Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Half a dozen transit providers said they would like to expand their paratransit and possibly on-demand services to help out, but they are running into the same lack-of-funding roadblock that has haunted the region's transit for decades

Proposed legislation would raised a projected $168 million over five years for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration approved tax increment financing for downtown service. The funds will be combined with $24.6 million from the FTA.

The agency has a $12.6 billion operating budget and has budgeted about $4.5 billion annually in capital projects until 2014. MTA may be forced to raise fares to compensate for lost money needed to fund improvements.

The new department of government affairs, which is a nine-month pilot program, was created to monitor legislation and develop a legislative strategy for statewide transit funding.

Includes five posters designed to inform customers of the importance of better transit funding, investments that are being made in transit, the positive economic and environmental impact of a healthy transit system, how the agency is improving customer service and the value the TTC has on one’s personal budget.

Funds will make possible the purchase of two tunnel boring machines and construction of the tunnel launch box. The Central Subway is Phase 2 of the Third Street Light Rail Project, which has consistently received positive reviews as part of the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.

New Starts projects tabbed to receive funds include Connecticut's New Britain-Hartford Busway, Denver's 13-station Eagle Commuter Rail project and Seattle's Rapid C bus rapid transit line.

Proposals in both states to reduce the collective bargaining rights of transit workers could put federal funding in jeopardy. By law, the FTA cannot fund transit without Department of Labor certification that the collective bargaining rights of affected transit employees have not been diminished.

Looking to revise four multi-day courses to be offered to new professionals and those who are currently engaged in federally funded procurement. The deadline for completed proposals is March 8.