Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Jean-Marie Lawrence made it her mission to make others, especially politicians, aware of transportation problems for Chattanooga residents with disabilities. She said that for people with disabilities, sidewalk access is the city's biggest flaw and that some bus stops are not accessible.

Supporters of a rail system that would connect Chicago to Iowa City, Des Moines and Omaha, Neb., pushed for plans to make the infrastructure improvements needed to start the service. While Illinois DOT offered funds to support the system, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad opposes the project and the state match needed to obtain federal funding.

Transit advocates and commuters questioned the agency’s claim of a 91% on-time rate for November, when Superstorm Sandy impacted the coast line for weeks, putting many trains out of operation. The system is also facing criticism over how it calculated its 96% on-time record for last year.

Trying to keep the city of Kirkland from taking out a five-mile section of rail line to install a recreational trail. City officials told the paper that they plan to eventually rebuild the tracks, but rail advocates are skeptical and say the possibilities should be studied first.

Des Moines Human Rights Commission says the agency is not meeting the needs of disabled and elderly bus riders, especially on the city’s south side. A DART spokesperson said that one south-side route that consultants proposed cutting was restored based on rider feedback.

Proposing a change in voter approval of a sales tax from two-thirds to 55% The move follows the close defeat of Los Angeles County’s Measure J, a $90-billion transit sales tax extension. It fell short of a two-thirds "yes" vote by half of one percentage point.

citizens who support a vote on a new light rail extension made their case to the Vancouver City Council, but were not able to revive a petition the county declared invalid this month. The light rail opponents circulated a proposal that would have prohibited the use of Vancouver city funds to extend a light rail system into town from Portland, Ore.

Despite facing another uphill battle with the General Assembly after a defeat last year, will re-introduce a plan that asks two counties to increase local income taxes by 0.3%. The funds would double bus service and add light rail and express transit service.

Difficulties brought on by Hurricane Sandy underscore the need for a rebalance in transportation investments. More people are choosing to live in places closer to where they work and ride public transit instead of driving.

Neil Greenberg said Detroit’s M-1 rail project is more about real estate development than transit, and that improving the bus system is key to making transportation better in Detroit. He also presented his vision for transit in Southeast Michigan online.