FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams participated in a ground-breaking cere­mony Oct. 25 in Kansas City, MO, launching construction of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s (KCATA) third and newest BRT line, Prospect MAX. [More]

Connecticut Gov. Helps Open Berlin CTrail Station

Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy joined Connecticut DOT Commissioner James P. Redeker and other state and local officials recently to commemorate the grand opening of the new CTrail Hartford Line station in Berlin, CT. [More]

Palm Tran's Enhanced Bus Network: 'Beginning of the Future'

Palm Tran recently celebrated the launch of its revamped bus system—the Route Performance Maximization (RPM) project, the agency’s first redesign in more than two decades—with a unique ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Palm Beach (FL) Intermodal Center. [More]

COMMENTARY

What to Expect from Public Transit Ballot Measures on Nov. 6

On election night, Nov. 6, APTA will be tracking public transit ballot results and commenting throughout the night and into the next day. Here’s a backgrounder on the transportation ballot measures we’ll be watching. [More]

CASE STUDY

Eat. Play. Breathe. Rethinking Public Transit Space for Better Health

The Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, otherwise known as rabbittransit, has three core values: safety, service, stewardship. [More]

MORE NEWS HEADLINES

FTA Issues Rulemaking Implementing NEPA

FTA, in cooperation with FHWA and FRA, has published a joint final rule implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 4(f) requirements (23 CFR parts 771 and 774) to reflect the changes made by MAP-21 and the FAST Act, as well as adding FRA to both regulations. The rule will go into effect on Nov. 28. [More]

State Funding for Metrolink Rail Safety Improvements

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $91.2 million for Metrolink commuter rail to advance design and work on the first projects in the Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) Program, designed to improve rail safety and service in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. [More]

Twin Cities Housing Projects Receive TOD Grants

Access to existing and planned public transportation is among the criteria used by the Metropolitan Council in St. Paul, MN, in its approval of almost $4.5 million in Livable Communities TOD grants for more than 650 units of affordable housing. [More]

Cubic to Acquire Trafficware

Cubic Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire Advanced Traffic Solutions Inc. (“Trafficware”), a provider of intelligent traffic solutions, for approximately $235.7 million in cash. [More]

MBTA Cheers the Champion Red Sox

As thousands of fans of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox gathered in downtown Boston for the Oct. 31 victory parade, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority added service to help keep the crowds moving. [More]

Connect Transit, Illinois DOT Receive FTA Bus Funds

During an Oct. 26 event in Bloomington, IL, FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams announced that public transit agencies in the state would receive more than $12 million in competitive grant funds to improve bus transit service in central Illinois. [More]

Dignitaries Break Ground for Maryland's First BRT Line

In ceremonies Oct. 25, dignitaries including Montgomery County (MD) Executive Ike Leggett, Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) broke ground for the 14-mile FLASH limited-stop bus line, the first BRT service in Maryland. [More]

CTA Celebrates 75 Years of Subway Service

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) invites riders to help them celebrate the 75th anniversary of the opening of its first underground line, the State Street Subway, by visiting displays of archival images in the nine stations on the 4.9-mile line. [More]

Deadline Nears for APTA AdWheel Awards

The deadline is Nov. 16 to submit nominations for APTA’s 2019 AdWheel Awards, the annual competition recognizing excellence in public transportation marketing, advertising, promotion and communications. [More]

Turning a Bus into Art in St. Louis

St. Louis Metro recently invited residents of the Normandy Schools Collaborative neighborhood to paint the exterior of a MetroBus, which will operate in regular service on numerous routes during the next year. [More]

New CEOs Named

METRO Regional Transit Authority in Akron, OH; the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority in Pompano Beach; and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association have named new chief executives. [More]

In Memoriam: Wheeler, NY MTA Director

William M. Wheeler, 69, of Tarrytown, NY, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s director of special project development and planning since 2002, died Oct. 27. He joined the MTA in 1986, serving first as deputy director of strategic planning and then director of planning and development. [More]

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

NORTA Extends Bus Route to Medical Campus

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) kicked off its expanded bus service to the ­Ochsner Health System’s main campus in neighboring Jeffer­son Parish, LA, recently with an inaugural ride carrying area dignitaries. [More]

SARTA Lends Fuel Cell Buses Free to Interested Agencies

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) in Canton, OH, invites any U.S. public transit agency interested in learning more about operating a hydrogen fuel cell (HFC)-powered bus to borrow, at no charge, a vehicle from its fleet. [More]

Industry Briefs

Here are some brief items from public transit agencies and businesses. [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]