Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

In addition to the funds, the agency also announced a flexible new policy, known as Safety Management Systems, which the U.S. DOT has officially adopted to help guide states and transit agencies alike in managing safety risks in a proactive, cost-effective way.

FTA funding helped provide roadway, sidewalk and security improvements, and new traffic patterns that improve access to the station for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit buses, taxis, tour buses and private vehicles.

A review of company records by FMCSA investigators found that Destiny Tours had, on five occasions, operated in interstate commerce without obtaining proper federal authority and beyond the scope of its registration.

Grant for the City of Tavares, Fla., to help with upgrades along a 57-mile stretch of Florida Central Railroad track between Orlando and Umatilla, Fla.

This is the first shutdown of a passenger carrier following the deployment earlier this month of more than 50 specially trained safety investigators targeting high-risk passenger carriers.

The project is now allowed to move forward to the next phases of design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. This is the last approval step under the National Environmental Policy Act process.

Projects eligible include highways and bridges, public transportation, passenger and freight rail transportation, and marine port infrastructure investments.

The funds, which come from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, bring the total funding from the FHWA to $224 million.

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.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and other experts are featured in a set of seven videos from a day-long workshop on the future of high-speed and intercity passenger rail.