APTA's patent lawsuit resolved
The lawsuit stated that ArrivalStar’s patents related to arrival and status messaging systems for the transportation systems were invalid and unenforceable.
President/CEO Michael Melaniphy announced a lawsuit brought by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) against ArrivalStar has been resolved.
“ArrivalStar has agreed not to make any future patent infringement claims against any of APTA’s public transportation agency members or any vendors providing goods and services to APTA public transportation agency members” he explained.
On June 25, 2013 APTA sued ArrivalStar on behalf of its more than 1,500 public transportation members. The lawsuit stated that ArrivalStar’s patents related to arrival and status messaging systems for the transportation systems were invalid and unenforceable. In addition, APTA’s lawsuit asserted that the 11th amendment prohibits state and regional entities from being subject to such suits.
Previously, at least 11 public transit systems had been subject to frivolous lawsuits by ArrivalStar and had decided to settle rather than undertake expensive and time-consuming litigation, which would have cost millions of dollars.
“This is a good day for the public transportation industry and now public transportation agencies and businesses can move forward with innovative technology without threat of baseless litigation,” added Melaniphy.
More Management
Beyond the Checklist: A Structured Approach to Transit Maintenance
Reliability-Centered Maintenance helps transit agencies move beyond routine checklists to focus limited resources on the assets and failures that have the greatest impact on safety, reliability, and service.
Read More →
APTA 2026 Nominating Committee Selects Leadership Slate, Names Chair and Vice Chair Nominees
Leadership changes will help shape the association’s priorities and its representation of the transportation industry during the 2026–2027 term.
Read More →
DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative
The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.
Read More →
Advancing Fare Collection Through Technology and Innovation
Learn about delivering 1300 gates at 91 stations while managing fare evasion. Explore the large scale deployment, solution customization and real-world results that affect the region. Prepare for deployment in your region now.
Read More →
Game Day in Motion: Moving Millions During the 2026 World Cup
Between packed transit stations and team motorcoaches, see how agencies and operators across North America tackled the transportation demands of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Read More →
Surface Transportation Extension Averts Shutdown, Leaves Transit Funding Gap
The stopgap keeps federal transportation programs moving, but missing advance funding could complicate the transit and rail projects agencies are planning next.
Read More →
Bus Tech Talk: Keeping Transit Technicians Ahead of the Technology Curve
LA Metro’s Obed Mejia discusses technician training, evolving maintenance technology, fleet replacement, and strategies for getting the most out of today’s transit fleets.
Read More →
Why Simulating Pedestrian Movement Has Become Essential for Modern Rail Stations
Pedestrian microsimulation is helping rail planners identify bottlenecks, test station designs, and prepare complex transit hubs for growing passenger volumes.
Read More →
People Movement: Holly Arnold Joins Transdev and More
In this edition, we also cover recent appointments and announcements at Pace, CamTran, MCI, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
Read More →
NITA Launches New Era of Regional Transit in Chicago
The new authority replaces the RTA and brings CTA, Metra, and Pace under a strengthened regional framework for funding, planning, fares, safety, and service coordination.
Read More →