DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx sent Congress a proposal for a six-year, $478 billion transportation bill March 30 that would provide the funding growth and certainty needed so states and cities can proceed with repairing and improving the nation's infrastructure. [More]

CTfastrak Enters Operation; First BRT Service in Connecticut

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, FTA Acting Administrator Therese McMillan and Connecticut DOT Commissioner James Redeker participated in ceremonies March 27 to launch CTfastrak, the first BRT system in the state. [More]

Nashville Introduces Third BRT Service

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) introduced service March 30 on its third "BRT Lite" corridor, Charlotte Pike, which joins two existing BRT lite routes and operates with 60-foot articulated hybrid buses from North American Bus Industries. [More]

Stand Up 4 Transportation Day Is April 9

Plans for Stand Up for Transportation Day are going strong! More than 250 public transit systems, businesses and advocacy groups will conduct outreach efforts nationwide on April 9 as part of APTA's Stand Up for Transportation (SU4T) initiative. [More]

Who's Standing Up 4 Transportation?

Click here for a list of participants in Stand Up 4 Transportation Day, as of April 1, and a map of event locations. [More]

$500 Million Available in Seventh Round of TIGER Funding

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced April 2 that the department must receive applications by 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) June 5 for transportation projects under a seventh round of the 2015 TIGER competitive grant program; the pre-application deadline is 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) May 4. [More]

Chicago Breaks Ground For Loop Link Project

Chicago DOT and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) initiated construction March 16 for the Loop Link project, which will ease bus travel through the Loop (the city's central business district) with dedicated bus lanes, stations with bus-level boarding, protected bike lanes, two traffic lanes and additional sidewalk space. [More]

DART's New Streetcar 'Stands Up 4 Transportation'

In advance of the launch of Dallas Streetcar service April 13, Dallas Area Rapid Transit will display its first modern streetcar April 9 as part of APTA's national Stand Up 4 Transportation advocacy effort. [More]

Pachan Is Temporary General Manager at AC Transit

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit), Oakland, CA, has named Chief Operations Officer Jim Pachan its temporary general manager following the resignation of David Armijo, AC Transit’s general manager since 2012. [More]

APTA NEWS

Bus & Paratransit Conference to Feature Programs Focused on ADA Anniversary

When APTA goes west for the 2015 Bus & Paratransit Conference, May 3-6 in Fort Worth, TX, attendees will have the opportunity to attend dozens of educational programs, from large general sessions to topic-specific workshops and events, several of which will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A summary follows. [More]

2015 APTF Scholarship Applications Available Online

 Do you know a promising college student who's interested in a career in the public transportation industry or individuals already working in the industry who want to further their education? [More]

APTA's Career Day Is Approaching

May 14, APTA's National Public Transportation Career Day, is fast approaching but public transportation agencies and business members still have time to reach out to elementary, middle and secondary schools and youth groups to engage young people in activities that showcase the industry's diverse and interesting careers. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Conference Provides Insights into Election Process

APTA invites public transit employees, supporters, advocates and local officials to attend the biennial Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference, hosted by the Center for Transportation Excellence, June 1-3 at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI. [More]

JTA Breaks Ground for CNG Facility

The Jacksonville (FL) Transportation Authority broke ground March 31 for a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility, which will include a public access station where other CNG customers can refuel their vehicles. [More]

Metrolink Introduces PTC on San Bernardino Line

Metrolink commuter rail introduced Positive Train Control (PTC) technology on March 2 as a revenue service demonstration along the commuter railroad’s San Bernardino Line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. [More]

Valley Metro Celebrates Central Mesa Milestone

Valley Metro, Phoenix, celebrated a construction milestone for its Central Mesa Light Rail Extension—completion of the Mesa Drive/Main Street station platform—on March 23. [More]

San Antonio Introduces Downtown Circulator

VIA Metropolitan Transit introduced “The E,” a new circulator service in downtown San Antonio on March 28, in a six-month pilot program in partnership with the city and Centro San Antonio, the downtown public improvement district. [More]

The Ups and Downs of Elevator and Escalator Maintenance

Where some public transit organizations outsource escalator and elevator repairs to third-party contractors, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and agencies including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and MTA New York City Transit have brought the work in house, using their own dedicated mechanics to maintain and repair the people-moving equipment and creating training labs to give mechanics hands-on experience. [More]

COMTO Honors Outstanding Women

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials recently honored its 2015 Women Who Move the Nation. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are a few highlights from public transportation agencies and businesses. [More]

COMMENTARY

Seattle Mayor: Step Away from Ideology to Make Economy Work; The Wealth Exists; The Returns Are Huge

Seattle Mayor Edward Murray is a member of the Cities of Opportunity Task Force of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which recently held a press conference encouraging Congress to take bipartisan action and pass a surface transportation bill, among other measures. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry