FTA has announced the allocation of $277.5 million in emergency relief funding for public transportation systems damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Approximately $232.3 million will be dedicated to response, recovery and rebuilding projects, with $44.2 million going toward resiliency projects that are designed and built to reduce the risk of serious damage during future natural disasters.

FTA's Emergency Relief program reimburses public transit operators in the aftermath of an emergency or major disaster to help pay for protecting, repairing or replacing equipment and facilities that may suffer or have suffered serious damage. The program also funds the operating costs of evacuation, rescue operations or temporary public transportation service during or after an emergency.

"This funding by the federal government demonstrates the importance of public transit during emergency evacuations and the critical role public transit played in helping communities recover from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "We thank U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao and FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams for their leadership and focus in the midst of the hurricanes and their continuing efforts helping communities recover and prepare for future emergencies."

APTA Welcomes FTA Final Rule Encouraging Private Sector Involvement in Transit Projects

FTA has issued a Private Investment Project Procedures (PIPP) Final Rule. PIPP allows grantees the ability to identify FTA regulations, practices, procedures or guidance that may impede the use of a P3 or private investment in a transit project. The FTA Administrator would have discretion to grant a modification or waiver of a requirement if certain criteria are met.

"This Final Rule allows the public transportation industry to identify where there may be barriers to developing projects in concert with capable private partners," said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. "FTA is committed to encouraging innovation and streamlining project delivery while protecting the public interest."

"APTA applauds FTA's continued efforts to allow greater flexibility in the processes designed to attract investment in public transportation," said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. "APTA has long been at the forefront of actions to facilitate private investment in public transportation capital projects, and this PIPP Final Rule serves to accomplish just that."

More information about the PIPP program can be found on the FTA website.

Commuter Rail Makes Steady Progress on Positive Train Control

The commuter rail industry continued to make steady progress implementing positive train control (PTC) in the first quarter of 2018, according to APTA analyses. This progress reflects the commuter rail industry's commitment to safety, as it works to implement PTC by the congressional deadline of December 31, 2018. For more details click here.

SAVE THE DATE

Rail Conference
June 10-13, 2018
Denver, CO

Pre-registration closes COB (Eastern) today! After that, we look forward to welcoming your registration on site in Denver as you join your peers for networking, educational sessions and a not-to-be-missed discussion on the changing mobility paradigm and innovations in rail transit.

The Future of Mobility: From Transit Authority to Mobility Integrator
July 12, 2018
Washington, DC

This series of in-depth panel discussions and roundtable breakouts will focus on how traditional public transportation modes must adapt to compete in the new mobility marketplace. The event will be led by senior transit officials, business executives, advocates and other mobility experts who will delve into critical issues facing public transportation today, highlight innovations underway around the country and discuss ways public transportation can be the backbone of multimodal lifestyles.

Sustainability & Multimodal Planning Workshop
July 29-August 1, 2018
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Join the discussion on livable and sustainable development, facilities planning, clean bus technologies and route design and service planning for the changing mobility paradigm. Take advantage of unparalleled networking opportunities while exploring 23 educational sessions with a focus on increasing efficiencies, resiliency and integration. Our host, TransLink, is the first Canadian organization to receive Platinum recognition in the APTA Sustainability Commitment and was recently recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers of 2018. Technical tours are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

IN THE MEDIA

Award-Winning Slam Poet Finds Inspiration on METRO—When Marie Brown's car was totaled in an accident, she turned to METRO (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, TX). She is now a proud public transit rider and credits riding the system with inspiring her prose.

All-Electric Bus Fleet for San Francisco by 2035—A commitment to an all-electric fleet stems from an agreement between Mayor Mark Farrell and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which operates Muni, the city's public transit system.

Torrance Transit Text Codes for Bus Arrival Times—Torrance (CA) Transit is installing 800 bright green signs with a texting code allowing riders to use their phones to receive information on when the next bus will arrive.

Spurred by Upcoming TEXRail, Mixed-Use TOD Coming to Grapevine—Grapevine Main will consist of a four-story building with a grand hall, including food and retail outlets; a train station; office and meeting space; a six-story, 120-room boutique hotel and a 38,000-square-foot outdoor public plaza.

Estonia Will Roll Out Free Public Transit Nationwide—On July 1, the entire country of Estonia will create the largest 24/7 free public transit zone in the world, one that will stretch across its entire territory.