Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Participants are encouraged to tweet about their public transit experiences using the hashtag #WITransit.

In addition to hiring a full-time social media specialist, the agency has been able to respond to many individual customers using social media and found it can discover problems in real time from their customers.

Utilizes the new Facebook Timeline interface to share photos and ideas for places future charter bus passengers can explore on their travels. On Twitter, Monsey Tours interacts with over 470 followers by asking questions like, “What type of music do you like to listen to on long trips?” and sharing ideas for making road trips more fun.

Also launching is the CTA Budget Ideas Board — an online feedback forum for the proposed 2012 budget — and the new CTA Updates, a subscription text/email service for customers to receive alerts on any unplanned events affecting service.

Successes shared included using Twitter to gather community feedback on a new hire; as a backup to the website to disseminate service updates; and encouraging riders to tweet photos on trains and buses to help draw attention to maintenance issues.

The redesigned site includes a simpler presentation of DART's online trip planner, Google trip planner, real-time arrival information, stop locator, rider alerts, service advisories and social media.

The agency claims that two Twitter accounts publishing updates on bus cancellations based on data pulled directly from OC Transpo’s website are unreliable. The agency does not have a Twitter account.

Campaign includes a redesigned homepage, a blogstyle website and new content pages at a new Facebook page and a Twitter feed.

Al Engel, Amtrak VP of high-speed rail, answered questions about high-speed rail submitted on Facebook and Twitter. His videotaped responses can be viewed on the Amtrak YouTube channel.

Mission is to tell America's transportation story by giving AASHTO and its member state transportation departments the ability to communicate directly with the public, the news media, and decision-makers on Capitol Hill and across the nation.