Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Approximately 150 riders were chosen from more than 1,500 applicants to test the mobile application. They will test the app for about a month and provide feedback through surveys. Once the beta test is completed and feedback incorporated, the agency expects to launch the mobile ticketing app to all riders later this summer.

After a sharp increase in smartphone snatches last April and May, transit police increased patrols, conducted undercover missions, scoured agency security cameras and video and dedicated two officers to investigate the robberies.

Twenty-seven light rail vehicles will be retrofitted with an ultra capacitor-based, energy storage system, which captures and stores regenerative braking energy as it is generated, uses the stored energy for acceleration and releases surplus energy to other vehicles on the system as needed.

Seventeen local nonprofits and community-based organizations received funding to help low-income members of the community within the agency’s service district. TriMet partnered with local nonprofit, Ride Connection, to administer the program.

Riders will be able to buy fares using an iPhone or Android phone to download the free app, and purchase tickets and passes instantly.

Part of the agency’s move from eliminating fare zones and establishing its base two-hour ticket. The cost of implementing the new ticket printers is $1.5 million.

The foundation of the $485 million operating budget assumes that the arbitration award for the just-expired contract with the ATU is upheld and TriMet’s offer stands, providing some breathing room and ability to invest in critical infrastructure.

Rolynd Puckett, who has been a TriMet bus operator for 38 years, was awarded the distinction of Gold Master Operator as part of the agency’s Master Operator Program. The agency’s Master Operator Program recognizes bus and rail operators who achieve overall excellence in their duties as professional drivers.

No planned service restoration or cuts. The agency continues to face financial hurdles and uncertainty, but expects some breathing room due to an arbitrator’s selection of management’s labor contract proposal. Additionally, the agency continues to invest in new buses as they are cheaper to maintain and provide a better ride for customers.

The hybrids, with technology similar to a Chevy Volt, will run one of the busiest routes among the agency’s 79 bus lines. With the addition of the hybrids, 55 new buses have been put into service since October.