Putting out the fire on hot spots

Every city has its “hot spots” — places where many gather to “hang out” around the clock. Unfortunately, sometimes these locations aren’t places one should go for a safe, fun time and often the illegal activities that occur there have a negative impact on the community. When Chief Thomas Nestel III re-joined the SEPTA Police Department in 2012, he set out to identify the top “hot spot” served by the agency.

Former OCTA CEO reflecting and moving forward

As I begin a new chapter in my career, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on my time as CEO of OCTA. With my time at the agency having come to a close, the questions I am asking myself are, ‘Did I make a positive contribution to the organization?’ and ‘Have I left it in better shape than when I arrived?’

Sustainability Programs: A Triple (Bottom Line) Threat

This is the third year of SEPTA’s formal Sustainability Program and its pursuit of a "triple bottom-line" strategy: becoming environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. The agency’s Sustainability Annual Report demonstrates how previously untapped assets are making a difference in the agency’s daily operations.

SEPTA beefs up its ‘social’ assets

In this age of smartphones, tablets, Twitter, Facebook and other social media, rapid transit has taken on a new meaning. Passengers not only want to get to their destinations fast, they want information about their trips in an instant. To answer customers’ demands of immediacy, transportation organizations across the country have taken to using a variety of methods to disseminate details as quickly as possible.

Community involvement: Not just for the holiday season

As public service institutions, transit organizations’ involvement in their communities should extend beyond bus routes and train stations. SEPTA demonstrates good citizenship collectively as an organization and through its employees’ individual community service activities.

Putting a different spin on transit ads

In a time of dwindling government funding, selling ads is an important revenue generator for transit authorities. But the advertising can be more than simply placing a car card on a bus or putting up a poster at a station — creativity can produce an “experience” for customers.

OCTA CEO: Local control key to rail service integration

In Southern California, three commuter rail operators have successfully offered service to passengers for decades along a single rail corridor. However, with three operators come three independent schedules and pricing structures. This can lead to confusion among customers. A new bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown will help integrate the services.

The camera doesn’t lie

“If you commit a crime on SEPTA, you will be caught.” Those were the words of SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel when video surveillance footage of a suspect wanted for a robbery and shooting at the North Philadelphia Broad Street Line station was released to local media.

Reach Out and Touch

Kids love vehicles — cars, trucks, construction equipment. But how often do children get a chance to “get up close and personal” with buses, big rigs and emergency responder units? “Touch-a-Truck” events, a relatively new type of community activity, are giving kids across the country the opportunity to sit behind the wheel.

OCTA CEO: Educating the next generation of transportation leaders

The transportation industry faces the potential loss of significant institutional knowledge as baby boomers retire. For many of us, a greater emphasis has been placed on ensuring we prepare those who will take over to successfully lead our agencies into the future. A program started by the Orange County Chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar is an ideal example of this kind of effort.