Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Anthony R. Coscia, an Amtrak board member since June 2010, and current chairman of its audit and finance committee, succeeds departing board chairman Thomas C. Carper whose term on the board expires this month.

Will operate the shuttle buses and expanded supplemental bus service the CTA will offer customers during the Red Line construction project, which gets under way in May 2013. The drivers will become full-time bus drivers following the conclusion of the project.

Terry Garcia Crews was previously president/GM for Star Tran Inc., providing services to the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas, responsible for almost 400 fixed-route and paratransit vehicles, a $98 million budget and a workforce of 1,000.

Board agreed on a contract with the current GM of Iowa's Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, Bradford Miller. Miller will officially take the reins July 5, 2011.

City service officials in a town near Buenos Aires claim that female drivers are safer, and more suited to transporting frail or very young passengers.

Prospective drivers must be at least 22 years of age, possess a valid driver's license, a minimum of three-years driving experience (commercial or private), good character skills, good driving record and a passion for safety.

John Nations, a partner in the St. Louis office of Armstrong Teasdale and currently in his third term as mayor of Chesterfield, Mo., will succeed Robert Baer in late October. Baer has served as president/CEO since December 2007.

Steve Banta, who has more than 23 years in the transit industry, has worked in progressively important management roles for several public transit agencies including in his current role as Portland, Ore. TriMet's executive director of operations.

Myrna Valdez will focus her efforts on supporting the practice in western U.S., which is led by Sam Mayman, P.E., vice president and transit practice director.

He will be based in URS' Columbus, Ohio, office and direct its nationwide high-speed rail transit practice.