Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

After first releasing its schedule data in the industry-standard GTFS format to developers in 2009, the MBTA jumped to the forefront of sharing real-time transit data by making live location and prediction data for all 1,000 buses available to developers in 2010.

A new Rental Car Center will start operating this fall with a unified bus system that will replace more than 90 rental car company buses and Massport shuttle buses with 28 new 60-foot articulated buses.

Staff was prepared, primarily due to the new equipment and training acquired in recent years with federal grant money. Transit operators were able to view real-time footage from system’s several thousand security cameras and live feeds from hundreds of other city- and state-owned cameras, for the first time ever.

Richard Donohue posted a message on the MBT Transit Police website crediting a slain MIT officer for saving his life. He is able to briefly move around with the aid of a walker. A bullet from the shootout will remain lodged in his leg.

These are the first three coaches of 75 total ordered from Hyundai-Rotem USA, at a cost of $190 million. Fifteen will be in service by fall of 2013.

Decision made to close services made following chaotic night, ending with one Boston Marathon bombing suspect killed and another still on the run. An MBTA transit officer was among those shot by the suspects.

They blocked a street outside the State House, demanding more funding to avoid future fare increases on senior citizens and disabled riders. Four were arrested. The move follows Gov. Deval Patrick administration doubling fares for door-to-door paratransit service last year.

Hyundai Rotem, under fire for failing to deliver any of its 75 double-decker coaches on time, is making progress on its $190 million contract. Three of the cars are slated to be in service in April.

Between 15 and 20 teenagers punched a bus operator and tried to pull him from the driver’s side window. Transit Police Superintendent in Chief Joseph O’Connor said that the incident was unusual because assaults on bus drivers usually only involve one or two individuals.

Offering includes a sponsorship program, which will provide partners with marketing rights and benefits, such as signage and advertising in commuter rail stations, railcars and ferry facilities; corporate presence on commuter rail system maps and schedules; control of a Wi-Fi landing page; links on the MBTA website; and intellectual property rights.