Atlanta, a city with deep roots in ­public transportation, proved the perfect venue to host APTA’s 2017 Annual Meeting & EXPO with nearly 13,000 attendees who shared best practices, examined industry challenges and witnessed the newest innovations, technologies and products and services. [More]

LYNX Providing Support for Puerto Rico

With Puerto Rico still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, LYNX in Orlando, FL, is helping staff a disaster relief center set up at Orlando International Airport to assist residents who had to flee their homes. [More]

Simulator Facility Helps OC Anticipate New Rail Line

In preparation for the launch of a new light rail line next year, OC Transpo in Ottawa, Ontario, recently opened an interactive simulator facility for future electric rail operators. [More]

SEPTA Prepares to Launch 'Boulevard Direct,' Philadelphia's First Limited-Stop Bus Service

As Passenger Transport went to press, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials joined the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to unveil the first of 10 new stations on the city’s Boulevard Direct limited-stop route, which begins service Oct. 22. [More]

Stadler Begins Facility Construction

Stadler Rail Group broke ground Oct. 13 for a new manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City. [More]

PSTA Breaks Ground at Clearwater Beach

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), St. Petersburg, FL, recently broke ground for a new transit center on Clearwater Beach, which will provide improved transportation connections on four PSTA routes with a bus bay, covered pedestrian waiting areas and pickup/drop-off areas. [More]

GCRTA Opens Light Rail Station

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) joined city officials of Shaker Heights to celebrate the $1.7 million upgrade to the Lee-Shaker light rail Rapid Station on the Green Line on Oct. 17. [More]

Northern California Agencies Assist with Wildfire Evacuations

As Northern California authorities continue to fight the wildfires that have caused extensive damage and even deaths in the region, public transit systems are playing an integral role in helping to evacuate citizens to local shelters, and helping some to return home after the ­danger has passed. [More]

Torrance, CA, Launches Express Service to LA

Torrance (CA) Transit recently introduced express bus service between the city and Los Angeles, which it operates through a partnership with Los Angeles Metro and other municipal public transit operators with funding through Metro’s Net Toll Reinvestment Grant ­Program. [More]

Webinar Considers Impact of Automated Vehicles

The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is sponsoring a free 90-minute webinar on the implications to public transit of introducing automated vehicles (AV) and connected vehicles (CV), Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Eastern time. [More]

New CEO Named:
Jones, MV Transportation

MV Transportation Inc., based in Dallas, has named Kevin M. Jones its chief executive officer. [More]

Photo Invitational Accepting Entries through Oct. 25

APTA invites public transportation professionals to submit their best high-resolution photos of public transit in their communities by Oct. 25 to participate in the 18th Annual Photo Invitational. [More]

In Memoriam: Dooley, 32 Years with Omnitrans

Jack Dooley, 54, of Highland, CA, director of maintenance for Omnitrans in San Bernardino, CA, since 2007, died Oct. 9 while attending the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO in Atlanta. [More]

MORE FROM THE APTA ANNUAL MEETING & EXPO

Seeking New Solutions for Demographic Changes

Dr. Joseph Coughlin of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology brought his unique perspective on disruptive demographics to the 2017 Annual Meeting as the keynote speaker at an afternoon session Oct. 9, with a presentation titled “Opportunity Is Knocking: Forward Looking Solutions for Challenging Times.” [More]

Wednesday Panel: Attracting and Retaining Employees

As baby boomers retire and millennials become an increasingly vital part of the workforce, the public transit industry will need to make changes to keep up, according to panelists at the WTS Wednesday Wake Up Breakfast. [More]

COMTO/APTA Session Highlights Equality

Annual Meeting attendees who participated in a session hosted jointly by APTA and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) were treated to a showing of a new documentary titled Free to Ride, an inspirational story about how public transit helped bridge physical and discriminatory barriers in Dayton, OH. [More]

Host Forum: How MARTA Transformed Atlanta

Representatives of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and state officials talked about the pivotal role of the agency in transforming public transportation in Atlanta since the 1960s during the Host Forum Oct. 9. [More]

Panel Examines FTA SSO Best Practices; States Must Complete Approval Process by April 15, 2019

State Safety Oversight (SSO) programs were the focus of intense interest at the 2017 APTA Annual Meeting. [More]

Transit in Emergencies: 'Matter of Life and Death'

“Transit, we have learned, can be absolutely critical in an emergency—a matter of life and death.” [More]

Officials Hold Press Briefing

APTA Chair Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. spoke about new mobility paradigms that will change public transit by integrating upgraded technologies such as autonomous vehicles into a single, connected system when he addressed a press briefing during the APTA Annual Meeting. [More]

Comments from the APTA Floor

Passenger Transport asked EXPO floor attendees what their primary reason was for attending the show. Here are some of their responses. [More]

APTA Gives Back to Atlanta

As a way of thanking Atlanta for hosting the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO, APTA invited attendees to donate work-appropriate clothing for local Atlanta residents, families and communities. [More]

A Long Life in Public Transit

Dan Reichard—in his 97th year, a World War II veteran, member of the APTA Hall of Fame, recipient of the 1995 Outstanding Business Member Award, proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather—addressed the Business Member Board of Governors during the APTA Annual Meeting & EXPO, receiving a standing ovation. [More]

Industry Convenes in Atlanta

COMMENTARY

Transformational Times for Public Transportation

This is APTA’s moment. Public transportation is facing the greatest transformational change of our generation. [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]