Transit Dispatches

Contributing bloggers discuss a variety of topics geared toward the transit and motorcoach sectors.

Posts Tagged With: blog

OCTA CEO: New federal bill a win for America

Three years and 10 extensions later, America has a new federal transportation reauthorization bill. Perhaps the most important aspects of MAP-21 are the changes to existing law that break down some of the bureaucratic barriers to project delivery allowing for expedited project implementation.

Making public transit greener

How do you make public transit even more environmentally-friendly and efficient for the 21st Century? SEPTA, in partnership with a Philadelphia smart grid company is bringing the regenerative braking energy technology long used by hybrid-electric vehicles to its Market-Frankford Line elevated trains.

Transit fare hikes getting you down? Blame the banks.

A new report says that many transit agencies are getting burned in deals they made with bailed-out Wall Street banks. Many are losing millions of dollars every year from budgets that are already rail-thin. Can they claim they are “too big to fail?”

Courting the next generation of transit riders

What had been a rite of passage for young people — getting a driver’s license — isn’t as high a priority as it once was. Some members of “Generation Y” moving to Philadelphia from the suburbs for school and work may have never taken public transportation. This spring, SEPTA began courting this next generation of riders.

OCTA CEO: Is your agency ready for the ‘big one’?

This month OCTA joined public agencies across California in the Golden Guardian exercise — an annual emergency training event that helps prepare cities, hospitals, first responders, schools, transportation agencies and others to respond in crisis situations. In the last year, OCTA has placed an increased focus on emergency preparedness and training.

Lights! Camera! Transit!

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars aren’t the leading women and men you might think. These “celebrities” are larger than life, yet don’t demand top billing — they’re the transit systems that often play key roles in blockbuster films and TV hits.

Making mass transit accessible to the masses

When the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority opens its Accessible Travel Center in February, it will mark more than the unveiling of another facility — the authority will celebrate helping people with disabilities experience the freedom of traveling on public transportation independently.

OCTA CEO: Speeding up projects, maximizing environmental benefits

Orange County’s environmental community, state and federal wildlife agencies, and OCTA’s Measure M2 program partnered to preserve about 900 acres of land. This effort protects the county’s natural resources while keeping the promise made to voters to implement 13 freeway projects as part of M2, a half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements approved in 2006.

OCTA CEO: The coveted 'quiet zone'

This month in Orange County, Calif., one of the nation’s most comprehensive rail safety enhancement programs ushers in a new era of silence around our railroad tracks. The program is in direct response to the concerns of residents who have been experiencing an increase in rail traffic and the corresponding noise that comes from federal safety requirements.

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Author Bio

Janna Starcic

Executive Editor


Alex Roman

Managing Editor


Nicole Schlosser

Senior Editor


Michael R. Wiley

GM/CEO, Sacramento Regional Transit District


Heather Redfern

Press Relations Officer, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority


Louie Maiello

Former director of training, New York City Transit Bus & Safety Division and 2003 NTI Fellow, is a consultant for FAAC Inc., bus simulation division, and an independent consultant for "Bus Talk" Surface Solutions.


Dan Reichard

Honorary member, Business Member Board of Governors


White Papers

Hazard Analysis: The Practice of Using Cell Phones While Operating a Transit Vehicle Examining system safety principles, available information in the public domain, recent transit incidents and policies.

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METRO Magazine - April 2013

METRO Magazine
Here are the Highlight:
  • BRT Survey: Coordination Construction Top Challenges
  • Hydrogen Fuel Cells Gather Steam as Viable Fleet Option
  • Alternative Project Delivery Opens Doors to Innovation
    And much more…
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