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Americans Took 10.6 Billion Trips on Public Transit in 2015
According to APTA’s recently released report, ridership on public transportation declined by 1.3 percent in 2015. This small decline was due in part to the lowest gas prices in seven years. [More]
New CEOs Named
Two public transit agencies have hired their interim chief executives to serve on a permanent basis. [More]
MTA Bus Order Clarification
The March 21 issue of Passenger Transport reported that New Flyer Industries had received a contract to provide 2,042 buses to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) over the next five years, based on a news release from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. The news release stated that New Flyer is manufacturing the initial buses in the order, slated to roll out this year, but did not identify manufacturers for the remainder of the order. MTA has not yet awarded contracts for the remaining buses. [More]
In Memoriam
Public transit agencies have announced the passing of a retired chief executive and a long-serving board member and chairman. [More]
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IN DEPTH: TECHNOLOGY |
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Public Transportation's Data Rich World
U.S. Patent and Trademark Commissioner Charles Holland Duell is said to have proclaimed in 1899 that everything that could be invented had been invented.
Whether this quote is fact or fallacy, there’s no question that as a new century loomed, the Industrial Revolution had changed U.S. society in almost every technology sector, including transportation. But Duell—or even more visionary 19th-century pundits—could never have imagined the breakneck speed, pervasive impact or driving power of technological changes occurring in public transportation today. [More]
Intelligent Transportation Systems: 'The Heart of It All'
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have essentially transformed public transit vehicles into rolling data centers.
Passenger Transport asked several members of the ITS Passenger Transportation Systems and Services and the Research and Technology committees to offer their observations about the status of ITS implementation by responding to the following question:
As ITS components are increasingly deployed in public transit operations, how can they best be integrated into existing systems to save money and time and to increase safety? [More]
Big Ideas about Big Data
In our personal and professional lives, we’re awash in data. The same is true in transportation. But there’s more than meets the eye—smartphone location data, weather data, social media and more. …
Embrace the data. Learn what’s available and how to use it. Then, learn to integrate it. The whole idea is to recognize patterns so you need to normalize, clean and connect data. Once you get a system in place, you’ll be able to maximize the time analysts are working with data to understand patterns and trends. [More]
Smartphones Get Smarter with Near Field Communication; Expert Addresses Features, Future of NFC as Transactional Tool for Public Transit
APTA recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the nonprofit NFC Forum Inc. that will enable the organizations to collaborate on near field communication (NFC) technologies, which provide a wireless connection between mobile phones and wireless readers such as those seen in gated fare collection for public transportation systems.
Passenger Transport asked NFC Forum Executive Director Paula Hunter to provide some insight into the technology and what it means for public transportation. [More]
Climb Aboard the Connected IoT Train
One rapidly emerging technological reality today is the “Internet of Things” (IoT)—vast networks that connect people, processes, data, systems and objects. The following article explores one implication for public transportation. [More]
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APTA COMMITTEE PROFILE |
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Meet the Information Technology Committee!
This is the latest in a series of columns showcasing APTA committees. The subject of this profile is the Information Technology Committee, chaired since 2014 by William Tsuei, chief technology officer, Valley Metro. [More]
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COMMENTARY |
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Engaging Our Community in Public Transit's Future; How Fort Worth Is Planning Forward by Advocating Today
When we considered our level of service and the many ways we could expand and improve, we knew it was time for a master plan that would reach far into the future, but also have an immediate impact. [More]
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MEET THE APTA STAFF |
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Meet Eugene F. Reed!
This is the latest in an ongoing series of columns showcasing members of the APTA staff. The subject of this profile is Eugene F. Reed, program manager-standards support, Member Services Department. [More]
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APTA NEWS |
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Vice Chair Barnes Greets APTA Staff
APTA Vice Chair Doran Barnes, executive director of Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA, described his agency and fielded questions during a recent special visit to the APTA offices. [More]
Bus Conference Panel on Mobility and Partnering
APTA’s ongoing consideration of how new transportation technologies such as shared mobility options will affect public transit will continue at a May 17 General Session during the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference in Charlotte, NC, May 15-18. [More]
APTA, Partner Discuss Transit and Tolls
APTA senior leaders recently met with senior leaders of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association to discuss several areas of mutual interest, including the important role tolls play in helping to fund public transportation and the growing emphasis on shared mobility, as reported in APTA’s new study, “Shared Mobility and the Transformation of Public Transit.” [More]
Sustainability Call for Presentations Deadline Extended
APTA has extended the call for presentations deadline for the Sustainability & Public Transportation Workshop until Tuesday, April 5. Individual abstracts will be considered for both traditional panel presentations and peer-to-peer roundtable discussions. [More]
APTF 2016 Scholarship Applications Available
The American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF) is now accepting scholarship applications for 2016.
APTF will award a minimum of 20 scholarships of at least $2,500 each to individuals enrolled in public transportation industry-related fields of study. Renewal applications for previous scholarship recipients are also available. [More]
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AROUND THE INDUSTRY |
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Public Transit Police, Employees Honored for Lifesaving Actions; Reaching Out to the Community in Many Ways
Public transit employees in cities throughout the U.S. recently received recognition for their efforts that saved lives. [More]
Smart City Challenge Finalists Focus on Public Transportation
Following the announcement of the seven finalists for DOT’s Smart City Challenge selection by DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx at a recent event in Austin, TX, the cities—Austin; Columbus, OH; Denver; Kansas City, MO; Pittsburgh; Portland, OR; and San Francisco—are preparing to enter the second phase of the competition. [More]
Chair McCall to Address Ohio Association
APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall is a special featured speaker at the Ohio Public Transportation Association’s Annual Conference, April 19-21 at the Columbus Convention Center. [More]
FTA, FRA Announce News, Events
FTA and FRA recently released the following notices about a webinar, a grant funding opportunity, a staffing change for railroads and a new rail safety website. [More]
Public Transit Worker Appreciation Day: Saying Thanks
Public transportation agencies across North America invited their passengers to say thanks to their operators March 18 for Transit Worker (or Driver) Appreciation Day. [More]
DCTA to Launch Service in Highland Village
The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), Lewisville, TX, will launch two pilot services--Connect Shuttle and Community On-Demand--in the city of Highland Village on April 4 to provide additional travel options in the city and improved connections to other DCTA services. [More]
SFMTA Turns Parking Space into Art
Artist Kristin Farr recently partnered with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to create the city’s first on-street mural in a former parking space. [More]
Collision Avoidance Pilot Program in Washington State
Eight Washington State public transit agencies—King County Metro Transit, Community Transit, Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, C-TRAN, Kitsap Transit, Ben Franklin Transit and Spokane Transit—are collaborating on a pilot project to test and analyze a collision avoidance system that could help bus drivers reduce the number and severity of collisions with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. [More]
Capital Metro Renews Contract with McDonald Transit
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) in Austin,TX, recently entered into a new four-year contract with McDonald Transit, a subsidiary of RATP Dev America, to provide fixed route bus service over 55 routes operating a fleet of 263 buses. [More]
'Forbes' Recognizes Transit as 'Best Employers'
Four of the largest U.S. public transit agencies and Amtrak are among the 500 “America’s Best Employers of 2016” representing 25 industries recently announced by Forbes magazine. [More]
SCRTTC Receives NTI Award
The Southern California Transit Training Consortium in Los Angeles recently received the National Transit Institute’s Achievements in Transit Training Model Program Award for its National Innovative Transit Training Learning Model. [More]
Industry Briefs
Here are some brief news items from public transit agencies. [More]
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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE |
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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]
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