Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The new diesel-electric hybrid SmartBuses were purchased with federal grant funds and will replace the eight oldest buses in the agency’s fleet.

Fifty-eight percent of respondents were supportive of spending public or tax money to bring light rail to parts of the Tampa Bay area.

The North County Connectors will offer bus service to many communities that have never had transit service before. Since the routes feature smaller buses that can divert up to three-fourths of a mile off of the regular route, a greater portion of the residents in those communities will be able to take advantage of the service.

Ridership has climbed for the past two years, but the growth has come in spite of rising rates and reductions in service. The agency is strapped for the cash it needs to add buses and expand routes.

Ridership reached an all‐time high of 1,126,563 rides for the first month of 2012.

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.

EMT will be one of three companies clients can choose for ambulatory transportation as part of PSTA's Demand Response Transportation program, which provides services for people who are unable to independently use the regular, accessible PSTA buses because of their disability.

Advocates for rail and expanded bus service in Florida's Pinellas County — where transit funding lags behind other large areas — hoped Garling could help orchestrate a local referendum in 2011 or 2012.

Result of a growing partnership between PSTA, the City of St. Petersburg and local business leaders and their efforts to enhance transit options for residents and visitors.