State budgets are squeezing colleges and universities at a time when enrollment is higher and a sluggish economy is causing more students to board campus buses. Partnering with both local transit authorities and contractors has saved transit services for many schools.
Outgoing APTA President William Millar offered his thanks to the industry and his ringing endorsement to incoming President Michael Melaniphy. The EXPO featured 750-plus exhibitors — 100 first-timers — displaying innovative products and services on the 300,000-square-foot show floor, including two complete railcars and two railcar mockups, and 54 buses and vans.
Fresh off the release of the Q'POD at 2008's APTA EXPO, Q'Straint unveiled the Quantum system at this year's EXPO.
During EXPO, Managing Editor Alex Roman sat down with Guillaume Mehlman (shown far right), managing director, Alstom Transportation Inc., North America, and Alain Mercier, president of OC Transpo, for a brief conversation.
While buses for all its worldwide subsidiaries will be built in China, the Australian-based bus manufacturer plans on completing Altoona testing and opening a final assembly plant in the U.S. to meet Buy America requirements.
New president/CEO discusses plans to meet with a broad cross-section of APTA members, including visits to facilities, bus garages, rail yards and factory floors. Meeting with members’ local and national stakeholder partners, such as regional FTA and FRA offices and other policy and regulatory partners, is also on his agenda.
Transit agencies, including NJ Transit and Utah Transit Authority, believe that contactless payment systems will help them more accurately plan routes and set fare prices.
Monroe, Mich.-based Lake Erie Transit (LET) rolled out a "buddy system" in October to help seniors and new riders acclimate to using the transit system. The program is similar to travel training, but with more personal service, Mark Jagodzinski, LET's GM, said.
Most private business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, support a gas tax increase, because they see the dire need for more U.S. transportation investment.
As the popularity of handheld electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and e-readers grows, so has the temptation for would-be thieves.
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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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