Passenger Transport : October 4, 2013

MAP-21 provides predictable funding, guarantees public transit representatives a seat at the table with metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and establishes a transit asset management system that “will help communities make strategic investments to bring transit systems into a state of good repair,” said DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx in a videotaped address for a Sept. 30 General Session at APTA’s Annual Meeting.

Foxx’s message served as a last-minute substitute for his scheduled in-person appearance—which would have been his first before a large gathering of APTA members—when he was called to an emergency Cabinet meeting by President Obama to respond to the pending shutdown of the federal government on Oct. 1.

Foxx also highlighted the new safety rulemaking granted to FTA under MAP-21. “As we work together to invest in the transit infrastructure our nation needs to succeed, we can’t lose sight of our number one priority, and that’s safety,” he added, encouraging attendees to review and comment on the recently issued proposal. “This is your chance to help inform our approach to safety and make sure that, together, we get this right,” he said. (Find details here.)

“Let me be clear: Transit is one of the safest ways to travel. Our goal is to put in place a safety framework that takes into account the differences among transit operators so that it’s scalable, not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, and that it’s also efficient,” he said.

Foxx noted several other recent accomplishments FTA has implemented, including streamlining requirements for the New Starts and Small Starts programs to speed up project completion and save money. “And we expedited the environmental review process to cut red tape, a common-sense change that was 25 years overdue,” he added.

Foxx briefly addressed the impact of the federal government shutdown on public transportation. “The people this hurts the most are everyday Americans who need good transportation to get where they need to go. New projects will be delayed and grants to make needed repairs will be put on hold. In fact, much of the work that the FTA and the FRA perform will be put on hold until Congress works out its differences and lets us get back to the work the American people are counting on us to do,” he said.

Even so, he called public transportation a central element of the Obama administration’s job-creation strategy. “Over the last four years, we’ve invested in critical transit systems that connect people and jobs and schools and other vital services. In our New Starts program alone, we’ve signed more than 40 new major transit project construction agreements in 16 states in the last four years, including light rail, commuter rail, and Bus Rapid Transit systems.

“We’ve awarded over $12 billion for high-performance intercity passenger rail, and we’ve also helped communities build or improve 6,000 miles of rail and 40 train stations nationwide. And just this month, we announced the latest round of our popular TIGER grants. Of the 52 grants that were awarded this year, one third included funding for transit.”

He said these projects “shouldn’t be sidelined because of a shutdown. The impact this money is making on communities across America is the best argument for even more transit investments as we go forward.”

Carolyn Flowers, chief executive officer of the Charlotte Area Transit System in Charlotte, NC, then welcomed FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff and a seven-person team of senior FTA officials to wrap up the presentation with a question-and-answer session. “This is your opportunity to talk with people in the know,” Rogoff said.

Audience members asked questions about the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, guidance on the role of transit representatives on MPO boards, the rules governing procurement contract “‘piggy-backing,” the impact of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act on FTA grantees, and the 100-bus rule, among other topics.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, far left, leads a team of senior FTA officials in a Q-and-A session at APTA's Annual Meeting. They include, from left, Robert Tuccillo, associate administrator for budget and policy; Henrika Buchanan-Smith, associate administrator for program management; Therese McMillan, deputy administrator; Matthew Welbes, executive director; Richard Steinmann, senior advisor to the administrator; Thomas Littleton, associate administrator; and Dorval Carter Jr., chief counsel.

Emanuel: Transportation Key to Chicago’s Growth

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel—a frequent rider of public transportation—described the city’s efforts to improve existing service and provide additional service to the more than 1,500 people attending the Sept. 30 Opening General Session of the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting.

“Mass transit is a key component of our strategy to bring new people into Chicago,” Emanuel said as he described how the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has added or rebuilt six stations and rehabilitated another 100 stations. “We just opened the first new El station in the Loop in two decades,” he added.

He pointed to CTA’s new Morgan Station, the first in its neighborhood since shortly after World War II. As a result, the area is now home to 43 commercial real estate transactions compared with three before the station opened, and real estate prices have jumped.

Another new CTA station, Cermak, provides public transit service to the McCormick Place convention center for the first time. “The lack of a transit connection hindered our ability to get international visitors,” Emanuel said. “Adding that station will allow us to recruit other types of shows that we previously haven’t been able to recruit.”

CTA also is preparing to reopen its Red Line after a comprehensive rebuild of the rail and all stations that required a five-month suspension of service on the line. “The Red Line had not been refurbished since it opened in 1969,” the mayor said. “It had deteriorated to the point that people on bikes were able to pass the train and arrive 20 minutes before the train did. The debilitation of the Red Line meant that residents of the South Side were physically cut off from the economic dynamism in Chicago.”

Emanuel recognized the 5,000 people he said are “rebuilding the CTA from top to bottom,” noting that their efforts will allow the agency to become an even more modern transit system that supports the cities it serves.

FTA Administrator Peter M. Rogoff reported on President Obama’s “vision for all of surface transportation going forward,” such as a Fiscal Year 2014 budget that includes $10.9 billion for public transportation and an additional $9 billion for the Fix It First Initiative.

Although the Obama proposal would be funded through the General Fund rather than the Highway Trust Fund, Rogoff said, “It’s paid for, invested, counts against the deficit, and he’s committed to it. Reinvestment in infrastructure is a core element of his plan.”

He reported on federal emergency relief legislation passed in 2012 that provided funding directly to FTA rather than through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “We never knew we would face the worst transit disaster in the nation’s history—Hurricane Sandy,” he added. “More than half the transit trips in America were not operating immediately after Sandy, and easily more than a third remained unavailable later on.” Now, he said, the public transportation sector needs federal funding not just to renovate in the aftermath of Sandy, but also to protect system infrastructure from the next severe storm.

Rogoff also addressed the federal government showdown that threatened at midnight Oct. 1. He said 95 percent of FTA staff was likely to be furloughed: “Rather than helping you advance grants and plan for a brighter future, the staff will be home wondering when they will be back at work and will again draw a salary. They do not deserve this.”

Outgoing APTA Chair Flora Castillo turned over the reins to her successor, Peter Varga, chief executive officer, The Rapid, Grand Rapids, MI, at the session.

Varga announced that his theme for the coming year is “America’s Future is Riding on Public Transportation.” He explained: “Children, Millennials, Gen Xers, young families—are all riding our buses and trains in great numbers. That future, and ours too, will be here before we know it.”

He noted that Castillo and he “share a common heritage: We both came to this country from far-off lands and different cultures. It is actually a testament to this organization that someone born in Africa is the new APTA chair following someone who was born in Central America.” He explained that he was born in Ethiopia, the son of Hungarian exiles, and came to the U.S. at age 13.

He told the audience: “I believe we’re about to enter a new era of public transportation in America, and we have to rise to the challenge. I believe that we should organize ourselves to succeed, energize those who support us, and work to authorize the funding we require to prepare for America’s future. APTA is ready.”

Castillo presented a brief look back at her year, including the connection between public transportation and health care organizations, and the year’s theme, “It’s All About the People.” She emphasized that APTA’s members are part of the “people” and added, “APTA is there for you because you are there for APTA.”

CTA President Forrest Claypool spoke about the importance of bipartisan cooperation at the federal, state, and local levels. Specifically, he pointed to the rebuilding of the agency’s Brown Line, which has become one of the fastest-growing public transit lines in the city.

In his welcoming remarks, APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy said: “We love transportation. That’s why we’re here today in the city of Chicago.” He also reported on APTA’s efforts to train a workforce for the 21st century.

Melaniphy talked about the forward thinking that is happening in systems and businesses across the continent. He also listed some of the highlights of the past year, including APTA’s important victory against ArrivalStar, a patent troll that filed frivolous lawsuits and claims against members. “Rest assured, we have your back,” he said.

He also spoke about international partnerships that are helping APTA members. Agencies and companies in Europe and Japan, he said, are innovating in areas ranging from high-speed rail to financing. “And we’ve adapted some of their best practices here in North America,” he added. “One of those is value capture—when the transit investment increases property values which in turn help fund the project.” He cited the extension of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to Dulles International Airport in Virginia as an example, noting that it is funded partly through special fees on properties adjacent to the rail line.

MAP-21 expires on Sept. 30, 2014, Melaniphy reminded the audience: “That’s just 12 months from today! Clearly authorization is a major focus of APTA.”

Bonnie D. Shepherd, chair, American Public Transportation Foundation (APTF), introduced the recipients of this year’s APTF scholarships. A video of the students played before her remarks.

Other speakers included Terry Peterson, chair, Chicago Transit Board, and Francois-Xavier Perin, chief executive officer & president, Ratp Dev, which sponsored the session.

More than 1,700 people attended the Annual Meeting. In the Products & Services Showcase, 470 exhibitors from 114 companies displayed their products and services at 142 booths.

For the first time, APTA created a smartphone app that allowed meeting participants to chart their schedules. Many attendees downloaded the app to receive updates, consult the list of exhibitors at the Products & Services Showcase, and link to Twitter and Facebook, among other things.

Speakers at the Opening General Session, from left, Forrest Claypool, Peter Varga, Rahm Emanuel, Peter Rogoff, Flora Castillo, Terry Peterson, and Michael Melaniphy.

Federal Shutdown Affects DOT

The partial shutdown of the federal government, which started at midnight on Sept. 30, is having an uneven impact on DOT employees and the programs they oversee.

Because FTA salaries are funded from the General Fund, 95 percent of FTA employees have been furloughed. However, more than 4,000 employees at FHWA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will continue to work because the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded in large part by federal gas tax revenues, is the source of their revenue.

An additional 25,000 DOT employees—predominantly FAA employees whose duties fall within the emergency “life and safety” exception—are not subject to furloughs. While the federal public transportation program is funded for Fiscal Year 2014, without employees on duty, FTA is unable to obligate grants or make payments to grantees. The shutdown is the first in nearly two decades.

KCATA Opens Midtown Transit Center

In ceremonies Sept. 27, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) joined the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, KS, in ceremonies to open the KCK Midtown MetroCenter along the State Avenue corridor. The facility officially opened for service two days later.

This event marked the culmination of “State Avenue Connex,” a $13 million infrastructure investment along that corridor. The investment corresponds with improvements to bus routes serving Wyandotte County.

KCATA designed the new facility to ease transferring and wait times between its system, The Metro, and Unified Government Transit. Additional improvements include an 11,000-square-foot building that will feature a four-sided clock tower and house the Kansas City, KS, Police Department’s (KCKPD) Midtown Patrol Division, offices of the Area Agency on Aging’s mobility management services, and space for a range of transit and community activities.

Officials expect that the improvements will help spur economic development.

KCATA General Manager Mark Huffer said: “The new $5.5 million KCK Midtown MetroCenter will become a hub for regional transit and economic development. Through a partnership with the Unified Government, MARC, Area Agency on Aging, and the KCKPD, this project is one of the most significant regional transit investments made to date.”

The agency, in partnership with the Unified Government, has already made other improvements to the 14-mile State Avenue corridor, which begins in downtown Kansas City, MO and travels through downtown Kansas City, KS. Funding came from federal, regional, and local sources.

Dick Jarrold, KCATA senior director of system development, talks about the features of the new Medtown MetroCenter at ceremonies Sept. 27.

Millennials Want Multimodal Options

The largest generation in U.S. history—which is also the most multimodal—could be a game changer for public transportation and the U.S. transportation network.

Nearly 70 percent of the Millennial generation, those persons between 18 and 34 years old, use multiple travel options at least several times per week, according to a new study released by APTA at its Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Millennials & Mobility: Understanding the Millennial Mindset shows that, while car-sharing, bike-sharing, walking, and car ownership will play their parts in the multimodal network, public transportation is ranked highest as the best mode to connect to all other modes, according to 54 percent of those surveyed. In addition, the recent trend of smart phone applications allow public transit users to be increasingly spontaneous and flexible with their travel decisions.

“Public transportation is the backbone of a multimodal transportation system because it provides the opportunity to multitask and socialize online while traveling,” said APTA Chair Peter Varga, chief executive officer, The Rapid, Grand Rapids, MI. “This study shows that Millennials are leading a trend of Americans who are returning to walkable cities and suburbs with multiple transportation options that include vibrant public transportation. This data is proof positive that America’s future is riding on public transportation.”

According to the study, the top five reasons and motivations for this population to choose public transportation are pragmatic: 46 percent state that a need to save money drives their choices, the same percentage notes convenience, 44 percent want exercise, 35 percent say they live in a community where using public transportation just makes more sense, and 34 percent state their support for the environment.

“Now is the time to be proactive in creating this multimodal transportation system to address the Millennial generation’s demands and lifestyles,” said APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy. “This generation wants the pragmatic benefits of having multiple ways to get around. The solution is investment in a long-term transportation bill that includes strong investments in a variety of modes including public transportation.”

Millennials say the key advantages of public transportation is the ability to pay per use (58 percent), protecting the environment (50 percent), the ability to socialize online (44 percent), and creating community (44 percent).

Because of the future demands of this Millennial generation, transportation systems—and public transportation systems in particular—are likely to be built around the smartphone. APTA anticipates adoption of features such as smartphone charging stations on board vehicles and at facilities; fare collection via smart phone; Wi-Fi, 4G, and 3G access; apps that connect public transit access to local amenities; seamless multimodal connections such as bike and car share options; and improved pedestrian access to public transit stations.

Fernandez Joining VTA As General Manager

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) in San Jose, CA, has named Nuria I. Fernandez as its next general manager, effective in early December.

With more than 30 years experience in the transportation field, Fernandez currently serves as chief operating officer of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority. During her career, she was acting FTA administrator from 1999-2001, has managed operations at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, and managed design and construction of multi-billion-dollar rail expansion programs in Chicago and Washington.

“I am excited about this new opportunity to lead an organization that is on track to change the public transportation landscape in Silicon Valley forever, and my experience working in the industry, both public and private, has positioned me for the challenges that come with this great responsibility,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez serves on the APTA Board of Directors, is one of five co-chairs of the Authorization Task Force, and is a member of the Leadership APTA, Legislative, and Public-Private Partnerships committees. She also serves on the Mineta Transportation Institute’s Board of Trustees.

Tillman Dies; Public Transportation Engineer

Col. Erland A. Tillman, 101, a member of the APTA Hall of Fame who began a 28-year career in public transportation engineering following his retirement from the U.S. Army, died Sept. 6.

After retiring from the Army in 1965 as a colonel with the Legion of Merit Medal, Tillman joined the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) as director of engineering, overseeing BART construction until its completion in 1973. He spent a year in Chicago before joining Daniel, Mann, Johnson, and Mendenhall in Baltimore to work on the Baltimore Metro subway system operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. The first 7.6 miles of subway opened in 1983 and the complete 14-station, 15.5-mile system opened in 1995, eight years after Tillman’s retirement. He continued to serve as a consultant for several years.

During his 28 years in the Army, he spent three years in Europe during World War II and later assignments at sites around the world, including the Philippines, Korea, and Turkey; he also served on the faculty of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. Early in the war, he built military camps and airfields in Texas and Oklahoma.

Garbacz Dies: WMATA Planner, Designer

Joseph Frank Garbacz, 97, former deputy chief of design and construction at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), died Sept. 23.

After a long and distinguished career in the U.S. Army, Garbacz was recruited by Jackson Graham, WMATA’s first general manager, to help manage the planning, design, and construction of the subway system, the largest civil works project of its time. His initial role was directing all contracting activity. He retired in 1983.

In retirement, Garbacz periodically consulted on complex engineering projects. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in the District of Columbia.

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Los Angeles Metro Begins Restoration of Historic Depot

Los Angeles Metro launched a major restoration project at the historic Southern Pacific Lankershim/North Hollywood train depot on Sept. 20. The depot, with a history dating back to the late 1800s, is located adjacent to the Metro Orange and Red lines in North Hollywood.

“This major undertaking has been a long time coming,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Zev Yaroslavsky. “But once we complete the work, the public will have an opportunity to step back in time to the 19th century and revisit a vanished era in our transportation history.”

The facility is a one-story prefabricated wood frame structure that was brought to the site on railcars and assembled by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1896. It is one of the oldest unmodified railroad structures in Southern California and is located in the heart of the North Hollywood Arts District. The depot started out as a high platform station for loading trains from a local packing plant and cannery industries and farms. Later it was the North Hollywood Pacific Electric Red Car pedestrian station until that system ceased operation in 1952.

The first phase of work has already been completed, including removal of contaminated soils, roofing, and lead-based paint throughout the structure and stabilization of the historic exterior woodwork with the original yellow Pacific Electric paint colors.

Current efforts will include the seismic strengthening of the structure, new electric and plumbing systems, restoration of platforms and signage, and rehabilitation of the damaged siding, eaves, windows and doors. The project will complete the basic building, leaving the structure ready for leasing to future tenants.

Metro is funding a major portion of the $3.6 million project, using $2.5 million in Proposition C half-cent sales tax monies and $1.1 million from the city of Los Angeles.

Marking the start of station restoration at the Southern Pacific Lankershim/North Hollywood train depot are, from left, Aspet Davidian, project construction manager; K.N. Murthy, Metro executive director of transit project delivery; Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge; Metro Board Chair Diane DuBois; Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Member Zev Yaroslavsky; and Metro Chief Executive Officer Art Leahy.

Celtics Join MBTA to Announce Green Line Improvements

Boston Celtics first round draft pick Kelly Olynyk joined Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Davey at a Sept. 19 event to encourage Celtics fans to use the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to TD Garden this season. They boarded the Green Line at Kenmore Station—where the MBTA activated electronic message boards, displaying information about which Green Line trains will be the next to arrive—before traveling to North Station.

“For the first time in the 100-year history of the Green Line, customers on the outbound platform will no longer have to guess which train is coming next,” Davey said. The new system will continually display the destinations of the next two trains approaching Kenmore.

The Green Line customer information system is the latest component of Davey’s plan to enhance the public transit experience through the use of high-tech innovations at minimal cost to the MBTA. The countdown signs are now in operation on every platform along the Red, Orange, and Blue lines; smartphone apps also put real-time information in the palms of customers’ hands.

Boston Celtics first round draft pick Kelly Olynyk, left, and Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Richard Davey prepare to board the MBTA Green Line at Kenmore Station.

New York MTA Increases Number of MWBE Underwriters

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board of Directors has increased the number and percentage of minority- and women-owned business enterprises that will participate in the issuance of MTA bonds, approving a large group of firms that will underwrite the bonds used to finance the MTA capital program.

Twelve of the 35 selected firms, or 34 percent, are minority-owned or women-owned. Together, the 35 firms replace a group of 24 firms that were selected in December 2010 to underwrite MTA bonds for a three-year period. Out of that earlier group, six firms, or 25 percent, were minority-owned or women-owned.

“This large new group of bond underwriters not only expands the pool of expertise that we will turn to for help to more efficiently raise funds for our capital program,” said MTA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas F. Prendergast. “It also includes an even greater number of minority-owned and women-owned businesses engaging with us as we interact with global financial markets.”

Atkins Projects Honored as Among the Best in Past 100 Years

Two major projects on which Atkins was a participant—the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Channel Tunnel project—recently received recognition from the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) for being among the best consulting engineering achievements of the past 100 years.

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games received the honor as a FIDIC Centenary Major Building Project, while the Channel Tunnel won the Major Civil Engineering Project award.

“Once in a lifetime, engineers may get the chance to work on projects like these that excite a nation and attract worldwide attention,” said Mike McNicholas, managing director of Atkins’ design and engineering business. “In the last two decades, Atkins’ technical experts were part of the team that successfully delivered these two time-critical projects. Most recently, during the seven years leading up to and during the London 2012 Games, we were at the heart of delivering the physical infrastructure needed to host a world-class event in London.”

Founded in 1913, FIDIC is charged with promoting and implementing the consulting engineering industry’s strategic goals on behalf of its member associations. The U.S. member organization is the American Council of Engineering Companies

Image credit: FIDIC. Used by permission.

The FIDIC 2013 Centenary Award trophy, presented to two projects for which Atkins was a participant.

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Maryanne Roberts!

Maryanne Roberts
Senior Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs, U.S. Bombardier Transportation
Horsham, PA
Member, APTA Board of Directors; Awards, High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail, and EXPO committees

How many people do you employ at your business?
Bombardier Transportation is a global leader in rail technology with a broad portfolio that includes railcars and locomotives, sub-systems, maintenance services, system integration, and signaling. We employ 36,000 people in 38 countries around the world.

How long have you worked in the public transportation industry?
I began my career in the public transportation industry in 1986, joining Bombardier as a communications coordinator. In 1995 I joined Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor communications department just as Amtrak was gearing up for the introduction of Acela service. I returned to Bombardier 10 years ago.

How long have you been an APTA member?
I have been an APTA member throughout my career at Bombardier. Among the highlights have been managing Bombardier’s participation at six EXPOs, including moving a bi-level Amtrak Superliner II sleeper car into the convention center in New Orleans in 1993 and just barely clearing the door!

What drew you to a career in public transportation?
I hadn’t planned on a career in public transportation, but I guess that it was inevitable. I grew up in Massachusetts, but my maternal grandmother lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, and my family used to travel by train to visit her. Also, as a kid, my idea of a “good time” was to ride the T into and around Boston. Once I began working at Bombardier, I knew that this was the industry for me!

What have you found to be the most valuable APTA benefit or resource? Which one helps you do your job?
To borrow APTA outgoing Chair Flora Castillo’s theme for the past year, “It’s all about the people.” Many of the people I’ve met on the APTA staff and with other APTA member companies and organizations have been more than just professional colleagues to me; some have been mentors, and most are longtime personal friends.

Please explain why or how this has helped.
It took me a little while to figure out, but the best way to enjoy the full benefits of an APTA membership is to get involved. It’s not enough to attend a conference or two each year;

APTA has dozens of committees that welcome volunteers. My involvement on some of these committees has provided me with opportunities not only to develop personal relationships and meet industry decision-makers, but also to increase my knowledge of the industry, to exchange ideas with my peers and, hopefully to increase Bombardier’s visibility.

What do you like most about your job?
I find great satisfaction in working in an industry that makes a difference in people’s lives and provides a variety of environmentally responsible mobility solutions for people going to work, to school, to medical appointments, shopping, and so on.

I also find great satisfaction in working for a company that manufactures products and provides good jobs at our manufacturing sites in the United States.

I still get a kick out of traveling from Philadelphia to Boston to visit my family or traveling to Chicago for an APTA conference, for example, and being able to ride on a railcar built by Bombardier.

What is unique about your business? What would readers be surprised to learn?
People often ask me about the origin of our company name. Bombardier is a family name—Joseph-Armand Bombardier was a Quebec inventor and entrepreneur who created motorized vehicles for travel over snow, including the well-known Ski-Doo snowmobile.

In the 1970s, the company diversified into rail transit equipment with a contract for new subway cars for Montreal, and in the 1980s entered the aerospace sector. Today, Bombardier is the world’s only manufacturer of planes and trains!

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Erin Cartwright!

Erin Cartwright
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Communications and Marketing Department

What are the top job elements you focus on the most (your primary responsibilities)?

When I joined APTA, I was an administrative assistant for the Communications and Marketing Department, helping Jack Gonzalez and Virginia Miller. When the position overseeing Passenger Transport classified advertising and subscriptions became available, I looked into combining that position with my job.

So, while I continue to support the department, I also have responsibility for classifieds and subscriptions.

Because my Passenger Transport duties mostly relate to customer service, I interact a lot with APTA members. I collect the classified ads for each issue, process them, and send them to be typeset, then take care of invoicing and billing—while also answering general subscription questions.

It’s mostly about troubleshooting. For example, people may call to find out why they are not currently receiving the paper, or to say they are receiving the print edition but not the online version.

I also produce media advisories for the major APTA conferences (Legislative, Bus & Paratransit, Rail, Annual Meeting). I provide support to the APTA Awards Program: receiving and processing nominations, making sure they’re categorized properly, creating binders with information for committee members, and assisting with the logistics of their deliberation meeting.

After the committee completes the selection process, I stay in touch with the award recipients to get information for the awards brochure and ceremony at the Annual Meeting.

It's a four-month process from start to finish, but all of the hard work pays off in the end when I get to see the finished product.

In EXPO years, I also attend the meeting and work on site with the winners and the Awards Committee.

Do you have direct contact with APTA members? If so, please talk about the two most recent times you’ve helped out a member.

One APTA member called me looking for a report that was mentioned at the APTA Rail Conference; the caller couldn’t find it online. I did a search, found it, and sent the entire report to the member.

Another member needed to place a classified ad in Passenger Transport and was concerned about the cost of the ad, so I reworded the ad for the member to help cut down on the cost.

What initiatives, projects, or programs have you worked on at APTA that you have taken particular pride in completing?

I’d have to say I’m proudest of my work with the APTA awards program. I’ve been involved with the awards process since I joined APTA in August 2007. Each year since then, I’ve been part of the process from start to finish.

Working on the Awards Program gives me the opportunity to work very closely with members and learn about all they do and have done to make a difference in our industry. And it's always nice to meet them at EXPO.

How did you “land” at APTA? How long have you worked here?

I originally came to APTA as a temp working for Karen Harvey, Human Resources, while her regular assistant was on maternity leave. When she returned, I took a temporary position in the Communications and Marketing Department. It was a good fit, so I decided to apply for a permanent job.

Have you held other jobs in the public transportation industry (besides working at APTA)?

No, but I did work for the other APTA—the American Physical Therapy Association.

Could you tell us something about yourself that might surprise us?

Cooking is my passion and two years ago I started culinary school at the Art Institute of Washington. I only have four classes left before I graduate with an Associate of Arts degree in Culinary Arts. My ultimate goal is to open my own restaurant for my 40th birthday, which is only five years away. Investors are welcome!

Make sure you see Erin Cartwright’s video, now that you've read this!

APTA NEWS

APTA to Honor Veterans on Nov. 11

Again this year, APTA and the public transportation industry will pay tribute to the nation’s veterans for their tremendous sacrifices and dedicated service on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

To help public transportation professionals participate in this important celebration, APTA has prepared an online toolkit at its website that includes logo artwork and a suggested activities list. APTA is also asking for help in growing this list: share ideas for saluting America’s veterans and send them to Erin Cartwright.

There are never enough opportunities for people to show their appreciation for and properly thank veterans. Here are some suggested promotions and activities:

• Offer free rides to veterans and their families.
• Offer discounts on weekly or monthly passes for veterans.
• Have a drawing for free passes or other prizes.
• Have drivers/conductors pass out veterans stickers/buttons to riders.
• Work with local retailers to provide coupons to riders or discounts to people sporting your veterans buttons or stickers.
• Commit to sending one letter a week and one care package a month to a soldier deployed overseas.
• Organize a group of employees to visit veterans in the hospital to spread some cheer.
• Participate in your local Veterans Day parade.
• Hold a breakfast/lunch for your employees who have served in the military.
• Host a job fair for veterans.
• Create school activities to get local children involved (i.e. coloring contest, essay contest).
• Gather employees for a flag-raising ceremony at your facility.

While the public transit industry as a whole is honored to salute these men and women for their exemplary contributions to the U.S., individuals are fully aware that their actions must mirror their words. The best way to demonstrate gratitude, APTA believes, is by showing that public transit professionals are committed to recruiting veterans to careers in the industry while also connecting them by public transit to available services and resources.

Join APTA and the public transportation industry in paying tribute to America’s heroes on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

TCRP Issues New Reports

The Transportation Research Board recently released these new Transit Cooperative Research Program reports.

Synthesis 104-Use of Electronic Passenger Information Signage in Transit documents U.S. and international use of electronic passenger information signage in terms of the underlying technology, sign technology, characteristics of the information, resources required, and decision processes used to determine its use.

Synthesis 105-Use of Market Research Panels in Transit describes types of market research panels, identifies issues to be aware of when engaging in market research and panel surveys, and provides examples of successful market research panel programs. It also provides information about common pitfalls to be avoided and successful techniques that may help maximize research dollars without jeopardizing the quality of the data or validity of the results.

Legal Research Digest 43-Contractual Means of Achieving High-Level Performance in Transit Contracts explores the use by public transit agencies of performance-based provisions in their contracts and identifies legal and other restrictions on an agency’s use of incentives or liquidated damages in its contracts. The printed version of the report includes a CD-ROM that contains Appendix C: Index to Performance-based Clauses and Standards.

Synthesis 106-Energy Savings Strategies for Transit Agencies reports on energy reduction strategies being used in the U.S. and Canada that address vehicle technologies; vehicle operations, maintenance, and service design; non-revenue vehicles; stations and stops; building; indirect energy use; and renewable power generation.

These reports are available here.

APTA Welcomes Its Newest Members Who Joined Between May 1 and September 30, 2013

MORE FROM THE APTA ANNUAL MEETING

Innovation Drives Public Transit in Chicago

With the Chicago metropolitan region providing nearly two million bus and rail rides a day, local operators are increasingly relying on innovation to maximize the use of public transit, improve efficiency, fight congestion, expand access, and serve residents more effectively.

That was the takeaway of a Sept. 30 forum at the 2013 APTA Annual Meeting titled “Leveraging Innovation in Transportation Investments.” Hosted by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the panel was moderated by Carole L. Brown, former CTA chair and Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board member, and managing director, Barclays Capital.

CTA President Forrest Claypool outlined the modernization of his agency, which serves 1.7 million riders daily: for example, “We started the first open fare payment system at a major U.S. transit agency.” CTA has added 1,800 security cameras at its stations, making the systems safer and aiding the police in making 154 arrests, he said. The agency has also introduced electronic alerts that provide smart phone users with instant e-mail and Twitter alerts telling them when their vehicles will arrive.

A bike-sharing program—called “bike transit”—is now an extension of the CTA, according to Gabe Klein, commissioner, City of Chicago DOT. “We’re putting the bike stations in places where people work and live,” said Klein, who added that tourists also use the bicycles, providing revenue to the city. “We’re going to break even—even without a sponsor,” he said.

The bikes are not just going to the core of the city but will reach into the suburbs as well, Klein said, and he expects that programs like this will help get people moving back to the city.

Thomas (T.J.) Ross, P.E., executive director, Pace Suburban Bus, said his system has a completely self-sustainable vanpool program with 800 vehicles. He said Pace’s goal is to be a modern, integrated, coordinated, and innovative rapid transit system that serves the entire Chicago metropolitan region.

Metra commuter rail has introduced a new program that saves the system both fuel and money. Donald A. Orseno, interim executive director, explained that Metra’s “Start and Stop” program actually shuts down locomotives after a certain period if they are not being used.

The system is also experimenting with driverless vehicles for the first and last mile of its rides, said Orseno. “They have driverless vehicles in Shanghai,” he said, adding that this practice could easily be adapted to North America.

All the panelists agreed that new transportation technologies and programs that deliver a variety of mobility options provide benefits not only to riders, but also to the environment. They also increase accessibility and offer riders options. These approaches, he said, are paying palpable dividends for the city.

Lorenzo Simonelli, president and chief executive officer, GE Transportation, credited Chicago’s “tremendous public transportation system” as a reason why General Electric brought 1,385 jobs to the city recently, when it relocated one of its offices.

“Our employees need to get to the office, and Chicago is one of the few cities that has an integrated system that can provide us with the necessary employee bases,” he said. “Chicago really is at the forefront of leadership in innovation.”

TranSystems Corporation sponsored the session.

Speakers at the Host Forum, from left: moderator Carole L. Brown, Forrest Claypool, Gabe Klein, Thomas (T.J.) Ross, Donald A. Orseno, and Lorenzo Simonelli.

Penalosa: Transit, Bikes, Walking Need to ‘Be Friends’

Walking, bicycling, and public transit need to work together to ensure the maximum benefit to communities, said urban expert Gil Penalosa, featured speaker at a General Session sponsored by APTA’s business members during the Annual Meeting.

“Pedestrians, cyclists, and buses all take up less space than cars,” Penalosa said in his inspiring and entertaining presentation. Public transportation shapes our urban environments, he added, bringing a unique blend of pragmatism and passion on how to effect change in land use and transportation in cities around the world to create vibrant and active places and sustainable mobility.

Penalosa is executive director of 8-80 Cities, a Toronto-based non-profit organization dedicated to making cities more accessible, safe, and enjoyable. As the former commissioner for parks, sport, and recreation in Bogotá, Colombia, he led the design and development of one of the world’s most renowned park systems and initiated the “new Ciclovia,” a program that enables more than one million people to walk, run, skate, and bicycle along the 121 kilometers of Bogota’s city roads every Sunday.

“We need to stop building cities as if everyone was 30 [years of age] and athletic,” Penalosa told attendees. Public transportation must exist alongside safe, secure, and convenient spaces for bikes and pedestrians that are accessible and usable for everyone from ages 8 to 80, a concept that is the basis for the name of his organization.

The world’s population will grow to 9.5 billion people by 2040, he noted. At the same time, the current population will be growing older. Urban planners, elected officials, and public transit professionals must all keep those demographics in mind when making their decisions, he said. Cities need to cater to people of all ages, sizes, and income levels to effectively make urban living pleasant to the changing population compositions.

Creating livable cities requires several core ingredients, Penalosa said. Pedestrian accommodations must be a major priority, with more sidewalks and green spaces where they can walk. Enticing people to walk more will encourage them to take public transit more frequently. “Public transit users get more physical activity than those that use cars,” he said, explaining the symbiotic relationship between walkers and riders.

When people use walking, biking, and riding public transit in combination, these measures improve the environment, save money, increase mobility, and promote health. Penalosa noted that with North America facing an unprecedented obesity epidemic, the health improvements alone make investing in public transit an urgent priority. Half of the trips in the U.S. are within two miles, yet only a fraction of those trips are taken by foot or bike. “Cities were building around the cars, but now they need to be built around what makes people happy,” he said.

Angela Iannuzziello, chair, APTA Business Member Board of Governors, and vice president, Canada National Transit Market Sector leader, AECOM, Toronto, presided over the session.

At the conclusion of the session, Jeffrey Wharton, chair, EXPO Advisory Committee, and president, IMPulse NC LLC, invited the crowd to the 2014 APTA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Houston. Joining him on stage were representatives of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County in Houston: Gilbert A. Garcia, chairman, and Thomas C. Lambert, interim chief executive officer.

Urban expert Gil Penalosa offered a perspective of public transit's role in creating better cities.

Public Transit Must Keep Pace with Growing Populations

APTA Chair Peter Varga joined a panel reporting on the ways public transportation must change to gain and keep the support of the Millennial generation—roughly, those born between 1982-2003—at an Oct. 1 session during the APTA Annual Meeting.

Varga, who moderated the session, emphasized the importance of Millennials as public transit customers and employees as a priority of his term. He referenced a new APTA report on the topic, Millennials & Mobility: Understanding the Millennial Mindset, which blends in-depth interviews and quantitative surveys to examine the transportation habits of this group—the main one being its ease in using different modes for varying purposes. (See related story.)

Millennials may make a conscious choice to drive or own a car, Varga explained, considering the environmental and economic impact of that decision as one of several options. On the other hand, increasingly walkable communities and widely available Wi-Fi allow them to get where they need to go on foot, by bicycle, or with public transit. He pointed out that Millennials are comfortable with communications technologies such as texting and smart phone use and have learned to cope with a constrained economy.

Phineas Baxandall, senior analyst and program director for tax and budget policy, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), cited his organization’s new report, A New Way to Go, which focuses on the role of transportation apps and vehicle sharing (both cars and bikes) in helping ease daily travel patterns.

“If a person buys a car, that means a commitment to driving,” Baxandall said. “Technologically enabled services such as on-board Wi-Fi can change travel behaviors. If people drive less and take transit more, they can stay connected safely and use their commute time more productively.”

Michael Connelly, vice president, planning, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), noted that Millennials are the largest and fastest-growing segment of the agency’s ridership, comprising more than one third of the total. “Members of this generation are choosing to make themselves transit-dependent,” he said.

He pointed out that many CTA stations have expanded the definition of “multimodal hub” by incorporating car-sharing and bike-sharing stations, as well as building secure, covered parking for privately owned bicycles.

Janet Kavinoky, executive director, transportation and infrastructure, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, provided a business perspective on the impact of Millennials on society. “The public must understand the importance of public transit to the economy,” she said. “More and more, businesses locate where transportation serves people.”

She continued: “Businesses are looking for ways to achieve better productivity through improved mobility. Their basic issues are whether employees have the travel options they need, if these options provide for future growth, and if they offer a good quality of service.”

APTA Renews Key International Agreements

During the recent APTA Annual Meeting in Chicago, APTA signed renewals of agreements with public transit organizations in Canada and Japan.

In the left photo, signing the agreement with the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) are, from left, CUTA Chair Bob Paddon, CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau, APTA President & CEO Michael Melaniphy, and APTA Chair Peter Varga. (Photo by Paul Beaty)

In the photo on the right, Hitoshi Saimyo, left, executive director of the New York office of JR East, joins Melaniphy to sign the agreement between the two organizations. (Photo by Susan Berlin)

2013 AdWheel First-Place and Grand Award Winners

Here is the complete list of first-place winners in the 2013 AdWheel Awards competition. Grand Award winners are listed in bold italic.

Group 1: Public transportation systems with 4 million or fewer passenger trips per year

Print Media
Advertisement - Advocacy/Awareness
“VCTC ‘Public Transportation: Do it for Your Health’”
Ventura County Transportation Commission
Ventura, CA

Promotion
“Tri-Rail ‘Rail Love Affair’”
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail
Pompano Beach, FL

Annual Report
“rabbittransit Annual Report”
York Adams Transportation Authority (dba rabbittransit)
York, PA

Billboards/Outdoor Advertising
“Digital Billboards”
SouthWest Transit
Eden Prairie, MN

Map
“YCAT Route Map and Timetables”
Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCAT)
Yuma, AZ

Newsletter
“CAT Tales Newsletter”
Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCAT)
Yuma, AZ

Passes & Tickets - Transit Fare Media
“Bus the Beautiful Rockies”
Roaring Fork Transportation Authority
Aspen, CO

Poster
“Irvine Shuttle ‘Get Street Smart’ Rideshare Week Poster”
City of Irvine (iShuttle)
Irvine, CA

Promotional Materials
“VCTC ‘Reduce Your Carbon Footprint’ Card”
Ventura County Transportation Commission
Ventura, CA

Schedule Notice/Timetable
“Tri-Rail's Pocket Schedule”
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail
Pompano Beach, FL

Illustrated Vehicle
“Firefighter Bus”
SouthWest Transit
Eden Prairie, MN

Electronic Media
Radio Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
"Humpty Dumpty"
Waco Transit System
Waco, TX

Television Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
“Feel Like Ridin’”
Antelope Valley Transit Authority
Lancaster, CA

Video Presentation
“Travel Training Video - How to Plan Your Trip"
Antelope Valley Transit Authority
Lancaster, CA

Digital Advertisement
"Livin' Large with MATBUS"
MATBUS of Fargo-Moorhead
Fargo, ND

Mobile Apps
“SouthWest Transit Mobile App”
SouthWest Transit
Eden Prairie, MN

Campaign
Public Relations/Awareness or Educational Campaign
“Our Next Generation of Riders”
Rio Metro RTD
Albuquerque, NM

Promotional Campaign
“The ‘Break-Up’”
Lebanon Transit
Lebanon, PA

Shoestring Campaign
“The Cleaning Fairy: Anti-Littering Campaign"
York Adams Transportation Authority (dba rabbittransit)
York, PA

Special Event
Public Relations/Awareness Special Event
“I Heart Transit”
Triangle Transit
Research Triangle Park, NC

Promotion Special Event
“Tri-Rail's ‘Ride and Play Day’”
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail
Pompano Beach, FL

Social Media
Viral Video
“#flipfortransit”
Triangle Transit
Research Triangle Park, NC

Group 2: Public transportation systems with more than 4 million, but fewer than 20 million passenger trips annually

Print Media
Advertisement - Advocacy/Awareness
“Raising the Bar Together”
MTA Flint
Flint, MI

Advertisement - Promotion
“Main Street Arts Festival”
Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T)
Fort Worth, TX

Annual Report
“2012 Annual Report”
Riverside Transit Agency
Riverside, CA

Billboards/Outdoor Advertising
“Catchy Cartoon Strip”
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)
Des Moines, IA

Brochure
“APTA Visitor's Guide”
IndyGo
Indianapolis, IN

Direct Mail
“Model Bus as Event Invitation”
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)
Des Moines, IA

Map
“Simple Sleek System Route Map”
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)
Des Moines, IA

Newsletter
“Foghorn"
Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District
San Francisco, CA

Passes & Tickets - Transit Fare Media
“New Ticket Stock”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Poster
“Texas Jazz Festival”
Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority
Corpus Christi, TX

Promotional Materials
“Lunar New Year Paper Train”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Schedule Notice/Timetable
“Mydart Book: A Guide to the New and Improved Transit System of Greater Des Moines”
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART)
Des Moines, IA

Transit Card
“MAX BRT Transit Cards”
Kansas City Area Transportation Authority
Kansas City, MO

Illustrated Vehicle
“Weekend Pass Train Wrap”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Electronic Media
Radio Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
“Mavs Radio”
Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T)
Fort Worth, TX

Television Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
“Fall in Love with JAZZ”
Monterey Salinas Transit
Monterey, CA

Video Presentation
“Metro Express Promotional Video”
San Joaquin Regional Transit District
Stockton, CA

Internet Home Page
“Transit Police Home Page - On Duty Portal”
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink)
New Westminster, BC

Digital Advertisement
“Special Services”
Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T)
Fort Worth, TX

Campaigns
Public Relations/Awareness or Educational Campaign
“TravelSmart to School”
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink)
New Westminster, BC

Promotional Campaign
“TravelSmart Promotional Campaign (North Shore)”
South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink)
New Westminster, BC

Shoestring Campaign
“School Trips Campaign”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Special Event
Public Relations/Awareness Special Event
“BRT Station Groundbreaking”
The Rapid (Interurban Transit Partnership)
Grand Rapids, MI

Promotion Special Event
“16th Annual Holiday Toy Express”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Social Media
Viral Video
“Mavs Video”
Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T)
Fort Worth, TX

Facebook
“Metrolink Facebook Page”
Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink)
Los Angeles, CA

Blogs
“Peninsula Moves! Blog”
San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans)
San Carlos, CA

Group 3: Public transportation systems with more than 20 million passenger trips annually

Print Media
Advertisement - Advocacy/Awareness
“LYNX 5 Year Anniversary”
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Charlotte, NC

Advertisement - Promotion
“Website Launch”
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
San Francisco, CA

Billboards/Outdoor Advertising
“Metro ExpressLanes Billboards"
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA METRO)
Los Angeles, CA

Brochure
“Houston METRORail: Welcome to the New Downtown Booklet”
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
Houston, TX

Newsletter
“INMOTION Newsletter Redesign”
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas, TX

Passes & Tickets - Transit Fare Media
“Cleveland Pass”
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA)
Cleveland, OH

Poster
“Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit (AFT) Graphic Posters”
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
New York, NY

Promotional Materials
“UTA Airport TRAX Promotional Materials”
Utah Transit Authority
Salt Lake City, UT

Schedule Notice/Timetable
“Metrorail Service Frequencies Windscreen Panels”
Miami-Dade Transit
Miami, FL

Transit Card
“Harassment Campaign”
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Boston, MA

Illustrated Vehicle
"’Angels Express’ Train Wrap”
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
Orange, CA

Electronic Media
Radio Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
“LYNX 5 Year Anniversary”
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Charlotte, NC

Television Advertisement or Public Service Announcement
“Primo Oh Yeah TV Spot”
VIA Metropolitan Transit
San Antonio, TX

Video Presentation
“METRO Teaches Students to ‘Open Your Brain’”
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
Houston, TX

Internet Home Page
“Trimet.org 2012 Home Page Redesign”
TriMet
Portland, OR

Digital Advertisement
“That's a No-Brainer”
Miami-Dade Transit
Miami, FL

Mobile Apps
“Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Arts for Transit App”
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
New York, NY

Campaigns
Public Relations/Awareness or Educational Campaign
“METRO Engages Schools in ‘Think Rail’ Safety Program”
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
Houston, TX

Promotional Campaign
“South by Southwest (SXSW) 2013”
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Austin, TX

Shoestring Campaign
“A Trolley Show”
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
San Diego, CA

Special Event
Public Relations/Awareness Special Event
“The STM Introduces Its Future Metro Car: Unveiling AZUR”
Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
Montreal, QC

Promotion Special Event
“Beach Party at Penn Station”
NJ TRANSIT
Newark, NJ

Social Media
Viral Video
“Transit Boyz Music Video”
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
Houston, TX

Blogs
“The Source Blog”
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA METRO)
Los Angeles, CA

Group 4: Business members (manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, consultants, associations, transportation management organizations)

Print Media
Advertisement - Advocacy/Awareness
“SmartDrive Systems - Eco: Drive Training”
SmartDrive Systems
San Diego, CA

Advertisement - Promotion
“MCI Commuter Coach/Welder Ad”
Motor Coach Industries
Schaumburg, IL

Annual Report
“National Express 2012 Annual Report”
National Express Transit Corporation
Warrenville, IL

Brochure
“Veolia Transportation Code of Conduct”
Veolia Transportation
Silver Spring, MD

Newsletter
“Exchange Spring 2013”
Veolia Transportation
Silver Spring, MD

Electronic Media
Video Presentation
“ZEPS All Electric Bus at Jay Leno’s Garage”
Complete Coach Works
Riverside, CA

Internet Home Page
“Stacy and Witbeck Home Page”
Stacy and Witbeck
Alameda, CA

Campaign
Public Relations/Awareness or Educational Campaign
“#GoGreenGoTransit Social Media Campaign”
Commuter Advertising
Dayton, OH

Promotional Campaign
“Global. Local. Total”
National Express Transit Corporation
Warrenville, IL

Shoestring Campaign
“National Express Print-On-Demand”
National Express Transit Corporation
Warrenville, IL

Special Event
Public Relations/Awareness Special Event
“Journeys to School Event at the United Nations”
Veolia Transportation
Silver Spring, MD

Promotion Special Event
“Save a Horse, Ride the Bus”
TranSystems
Houston, TX

Social Media
Facebook
“Commuter Advertising's Facebook Page”
Commuter Advertising
Dayton, OH

Scenes from the Annual Meeting

COMMENTARY

America's Infrastructure: Ways to Finally Get Rolling?

There’s never been a better time to build the highways, rail lines, bridges, fiber-optic networks, and other varieties of infrastructure we need for a successful America.

Interest rates for long-term borrowing are at record lows, meaning the future payback costs for borrowing will be millions or even billions less than they might be otherwise.

Contracting firms are hurting for business and can often offer their services at the best rates in decades. Costs for steel and concrete are down too, at least compared to what they would be in a stronger economy.

That’s the argument my journalist colleague Alex Marshall makes in a Governing magazine analysis—supportive of many other calls from the Obama administration and others for a national infrastructure bank and companion capital-opening steps.

The case is backed up by the points that infrastructure projects put thousands of people to work and create the basic facilities for the long-term health and prosperity of any city or state.

The quickest but unlikeliest cure is for Congress to wake up and enact a new transportation bill raising the current federal gas tax stuck, notwithstanding significant inflation, at 18.3 cents a gallon for 20 years. But that’s unlikely now. As James Oberstar, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman, notes, politicos of all stripes (even President Obama) have flinched at the idea of proposing an increase.

The impasse is sad. Presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to Bill Clinton favored appropriate gas tax increases, and Congress approved—often by voice votes. Even a five-cent increase now, Oberstar argues, would raise over $8 billion in revenue and create 600,000 construction jobs.

So could the 50 states, from their own resources, correct the gap? Theoretically, yes—though their legislatures generally match Congress’ cowardice on the issue.

Yet there are current signs of state-level change, heralded by a range of experts ranging from analyst Kenneth Orski and former Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell to Obama’s new transportation secretary, Anthony Foxx.

State gas taxes are going up in Maryland, Vermont, and Wyoming; Virginia is raising added revenue with a switch to sales taxes on the wholesale price of fuel; Arkansas is dedicating a half-cent sales tax increase to transportation.

Most of today’s state infrastructure advances, though, are based on public-private partnerships, inducing private investors to ante up the lion’s share of costs for new projects.

Theoretically, this is a great idea. As Fawn Johnson writes for National Journal: “If market-based motives operate as capitalism dictates, the private sector should be able to come up with new and innovative ways to solve complex traffic problems at a lower cost for a city or state.”

But she notes that this is not guaranteed. Private investors, unlike government, are looking to reap a profit. Texas Gov. Rick Perry faced withering criticism for the terms of a deal he made with a Spanish infrastructure firm to build a 4,000-mile network of tolled highways. The federal Transportation Department refused to sanction the project and the Texas Legislature then actually outlawed it.

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels successfully completed a public-private deal to finance the 157-mile Indiana Toll Road, but critics allege that truck tolls could increase more than 3,000 percent over the 75-year deal. Hiked toll charges by a private firm can trigger driver or citizen complaints on any privately financed roadway. The private firm building a new Hampton Roads tunnel connecting Portsmouth and Norfolk, Va., has legal rights to increase tolls as much as 3.5 percent a year for 56 years.

That said, the reality of the times is a switch—as Emil Frankel of the Bipartisan Policy Center sums it up—“from federal funding to federal financing.”

A prime example: the federal credit and credit enhancement program called TIFIA—the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act that provides federal credit assistance (loans or standby lines of credit) to finance nationally significant highway, transit, railway, or port projects. The most recent federal transportation authorization bill increased total dollars available to TIFIA loans eightfold.

Then there’s Obama’s continued call for a national infrastructure bank. Congress won’t act on the idea, but there does seem to be bipartisan support for a Brookings Institution proposal to allow corporations and individuals to “repatriate” overseas profits they’re now sheltering in such tax haven locations as the Cayman Islands—just as long as they agree to put their gains into an infrastructure bank.

At roughly $1.5 trillion, the repatriated funds would be enough, Brookings claims, “to deliver job creating and economy building projects for decades to come.”

The bottom line is clear: The dollars can be found. But if we don’t apply them soon, the United States will fall more and more behind today’s global infrastructure—and competitiveness—standards.

Contact Neal Peirce.
©2013, The Washington Post Writers Group

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Robert Goody
YORK, ON—Veolia Transportation has named Robert Goody as general manager for its two bus contracts with the Regional Municipality of York—York Region Transit (YRT)/Viva and YRT (southwest operations).

Goody began his public transit career at Transit Windsor, working 20 years as operations manager before moving to Oshawa Transit as general manager in 2000, followed by OC Transit in Ottawa as manager of transit operations in 2003. He joined Gameday Management Group in 2010, managing bus operations for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. Most recently, Goody was manager of transit operations for Niagara Falls Transit.

Bryan P. Mulqueen
RALEIGH, NC—Bryan P. Mulqueen, P.E., the national manager of Gannett Fleming’s Transit & Rail Practice, has taken on added responsibility for Gannett Fleming Transit & Rail Systems (GFT&RS), along with the operations of the firm’s Transit and Rail Practice in the northeast United States. Michael T. McNamara, P.E., GFT&RS president, and David A. Boaté, P.E., the firm’s Northeast Transit and Rail practice director, will report to Mulqueen.

Based in the company’s Raleigh office, Mulqueen also serves as a vice president and project principal for a number of the firm’s most important transit projects. He has more than 25 years of experience managing major transportation infrastructure programs and large multidisciplinary regional teams.

John Hammill, Brad Coy
SALEM, OR—John Hammill and Brad Coy have joined Salem-Keizer Transit’s Board of Directors.

Hammill will serve a four-year term representing Subdistrict 4. He is a former information systems professional and medical transcriptionist who relies on public transit due to a vision impairment. He served as a citizen member of the agency’s Budget Committee from 2011-2013 and on its Citizen’s Advisory Committee from 2012-2013.

Coy, a transportation engineer with DKS Associates in Salem, will represent Subdistrict 2 for a two-year term. He is a bicycle and bus commuter and serves as president of the Greater Gubser Neighborhood Association.

Curtis A. Rock, Angie Flores-Granado, Lamont Taylor
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX—Curtis A. Rock, chief administrative officer, Rock Engineering and Testing Laboratory Inc., has joined the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (CCRTA) Board of Directors, appointed by the Nueces County Commissioners. He is one of three county-appointed board members.

Rock chaired the City of Corpus Christi Transportation Advisory Committee from 2009-2013. He currently serves on the city’s planning commission, is treasurer of the Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi National Alumni Board, and chairs the Nueces County Republican Party Precinct 125.

Reappointed to the board by the county court were Angie Flores-Granado and Lamont Taylor. Flores-Granado has been a board member since 2009 and is the current board secretary. She works as chief of staff for state Rep. Todd Hunter. Taylor, reappointed to his second two-year board term, was employed by the CCRTA for 34 years.

Jay Watkins
PASADENA, CA—Parsons announced the hiring of Jay Watkins as vice president of strategic development. He will be based in Washington, DC.

Watkins has more than 35 years of experience in private- and public-sector management, including urban infrastructure, public policy, and strategic business innovation. He is returning to Parsons after spending the past seven years as chief executive officer at a project and construction management company. His previous experience at Parsons includes overseeing transportation capital programs (eastern region) and transportation operations.

David Male
NEW YORK, NY—AECOM Technology Corporation has named David Male, P.E., senior systems project manager for its northeast transit/rail practice, based in the firm’s New York City office.

Male has 35 years of experience in rail systems planning, design, engineering, implementation, and project management. Prior to joining AECOM, he was chief engineer for SYSTRA Consulting. He has also served as assistant director-signals for MTA Metro-North Railroad’s signals capital program.

Susan Martinovich
DENVER, CO—Susan Martinovich, North America highways and bridges director for CH2M HILL, recently received the Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Development Foundation. The award honors Martinovich for her outstanding leadership, long-term service in the industry, and dedication to the advancement of innovation and other women leaders.

Prior to joining CH2M HILL, Martinovich spent 28 years with Nevada DOT, where she began as a college intern and rose through the ranks to deputy director, chief engineer, and—ultimately—the first woman director in 2007.

In 2012, Martinovich was recognized as a White House Champion of Change. She lends her professional expertise to numerous professional organizations and in 2011 was elected the first female president of the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials.

Chris Campbell, Brian Corcoran
ATLANTA, GA—RouteMatch Software has announced the promotions of two of the company’s senior directors, Chris Campbell and Brian Corcoran, to vice president.

Campbell recently served as national sales director and has 13 years of experience.

Corcoran has more than 10 years of applied transit technology experience, primarily focusing on business process automation, logistics optimization, and mobile workforce management. He currently oversees all sales activities in the northern and midwestern U.S.

Melissa Boyles
PHOENIX, AZ—B2GNow has named Melissa Boyles director of client relationships. She will work with the company’s existing and new public and private sector clients on their diversity programs.

Boyles has more than 15 years experience in positions including Disadvantaged Business Enterprise liaison officer and civil rights administrator. She is a graduate of the Leadership APTA Class of 2007 and serves on the APTA Fare Systems and Programs Committee, Human Resources Committee, and Procurement and Materials Management Committee.

Passenger Transport - October 4, 2013
(Print All Articles)

NEWS HEADLINES

Foxx Addresses Annual Meeting in Video Message; Shutdown Now ‘Sidelining’ Key Projects

Emanuel: Transportation Key to Chicago’s Growth

Federal Shutdown Affects DOT

KCATA Opens Midtown Transit Center

Millennials Want Multimodal Options

Fernandez Joining VTA As General Manager

Tillman Dies; Public Transportation Engineer

Garbacz Dies: WMATA Planner, Designer

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Los Angeles Metro Begins Restoration of Historic Depot

Celtics Join MBTA to Announce Green Line Improvements

New York MTA Increases Number of MWBE Underwriters

Atkins Projects Honored as Among the Best in Past 100 Years

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Maryanne Roberts!

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Erin Cartwright!

APTA NEWS

APTA to Honor Veterans on Nov. 11

TCRP Issues New Reports

APTA Welcomes Its Newest Members Who Joined Between May 1 and September 30, 2013

MORE FROM THE APTA ANNUAL MEETING

Innovation Drives Public Transit in Chicago

Penalosa: Transit, Bikes, Walking Need to ‘Be Friends’

Public Transit Must Keep Pace with Growing Populations

APTA Renews Key International Agreements

2013 AdWheel First-Place and Grand Award Winners

Scenes from the Annual Meeting

COMMENTARY

America's Infrastructure: Ways to Finally Get Rolling?

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Passenger Transport - October 4, 2013(Print All Articles)

NEWS HEADLINES

Foxx Addresses Annual Meeting in Video Message; Shutdown Now ‘Sidelining’ Key Projects

Emanuel: Transportation Key to Chicago’s Growth

Federal Shutdown Affects DOT

KCATA Opens Midtown Transit Center

Millennials Want Multimodal Options

Fernandez Joining VTA As General Manager

Tillman Dies; Public Transportation Engineer

Garbacz Dies: WMATA Planner, Designer

AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Los Angeles Metro Begins Restoration of Historic Depot

Celtics Join MBTA to Announce Green Line Improvements

New York MTA Increases Number of MWBE Underwriters

Atkins Projects Honored as Among the Best in Past 100 Years

APTA MEMBER PROFILE

Meet Maryanne Roberts!

MEET THE APTA STAFF

Meet Erin Cartwright!

APTA NEWS

APTA to Honor Veterans on Nov. 11

TCRP Issues New Reports

APTA Welcomes Its Newest Members Who Joined Between May 1 and September 30, 2013

MORE FROM THE APTA ANNUAL MEETING

Innovation Drives Public Transit in Chicago

Penalosa: Transit, Bikes, Walking Need to ‘Be Friends’

Public Transit Must Keep Pace with Growing Populations

APTA Renews Key International Agreements

2013 AdWheel First-Place and Grand Award Winners

Scenes from the Annual Meeting

COMMENTARY

America's Infrastructure: Ways to Finally Get Rolling?

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Who's Doing What in the Industry

Passenger Transport - October 4, 2013
(Print All Articles)