With a new year, many of us feel, despite the many problems in the world, that some optimism is finally justified, especially since the past two years took their toll on nearly every industry.

This could just be me acting on my New Year's resolution to stay positive, but I hope there's more to it than that. So far, 2011 seems to be looking up. Already, in the past two weeks, there have been some uplifting stories in the transit world.

Our Top 50 motorcoach survey may have gotten me started in this direction. Hopefully, business will continue its upward trend for coach operators: http://www.metro-magazine.com/Article/Story/2011/01/Motorcoach-Top-50-Report-Sunny-Outlook.aspx

L.A. Metro just bid farewell to pollution-causing diesel for good, by ditching its last remaining diesel bus. My lungs thank you, Metro: http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/01/L-A-Metro-retires-last-diesel-bus.aspx

It looks like in the upcoming fiscal year, at least one transit agency, D.C. Metro, has managed to maintain its current service level and avoid fare hikes: http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/01/D-C-Metro-to-preserve-service-without-fare-hikes.aspx

Fledgling college students are bringing fewer cars with them to campus, reflecting a generational change in the transportation mindset: http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/01/Colorado-U-Boulder-sees-fewer-freshmen-bringing-cars.aspx

Additionally, at the University of Portland, both students and faculty are going greener with the school's many alternative transportation options:  http://www.metro-magazine.com/News/Story/2011/01/U-of-Portland-s-green-transportation-efforts-paying-off.aspx

So, we have some sources of inspiration to look to. I think this is going to be a great year for transit. What about you? What do you foresee for the new year?