APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall and Acting President & CEO Richard White expressed APTA's deep sadness over the July 7 shootings in Dallas of law enforcement officers including a member of the DART police force.  In a statement released today, McCall and White said their thoughts and prayers are with all the officers and their families.

"We have reached out to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit to express our condolences on behalf of the public transportation industry," they said.

DART reported that Officer Brent Thompson, who was killed during Thursday night's protests in downtown Dallas, was the first officer to die in the line of duty since the transit agency formed a police department in 1989.  Three other DART Police officers who were shot are expected to recover from their injuries.  No other DART employees were injured.  Updates are being posted by the transit agency at www.DART.org and on Twitter @dartmedia.

To show solidarity and sympathy for our friends and colleagues at DART, APTA created the below social media message and encouraged our members' communications leaders to share it.  The post includes the hashtag #DARTinourHearts.

With heavy hearts, the #publictransit industry sends thoughts and prayers to DART in this time of sorrow. #DARTinourhearts @DARTmedia

Final Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds

DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx has announced the allocation of the final $834.6 million in FTA Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief funds to public transit agencies in New York and New Jersey: New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, $432 million; Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, $299.8 million; and New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit), $102.8 million.

FTA is providing maximum flexibility for impacted communities to direct repairs and has validated additional eligible damage.  Agencies can use recovery funds on any validated Sandy-related damage that meets FTA criteria, including repairs to tunnels owned by Amtrak and used by NJ Transit and MTA Long Island Rail Road.  Agencies will also have the flexibility to apply some of their previously directed resilience funds for recovery projects.

This is the fourth and final allocation of funds under this program, bringing the total assistance allocated by FTA to nearly $10.1 billion.  This amount includes approximately $5.2 billion for emergency response, recovery and rebuilding projects and $4.9 billion for resilience projects.

Executive Committee & BOD Nominations Due July 25

APTA Chair Valarie J. McCall appointed a nominating committee to recommend a slate of candidates for next year’s positions on APTA's Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  Information about how to submit nominations can be viewed on the “members only” section of the APTA website here.  The deadline for nominations is 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, July 25.

Nominations Sought for BMBG

APTA's Business Member Board of Governors (BMBG) is seeking nominees to fill next year's open positions.  Nominations are being accepted for BMBG chair, first vice chair, second vice chair and 15 members of the board.  The election will take place on Sept. 11 at APTA's Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.

Interested business members are encouraged to submit their nomination by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 15.  The nomination form and instructions, as well as additional information about the BMBG and the nomination process, can be accessed by clicking here.

Study Mission to Cuba

APTA's Study Mission to Cuba is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 26-30, 2016.  The initiative is a first of its kind for our association: a peer-to-peer dialogue aimed at long-term opportunities for a US-Cuba partnership in transit.  APTA is working with the Center for Democracy in the Americas on the logistics and diplomatic aspects of the trip.

If you would like to learn more or wish to take part in this unique study mission, please contact Cynthia Owens as soon as possible at cowens@apta.com or 202-496-4851.

New Smart Growth Online Tool

Smart Growth America unveiled a new online home for its TOD Technical Assistance Initiative, a collaboration between the organization and FTA to help communities build equitable transit-oriented development projects.  The new site includes a dynamic database of the leading research on TOD, information about popular funding options for TOD projects, and opportunities for TOD professionals to connect with each other. 

The initiative is designed to help elected officials, municipal staff, advocates, developers, transportation professionals and urban planners discover new ideas, connect with one another and, ultimately, build great projects. The new website is one part of the project’s work, which also includes on-site technical assistance and a collaborative network of TOD professionals open by invitation only.  To learn more, please click here.

SAVE THE DATE

Sept. 11-14:  Annual Meeting
J.W. Marriott Los Angeles  |  Los Angeles, CA
APTA's 2016 Annual Meeting takes place several weeks earlier than in previous years.  Now is the time to start planning your trip.  For information and to register, click here.

Aug. 14-16:  State Public Transportation Partnerships / Transit Midwest Conference
Westin Crown Center  |  Kansas City, MO
Learn more and register here.


July 31-Aug. 3:  Multimodal Operations Planning Workshop
Hyatt Regency Calgary  |  Calgary, AB (CANADA)
Learn more and register here.


July 24-26:  Sustainability & Public Transportation Workshop
Westin Austin Downtown  |  Austin, TX
Learn more and register here.

IN THE MEDIA

Investing In Public Transit Lifts Up Working People
The Huffington Post; July 7


Driving or Public Transit: Which Cities Offer the Best Commute?
Builder; July 7


Meet Liberty, the Uber-like Service Built for Rural America
Silicon Prairie News; July 7


Center City District Report Highlights Transit as Competitive Necessity for Region’s Economy
PlanPhilly; June 28

NOTABLE & QUOTABLE

"The opportunities [for U.S. companies in Cuba] are across the board from health care to energy to engineering and general infrastructure.  The airlines would not be petitioning the Department of Transportation to fly to various parts of Cuba if the demand wasn't there."

                                                                    Felix Chevalier
                                                                    Texas State Council of Engage Cuba
                                                                    July 7, 2016