Passenger Transport recently had the opportunity to pose several public transportation-related questions to two of the lawmakers who are instrumental in the development of the next surface transportation bill--Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), chair of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

They shared their thoughts in advance of APTA's Legislative Conference, March 8-10. Their comments follow. [More]

PRRIA Passes House

On March 4, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 316-101 the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (H.R. 749), which previously unanimously passed in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. [More]

MAP-21 Beyond Funding: MPOs and Public Transit

One of MAP-21's key provisions is its emphasis on strengthening public transportation agencies' direct participation in metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), specifically linking public transportation investments with key national goals and requiring performance measurement programs to be set up accordingly.

Passenger Transport asked several industry experts for their thoughts regarding priorities, initiatives and goals related to the increasingly important relationship between MPOs and public transportation. Their comments follow. [More]

VCTC Introduces Valley Express, First Fixed Routes in Service Area

The Ventura County (CA) Transportation Commission (VCTC), Ventura,  introduced service March 2 on its new fixed route bus system, Valley Express. The new service replaces VISTA, the agency's dial-a-ride service, which previously was its only offering except for a regional intercity route that remains in operation. [More]

VTA's Innovation Center: 'Silicon Valley' for Transit

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority recently opened an Innovation Center at its River Oaks headquarters as a space where VTA teams, companies, startups and students can develop, test and showcase new transportation technologies from trip planning to connected cars and security. [More]

DOT Proposes Pilot to Simplify Hiring at State, Local Levels

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced on March 3 a proposal for a new pilot program that will explore ways to make it easier for states and cities to hire local residents for transportation projects. [More]

New CEOs Named

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has announced an interim general manager and Keolis Commuter Services has named a new general manager for its Boston contract. [More]

Safe Fleet Acquires Elkhart Brass

Safe Fleet, headquartered in Belton, MO, has acquired Elkhart Brass, a manufacturer of firefighting and fire protection equipment in Elkhart, IN. [More]

COMMENTARY

Make Your Voice Heard for Public Transportation

With yet another short-term transportation funding plan about to expire, members of Congress, the administration and national media are focusing more than usual on how to fix a broken system. [More]

STAND UP FOR TRANSPORTATION DAY

APTA's Call to Action: Stand Together on National Stand Up for Transportation Day, April 9

APTA is calling for public transportation agencies and businesses across the country to conduct a media or special event on April 9 for Stand Up for Transportation Day (SU4T), a national day of advocacy to underscore the importance of infrastructure investment and the need for a long-term surface transportation authorization bill. [More]

Partners Standing Up for Transportation

Click here to see a map and list of participants in Stand Up for Transportation Day, April 9, as of March 5.

More information about the advocacy program is available here. [More]

What APTA Members Are Doing on SU4T Day

Passenger Transport polled a few APTA member agencies and businesses about their plans for conducting an event on Stand Up for Transportation Day. [More]

Think Local: Who's in Your Backyard? Connecting with T&I Committee Members

The late Tip O'Neill, longtime speaker of the House, famously said "all politics is local" as a way to signify that the success of federal lawmakers is directly connected to their ability to understand their constituents and act in local voters' best interests--a political truism at the heart of APTA's Stand Up for Transportation Day, April 9. [More]

Getting There: 208 Years of Federal Transportation Bills

As members of Congress work to develop the next iteration of a surface transportation bill when MAP-21 expires on May 31, they follow in a long history of federal legislation to establish or fund transportation measures and programs, including those specifically related to public transit. [More]

CASE STUDY

Go Small or Go Home

Click here to read about how Monterey-Salinas Transit used public outreach, information gathering and coalition building to pass a rural county's first sales tax for public transit. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Marlene B. Connor!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing APTA members. The subject of this profile is Marlene B. Connor, principal/manager, Marlene Connor Associates LLC, Holyoke, MA, a member of the APTA Board of Directors; chair, Mobility Management Committee; chair, Intergovernmental Issues Subcommittee of the Legislative Committee; member, Business Member Board of Governors, Research and Technology and Mid-Sized Operations committees; and member, Standards Development and Oversight Council. [More]

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Chris Martin!

This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Chris Martin, communications & marketing production specialist, Communications & Marketing Department. [More]

APTA NEWS

TCRP Dissemination Program Recruiting Ambassadors

The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is seeking nominations through April 24 for the 2016-2017 term of the TCRP Ambassador Program. Selected individuals will travel to various areas of the U.S. to enhance the understanding, acceptance and use of TCRP-sponsored research reports and products. [More]

TriMet's Smith Wins Call Challenge

Billy Smith, a customer service trip planner with Portland’s Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet), took the top honor at the seventh annual Call Center Challenge, held during APTA’s recent Marketing & Communications Workshop in West Palm Beach, FL. This is the first time a TriMet employee has competed in the finals of the program. [More]

Save by Registering Now for Bus & Paratransit Conference

Discounted early registration closes March 27 for the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, May 3-6 in Fort Worth, so plan now to attend. Visit the APTA website to register. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Pilot Programs in Oakland, Dayton

AC Transit, Oakland, CA, and the Greater Dayton (OH) Regional Transit Authority are conducting pilot projects for new vehicles. [More]

JTA Acquires $100 Million in Revenue Bonds

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has closed on $100.5 million in Series 2015 Revenue Bonds comprised of serial bonds due from 2017 to 2036 with a true interest cost of 3.04 percent. [More]

DART, Others Partner with Zipcar

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) recently partnered with car-sharing service Zipcar to help make public transit a more practical option for Dallas-area commuters. Zipcar is now parking two vehicles at DART’s light rail Mockingbird Station. [More]

SFMTA Introduces Free Muni for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which manages the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), introduced its Free Muni program for low-to-moderate-income older riders and persons with disabilities on March 1. [More]

Opening Day at SunLine Facility

The SunLine Transit Agency, Thousand Palms, CA, recently opened the first permanent administration building in its history.  [More]