Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Has served more than three years as president of MTA New York City Transit and as the MTA interim executive director since Jan. 1, 2013. He replaces Joseph Lhota.

Since March 7, 2007, nearly 1,000 employees working 24 hours a day, five days a week, have completed more than 2,400 controlled blasts — all without affecting the nearby operations of MTA Metro-North Railroad or the New York City Subway.

New York City, Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City users can now access live departure times on rail lines.

A construction worker on the Second Avenue project who was stuck in mud up to his waist in a 75-foot-deep tunnel was freed in a four-hour rescue that involved more than 100 emergency workers. The worker, who was conscious, was taken to a hospital.

A total of $10.9 billion was appropriated for transportation emergency relief. However, this funding is now reduced by 5%, or $545 million, because of the mandatory budget cuts known as sequestration that took effect on March 1.

The need for additional revenue, which had been assumed in MTA budget forecasts beginning in 2009, was confirmed in July 2012. The MTA announced specific fare and toll increase proposals last October.

The new track is expected to carry 220,000 riders a day upon completion.

Steps include increasing video surveillance, vehicle tracking and restricting employee parking.

Thomas Prendergast, the president of MTA New York City Transit, which operates the MTA’s subway and bus systems, will serve as interim executive director of the MTA when Lhota’s resignation takes effect.

The biggest change to the website is the expanded TripPlanner utility. Without even leaving the homepage, MTA customers now can get access to features that have proven popular but have not been accessible from the homepage.