News Headlines

The House and the Senate this week passed a continuing resolution (CR) that will provide continued funding of federal programs at Fiscal Year 2010 levels through December 3, as Congress heads home to campaign for the upcoming midterm elections.

The bill, which the president is expected to sign, includes funding for public transit and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) programs and also for public transit programs under the Department of Homeland Security.

The CR was needed because the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, and Congress has not yet passed any regular FY 2011 appropriations bill. This means Congress will have to revisit the FY 2011 bills prior to the Dec. 3 deadline.

For more information, see the Oct. 1 APTA Legislative Update.

Several APTA members testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Sept. 28 about the benefits that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has brought to their organizations and communities.

Among the witnesses were Doran Barnes, executive director of Foothill Transit in West Covina, CA and APTA Vice Chair-Human Resources; Joyce Eleanor, CEO of Community Transit in Everett, WA and APTA Vice Chair-Bus and Paratransit Operations; and Dave Rock, an electrician at New Flyer of America Inc. in Crookston, MN. All three urged the committee to support innovative financing measures as a means of enabling state and local governments to expand the economy and create jobs through increased investment in public transportation.

Experts testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Sept. 29 about the usefulness of innovative financing arrangements in bringing public transportation and economic development to communities. Witnesses included U.S. Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy Roy Kienitz and Florida Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Kopelousos.

Amtrak has released a report detailing how the agency plans to capitalize on its existing infrastructure to provide high-speed rail service in the Northeast Corridor. The report, A Vision for High-Speed Rail in the Northeast Corridor, projects that upon completion of the build-out in 2040, ridership on high-speed rail in the region would be approximately 18 million passengers annually, with room for up to 80 million. Amtrak's ridership on the routes in the corridor for 2009 was approximately 14 million.

Save the Date: FTA Webinar on ARRA Reporting

Telling Our Story: Help Build the Wall

Want to help promote long-term federal investment in public transportation? Feeling creative? Then submit your own video testimonial to APTA's online wall. Talk about how public transit benefits your life--and be sure to tell Congress that a long-term surface transportation authorization bill can wait no longer.

2010 APTA Photo Invitational

Announcing the 2010 APTA Photo Invitational.  The Invitational seeks photos from APTA members that depict public transportation’s significance, value, and benefits of opportunity, access, freedom, and mobility, which enable everyone in the community to accomplish what is important to them, while making communities stronger and more vibrant.

New this year: All entries will be received electronically.  For complete information, visit the APTA Photo Invitational web site. The deadline to submit entries is October 20, 2010.

In the Media

The San Francisco Examiner featured San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's annual bell-ringing contest.

Bing Maps now includes directions for public transportation, as reported on the technology blog CNet.

Los Angeles and Beijing will soon exchange ideas on how to more effectively move their large and growing populations, with the help of public transit, the Associated Press reported.