DOT announced Oct. 29 that 39 projects, including 18 that will benefit public transportation initiatives, will receive almost $500 million in the seventh round of TIGER grants. [More]

NEWS HEADLINES

Congress Passes 22-Day MAP-21 Extension; PTC Deadline Extended for Three Years

With only days before MAP-21 was due to expire, both the House and Senate passed by voice vote on Oct. 28 the latest short-term extension of public transit and highway programs, and they agreed to extend the deadline for PTC implementation from this Dec. 31 to Dec. 31, 2018. [More]

Senate Confirms FRA Chief

The U.S. Senate confirmed Acting FRA Administrator Sarah Feinberg as the agency’s administrator late on Oct. 28. Her confirmation by the full Senate follows her approval by the Senate Commerce Committee on Oct. 27 by a vote of 19-1. [More]

Port Authority Opens Reconstructed East Liberty Station in Pittsburgh; $150 Million Station to Anchor Area Development

Pittsburgh Mayor ­William Peduto and FTA Region 3 Administrator Terry ­Garcia Crews were among the participants at ceremonies Oct. 14 to relaunch the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s rebuilt East Liberty Station on the ­Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway. [More]

San Joaquin RTD Opens Regional Transportation Center with a Bang

The San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) celebrated the grand opening of its $51.1 million Regional Transportation Center (RTC) in Stockton, CA, with ceremonies Oct. 15 that kicked off when General Manager/Chief Executive Officer Donna DeMartino pressed a button, cuing explosions of ribbons from nearby cannons. [More]

COTA, Towns Kick Off Transit Service

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) in Columbus joined representatives from the city of Groveport and the village of Obetz to introduce the Groveport Rickenbacker Employee Access Transit (GREAT) shuttle service at an Oct. 14 ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Eddie Bauer Service Center, a merchandise distribution and customer service center located in the service area. [More]

SolTrans Cuts Ribbon at Curtola Transit Hub

Solano County Transit (SolTrans) in Vallejo, CA, held ribbon-cutting ceremonies Oct. 14 to mark the completion of the renovated Curtola Park & Ride Hub, scheduled to open before the end of 2015. [More]

DART, Lyft Partnership Expands Transit Options

A new collaboration between Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the ridesharing app Lyft means North Texas travelers have a new way to begin, continue or end their public transit trip. [More]

New CEOs Named

One state DOT and three public transit agencies have announced new chief executives. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Rogoff, Boston Mayor Host 'Beyond Traffic' Forum

DOT Under Secretary for ­Policy Peter Rogoff recently joined ­Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh at Boston University to host a session in a series of regional forums on DOT’s Beyond Traffic draft framework, a report that studies trends and options facing transportation infrastructure. [More]

Characters Behind the Wheel at Greater Dayton

Some Greater Dayton RTA bus operators greeted their passengers on Oct. 30 wearing Halloween costumes. The agency also encouraged passengers to vote for their favorite costumed driver by snapping his or her picture and posting it to Facebook or Twitter. [More]

It's Official: APTA's New Offices

APTA has moved to its new office space at 1300 I St., NW, Suite 1200 East, Washington, DC, 20005. All phone numbers and email addresses are unchanged. [More]

Conway Dies; Former New York MTA Chairman

E. Virgil Conway, 85, chairman of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 1995-2001, died Oct. 21 in ­Southampton, NY. [More]

MORE FROM THE 2015 APTA ANNUAL MEETING

Small Systems Have a Big Impact on Passengers

APTA-COMTO DBE Assembly

How does a certified DBE firm navigate the competitive environment of public transportation procurement and win contracts? Experts offered best practices and practical advice during an Annual Meeting special session. [More]

Innovation from the Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay region is a springboard for some of the industry’s trend-setting ideas and practices. Panelists made presentations at a special session during the Annual Meeting. [More]

COMMENTARY

Tuxedos on the Subway: Transportation Anywhere, Anytime and for Everybody

Because great public transportation systems are expensive, they only get fully funded when they’re used by both the well-to-do and the not-doing-so-well. [More]

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Click here to see the latest 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]