Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

A transportation expert and a university professor are looking to leverage Las Vegas’ potential as a high-speed rail transportation hub to develop a university program dedicated to researching high-speed rail.

Two pilot projects measured the effect of increased law enforcement coupled with high-profile public education campaigns. In Syracuse, N.Y., because of high-visibility enforcement, both handheld cell phone use and texting behind the wheel declined by one-third. In Hartford, Conn., there was a 57 percent drop in handheld use and texting behind the wheel dropped by nearly three-quarters.

Data projects that a high-speed rail system serving areas within 350 to 450 miles of Chicago could bring in $2.2 billion annually in user-generated revenues, and 104,000 new jobs.

The purpose of the program is to facilitate the development of commercially viable fuel-cell bus technologies and increase public acceptance of the fuel-cell vehicles.

RITA provides $81 million in annual funding to 136 colleges and universities conducting transportation research and providing the training needed to manage today's transportation infrastructure through the UTC program.

At present there is no domestic manufacturer of streetcar propulsion systems. The propulsion system represents about 20 percent of the total cost of a vehicle. The FTA will fund 80 percent of the $3-million project, with a local match of $600,000.

University Transportation Centers maintain vital partnerships with regional, state and local transportation and transit agencies, to help find solutions to challenges impacting their communities.