Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Williams College is paying for the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority’s pilot expansion of weekday bus service. The project includes a pilot texting option that lets riders notify the bus company of their presence at one of the new "On Demand" bus stops.

The Metro Blue, Red, Purple, Expo, Gold and Green line stations will be visited during rush hours, mostly in the morning hours during September.

With the addition, 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam have now banned text messaging by all drivers. Eight states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

Aiden Quinn, who admitted to texting his girlfriend before his Green Line car smashed into another car in 2009, pleaded guilty to a charge of negligence by a person in control of a train. He was sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

On January 26, Sec.LaHood announced federal guidance to prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

Transit customers can use texting features on their standard cell phones or Web-enabled "smart" phones to find Winnipeg Transit stops nearest them, bus departure times at stops, or find out when the bus they are on will reach a location further along the route.

Action is the result of the U.S. DOT's interpretation of standing rules. Drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

SouthWest Transit will introduce other ads and promotional materials such as T-shirts, bumper stickers and postcards later in August as the entire marketing campaign is finalized and rolled out.

A number of deadly accidents involving text messaging behind the wheel have called attention to the dangerous problem of distracted driving.