washington, Bass Testify Before House T&I Panel

James M. Bass, interim executive director and chief financial officer, Texas DOT, and Phillip Washington, general manager of Denver’s Regional Transportation District and APTA vice chair, testified March 5 before the Panel on Public-Private Partnerships of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. [More]

APTA’s Plan to Authorize Next Surface Transportation Bill Focus of Hill Agenda; Plan Is Result of Industrywide Collaboration

APTA’s blueprint for authorizing the next surface transportation bill includes a wide range of recommendations on such topics as tax incentives, credit assistance, secured loans, and other financing mechanisms to federal programs; formula, capital investment, and state of good repair grants; and workforce development and training, among many other areas. [More]

T&I Leaders Address Lee Issues: MAP-21, HTF Solvency, Project Timing on Agenda

The current legislative year is shaping up to be one of the busiest—and most important—in recent years for public trans­portation, as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee tackles a range of issues, from the authorization of a surface transportation bill to the long-term solvency of the ­Highway Trust Fund and its Mass Transit Account. [More]

FY 2015 Budget: $2.5 Billion to Expand Transit Options That Improve Access to Jobs

The Fiscal Year 2015 budget released this week by President Obama includes $2.5 billion to advance construction or completion of 26 rail, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and streetcar projects in 16 states. These projects, competitively funded through the FTA Capital Investment Grant Program, will create or sustain thousands of good construction-related jobs while also providing expanded transportation choices and job access in their communities. [More]

LYNX Opens Kissimmee Station

LYNX in Orlando, FL, held ribbon-cutting ceremonies Feb. 27 for its Kissimmee Intermodal Station, constructed in partnership with FTA, Florida DOT, the city of Kissimmee, and Osceola County. [More]

Metrolink Breaks Ground for Two Extensions

Local governmental agencies in the Inland Empire region of California recently broke ground for two extensions of Metrolink commuter rail service. [More]

Metrolink Initiates Demonstration of PTC in Commuter Service

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) joined other dignitaries at Los Angeles Union Station as Metrolink recently launched Positive Train Control (PTC) in revenue service demonstration under the authority of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad. [More]

New Chief Executives Named

Three public transportation agencies have named their interim chief executives to their posts on a permanent basis. [More]

2014 APTA LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

Advocacy All-Stars Connect Business Members to Congress
BY SUSAN BERLIN, Senior Editor

APTA’s business members play a critical role in the association’s ongoing outreach effort to ­members of Congress. The new Advocacy All-Stars Challenge is designed for them. [More]

Partners Share Priorities for Next Surface Transportation Bill
BY JORDAN SMITH, APTA Communications and Marketing

The next surface transportation bill is increasingly at the center of attention on Capitol Hill. APTA asked some of its partners to share their plans for passing legislation that helps keep public transportation in the United States up and running. [More]

Industry Creates New Messaging, Modern Look To Advocate for Increased Funding; Launches First Ever Nationwide Digital Grassroots Campaign
BY MANTILL WILLIAMS, Director-Advocacy Communications

Tapping into a new trend that identifies public transportation as a key ingredient for a multimodal lifestyle, the public transit industry will launch an integrated outreach campaign featuring new messaging, brochures, and a booklet to promote the industry’s funding needs, a grassroots digital outreach initiative, and new research-based advertising creative materials. The campaign will debut March 10 at the APTA Legislative Conference in ­Washington, DC. [More]

Every Penny Counts: A Brief History of HTF’s Funding from Motor Fuel Taxes

Passenger Transport has created a timeline that tracks key milestones in the history of the motor-fuels tax, more commonly called the gasoline tax, and the diesel fuel tax, both of which partially fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and its Mass ­Transit Account (MTA). The timeline does not track other revenue sources for public ­transportation. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Sharon Greene!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Sharon Greene, senior vice president and director, Finance Market Sector, HDR | Sharon Greene + Associates, Laguna Beach, CA, co-chair, Authorization Task Force; past chair and current member, BMBG; past member, APTA Board of Directors and Executive Committee; and member, Legislative, Policy and Planning, and Public-Private Partnerships committees and Governance Task Force. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Chad Chitwood!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Chad Chitwood, program manager-advocacy communications, Communications & Marketing Department. [More]

APTA NEWS

APTA Summit Focuses on Finances

APTA’s new Revenue Management Summit, March 16-18 in New Orleans, has been developed to serve the industry’s financial management sector: fare collection professionals, agency financial officers, and audit teams. [More]

New Public Transportation Infrastructure Database Highlights

APTA’s public transit agency members are working to repair their systems and improve the rider experience at the same time. To that end, agencies are investing in new technologies that tell riders when their bus or train is coming, helping customers reduce wait times. [More]

Register for APTA ITS Transit Best Practices Workshop

APTA, in conjunction with the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and with support from DOT, will convene the next ITS Transit Best Practices Workshop, on the topic of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Intermodal Operations, March 20-21 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown in Phoenix, AZ. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Los Angeles Metro Receives FFGA For Regional Connector Project

As it prepares to launch construction this year on its $1.37 billion Regional Connector Project, Los Angeles Metro has received a $670 million FTA Full Funding Grant Agreement to help finance the project. [More]

PATH Opens First New Platform at WTC

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation opened its first new platform at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan on Feb. 25. [More]

DART First State, Partners Unveil Improved Wilmington Trolley

DART First State recently unveiled its overhauled Wilmington Trolley service with an event at Rodney Square in Wilmington, DE, attended by Delaware Secretary of Transportation Shailen Bhatt and Wilmington Mayor Dennis P. Williams. [More]

State College’s CATA Celebrates 40 Years Since Incorporation

The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA), State College, PA, provided free rides all day March 3 in celebration of its 40th anniversary this year. CATA incorporated as a joint municipal authority on May 17, 1974. [More]

VIA Launches Rebranding Campaign in San Antonio

VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio unveiled its new look and message—“The New VIA”—at a recent board meeting. [More]

Valley Metro Celebrates Milestone For Central Mesa Light Rail Extension

Valley Metro in Phoenix recently celebrated a significant milestone for the 3.1-mile extension of light rail in central Mesa: the first official rail weld in the guideway of the future extension. Representatives of the contractor, Valley Transit Constructors, described the rail weld process to onlookers while welding students from East Valley Institute of Technology assisted and observed. [More]

YCIPTA to Launch Lifeline Transit Pass Program for Low-Income Residents

The Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA) in Arizona will begin offering lifeline transit passes April 1 to low-income residents of the county. The Yuma Community Foundation and the San Luis Community Fund are providing money for this program, matched by the YCIPTA. [More]

Report Highlights Leaders in Complete Streets Policies

Smart Growth America’s Complete Streets Coalition has released The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2013, which examines and scores each ­Complete Streets policy enacted in 2013. [More]

RTC Announces Bus Shelter Safety Improvement Plans

The Regional Transportation ­Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) announced a bus stop safety improvement effort, funded with a $2.3 million FTA grant, at a Feb. 24 media event in Las Vegas attended by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV). [More]

SEPTA Marks Golden Jubilee Year

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia marked the 50th anniversary of its first organizational meeting on Feb. 18. [More]

DASH Celebrates 30 Years in Alexandria, VA

The Alexandria Transit Company, Alexandria, VA, is ­celebrating the 30th anniversary of the DASH bus system with activities and themed promotions for each month of 2014. [More]

COMMENTARY

We Are Our Own Best Advocates
BY JEFFREY A. NELSON, General Manager, Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District, IL, and Chair, APTA Legislative Committee

Congress is once again ramping up the process of authorizing surface transportation programs, and the members of APTA are ready to offer their recommendations. [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]