As members of Congress returned to Capitol Hill following their spring recess, they face a crowded legislative agenda, from tax reform to infrastructure investments, two issues that could very well become linked. [More]

Bipartisan Support for NY-NJ Gateway Project; Aging Infrastructure an 'American Problem'

New Jersey’s Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Republican Gov. Chris Christie participated in a press conference April 19 to express their support for the Gateway Project, an estimated $24 billion tunnel system under the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey that would help ease congestion in the busy Northeast Corridor. [More]

TransLink Prepares for Large Service Increase; Adding 65,000 Service Hours Annually

As Passenger Transport went to press, TransLink in Vancouver, BC, was preparing for the April 24 launch of its largest increase in bus service hours since 2010, funded by its 10-Year Vision for Metro Vancouver Transportation and joining expanded service on SkyTrain automated, driverless rail transit and SeaBus ferries. [More]

HART, Regional Groups Partner to Expand HyperLINK

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit District (HART) in Tampa, FL, scheduled an April 24 event to expand its HyperLINK service to a fourth neighborhood with four fully electric Model X vehicles from Tesla, as well as a seven-­passenger MV-1 vehicle for assisting riders with disabilities. [More]

BART Starts Construction on Concord Station Plaza

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) broke ground April 17 on new construction and renovations at the Concord Station, the system’s original east terminus from its opening in 1973 until the line was extended to Pittsburg/Bay Point in 1995. [More]

NM Rail Runner Express to Open Station

Nine years after its construction by New Mexico DOT, the Zia Road Station on the New Mexico Rail Runner Express commuter rail line in Santa Fe is scheduled to open to riders on April 24. [More]

Major Bus Service Improvements Set in Phoenix

The city of Phoenix is set to roll out major service improvements for its bus network that will expand opportunities for its riders to connect to employment, education and entertainment. [More]

Metra, UP Break Ground on West Line Track Project

Metra commuter rail in Chicago and Union Pacific Railroad broke ground April 21 on a $100 million project along the UP West Line that will remove two critical bottlenecks and eliminate delays of both freight and commuter trains. [More]

Mims Named COMTO CEO

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) has named A. Bradley Mims, its interim president and chief executive officer since August 2016, to the position on a permanent basis effective May 1. [More]

TRB Has an IDEA: Funding for Transit Innovators

The Transportation Research Board is accepting proposals for the Transit IDEA Program; the deadlines for submitting proposals for its 2017 funding cycles are May 1 and Nov. 1. [More]

NTI Webinar on Multiagency Electronic Fare Systems

The National Transit Institute (NTI) invites fare collection professionals to participate in a 90-minute webinar on current trends in multi-agency public transit electronic fare systems, May 11 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time. [More]

Amtrak Adds Weekend Acela Service

Amtrak recently increased its weekend high-speed Acela Express service in response to customer requests with the addition of a new Sunday round trip between New York City and Boston and more departures Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings. [More]

In Memoriam: Bolton, Retired from Pace

COUNTDOWN TO 2017 ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO

Industry's Best Awaits You at EXPO 2017; 300,000 Square Feet of Exhibit Space

APTA expects more than 12,000 public transit professionals from around the world—representing manufacturers and suppliers, consultants and systems—to convene in Atlanta Oct. 9-11 for the International Public Transportation EXPO, the industry’s premier trade show, which is being held concurrently with the 2017 Annual Meeting, Oct. 8-11. [More]

APTA Members Prepare for EXPO-travaganza; Networking, Product Innovation, Solutions Take the Floor

As public transportation industry professionals worldwide make their plans to attend the 2017 APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO in Atlanta, Passenger Transport asked a few business leaders and public transportation providers to comment for a one-question interview:

Why does your company exhibit at EXPO? [More]

Directory of Exhibitors at APTA's 2017 EXPO

Hundreds of businesses that serve the public transportation industry have already signed up for APTA’s EXPO. A list follows. [More]

1981: APTA's First EXPO

As Passenger Transport celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding, we will feature short articles summarizing some of the important news, people and events from back issues. [More]

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Greg Percy!

APTA NEWS

APTA's Study Mission to Asia Yields Best Practices

Twenty-three APTA members from public transportation agencies and businesses of all sizes traveled to cities in Asia for a 10-day study mission to research innovative transit safety, state of good repair and operational practices. [More]

Engage Tomorrow's Workforce

Does your organization have a strategy to attract the next generation of public trans­portation’s workforce? [More]

Bus Conference May 7-10

APTA is putting the finishing touches on the Bus & Paratransit Conference, May 7-10 in Reno, NV, with a program that features experts, educational sessions and numerous chances for networking and sharing. [More]

COMMENTARY

Intelligent Solutions Beyond Technology: Three 'Collective Decisions' to Help Maximize Technology BY MATT COLE

As companies in a multitude of industries seek to solve problems of the present and future with new solutions, there is always an emphasis on “intelligent options:” creating tech­nologically advanced versions of established infrastructure. From smartphones to smart refrigerators, these products join the Internet of Things and provide invaluable data and insight that allow us to streamline and improve our daily lives. I cannot think of an industry that is not currently discussing the impact new intelligent devices will have on their future. [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 as space permits. [More]