Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Aims to make it easier for entities interested in developing real estate to receive low-interest loans, if the projects are within proximity — defined in most cases as within a half-mile — of transit lines.

Averages about 25 percent across all fare types. Metra was able to reduce its deficit by $17.5 million by locking in the price of 75 percent of its fuel needs, making administrative cuts and finding other operational efficiencies. Those actions reduced the size of the needed fare increase by 7 percentage points.

To celebrate this service expansion, megabus.com is offering 1,000 free seats on the Chicago-Omaha route for travel Aug. 17 through Sept. 17. The free seats will be available on the site to and from Omaha.

Signed legislation requiring area transit agencies to come up with a universal fare card by 2015. The concept has been in discussion for several years. However, transit experts cite obstacles, including ever-changing ticket technology and Metra’s fare structure.

Supporting the local deployment of alternative-fueled cabs, the City of Chicago's Department of Environment has implemented a Green Taxi program, which reimburses taxi companies that purchase vehicles powered by alternative fuels or hybrid vehicles.

Sharing the long-held stance of many city residents, 52-percent of suburbanites said they agree with investing more government resources in public transit, versus 32 percent who chose improvements to highways and toll roads.

Will help the agency to move forward with efforts to test green technology buses and paratransit vehicles such as hybrids and compressed natural gas (CNG), replace its radio system, and build a transit center.

The grant is made under FRA’s FY 2008 Capital Assistance to States – Intercity Passenger Rail Service Program. This is a separate authority from the grants for high-speed rail under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Guidance for competitive grants under the new authority is still under development.

Ad from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism will feature the likenesses of the four presidents with Illinois roots: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama.

Headquarters will house approximately 60 executive managers and administrative personnel from four operational groups focused on passenger transportation