Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Chicago’s Pace Suburban Bus ordered 13 Commuter Coaches, with an option for 37 more. Meanwhile, York County, Penn.’s rabbittransit took delivery of three new MCI Commuter Coaches, and Beaumont, Texas’ Sun Travel Trailways received its very first MCI J4500.

Extended agreement by an additional five years. Titan will install approximately 100 new digital screens in the Chicago loop, replacing the static urban panels located at subway entrances and exits. This new addition to the agency's digital network will create unprecedented digital media access to the core downtown Chicago area.

Pace Suburban Bus and Lake County now provide a greater variety of destinations and times in Wauconda and Fremont townships as part of the Northwest Demonstration Project.

Balanced without fare increases or service reductions.

Calls for fares and service levels to remain steady for 2013 and for Pace to add new service in some areas during the year.

Beginning in summer 2013, Ventra will enable customers to pay for rides with contactless payment methods, including Ventra Cards; Ventra Tickets for single-ride and one-day passes; and personal bank-issued debit and credit cards equipped with a contactless chip.

The $2.5 billion initiative calls for issuing a series of bonds over the next five years, averaging about $500 million in capital improvement dollars each year. While each agency would be able to prioritize the projects to fund, the RTA has an existing list of backlogged projects it will reference before approving expenditures.

Roosevelt University suspended its shuttle service to the Schaumburg campus, which cost $200,000 annually, and is replacing it with PACE bus service.

Eighty-three percent of commuters said they were satisfied with transit service. Twenty-three percent said they were very satisfied. More than 90% said they would recommend the transit system.

Chairman says combining redundant service routes, purchasing, personnel, marketing and maintenance departments, could save taxpayers $150 million a year.