Alex Roman
Executive Editor
Alex Roman is Executive Editor of METRO Magazine — the only magazine serving the public transit and motorcoach industries for more than 100 years.
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Alex Roman is Executive Editor of METRO Magazine — the only magazine serving the public transit and motorcoach industries for more than 100 years.
One question rarely asked when discussing whether a new federal surface transportation authorization bill will be passed soon is if the momentum the industry has will grind to a halt. The truth of the matter is that we are a fickle nation. Quick to embrace something one minute and, just as quickly, turn completely against it the next. Meaning, yes, today public transportation's role in the U.S. is crystal clear, but how will that vision look a year from now with a bill still not in place?
Read More →This week, I got a chance to drop in on the Community Transportation Association of America's Expo 2010 in Long Beach, Calif. There were many topics discussed throughout the show, including how the 2010 Census will impact transportation providers, increasing senior mobility, and identifying the causes and solutions of bus fires.
Read More →China's current 4,000-mile network consists of upgraded conventional lines, high-speed passenger designated lines and the world's first high-speed commercial magnetic levitation (maglev) line. The country also has an additional 11,000 miles of high-speed lines currently under construction and has plans to have a complete network of approximately 31,000 miles in place by 2020.
Read More →Above and beyond, customer service is the backbone of the public transportation industry as it strives to lure riders from their own vehicles. With budget cuts spreading transit agencies even thinner, one side-effect that may be getting overlooked is the industry's dedication to customer service.
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Saddled with budget issues, many maintenance departments are asked to find ways to be more efficient. Agencies around the nation are stepping up to the challenge through reorganization, training, preventive maintenance and using new software systems.
Read More →With fare hikes and service cuts becoming close to inevitable for mass transportation systems, senior citizens and the disabled seem to be taking the brunt of the blow.
Read More →Last week, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced $8 billion in awards for 13 high-speed rail projects that will impact 31 states around the nation, as well as a reassurance for the continued pledge of more funds in the future.
Read More →This week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo announced safety regulations requiring Positive Train Control (PTC) technology to be installed on major rail lines around the nation, as well as commuter and intercity passenger rail routes.
Read More →On Wednesday, the U.S. House passed a $154 billion jobs bill, or what’s being called a second stimulus package, by a vote of 217 to 212. The package is not expected to be taken up by the Senate until early next year, but if it goes through, public transportation will likely have another pool of funds to draw from, since the current bill enables large transit systems to use 10 percent of the $6.15 billion in formula funding for operations. It also includes $800 million for Amtrak.
Read More →At a recent joint hearing of three New York City Council committees, – Transportation, Women’s Issues and Public Safety – the New York Police Department (NYPD) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials spoke about the cry from its riders for more prevention and enforcement of sexual harassment.
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