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Safety Cornerby Charlotte DiBartolomeoJanuary 11, 2017

The Hidden Factor in Bus Accidents when Human Error is the Cause

It happens every day. A pedestrian sees a bus barreling down the road but is convinced he can make his way to the other side without harm. Most of the time he’s right, and the only harm done is to the driver’s skyrocketing blood pressure.

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Transit Dispatchesby Hayley RichardsonDecember 28, 2016

Why 'Tactical Transit' is the Next Big Thing

The raffish, worldwide movement known as tactical urbanism appears poised to take on a meatier role in improving transit in bus corridors. By providing low-cost, agile alternatives to lengthy street improvement processes, “tactical transit” has the ability to jumpstart virtuous cycles of increasing bus ridership by speeding up travel times, improving passenger experience, and enhancing overall perceptions of riding the bus.

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Transit Dispatchesby Heather RedfernDecember 14, 2016

SEPTA's Supervisor Training Program Helps Employees Move Up the Ladder

The AIM AD programs was designed by SEPTA to expand the pool of supervisors who are ready to move into assistant director positions in the agency's operations and engineering, maintenance, and construction divisions.

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Safety Cornerby Louie MaielloNovember 16, 2016

Tips for Training Bus Instructors and Remembering an Old Friend

Soon after reaching my 20th year in the transit industry, back in 1993, after a draining day of addressing routine bus issues, I would cross paths with another employee, who I always remember, seemed to be quietly “doing his own little daily gig.”

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Transit Dispatchesby Alaa MilbesNovember 9, 2016

How an Innovative Plan Helped a Veteran Find Work Building Railcars

It is the early 2000s, and as the sun rises over Southern California, most people are still fast asleep. Kristian Mendoza, however, is up and getting ready for work. He doesn’t have to be in until eight, but his commute can sometimes take up to an hour-and-a-half each way. This job pays so little that he can barely afford the gas to commute to it, let alone provide the time and care he would like for his two young children.

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Transit Dispatchesby Joseph McCulloughNovember 4, 2016

Ridesharing: A Revolution in Transportation for Healthcare

One pioneer in the healthcare transportation segment, One Call Care Management (“One Call”), is harnessing the power of ride-sharing technology in order to eliminate the issues that have historically plagued this area of the market, while also providing a better overall experience for the patient and the payer.

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Transit Dispatchesby Heather RedfernNovember 2, 2016

'Partnering' with employees, customers key to advancing transit's safety culture

A goal of SEPTA’s safety initiatives is to have customers and employees take the messages presented by the authority’s safety personnel back to their homes, their workplaces and communities to help the agency's safety culture evolve and grow.

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Transit Dispatchesby Paul MackieOctober 25, 2016

How the media, transit agencies, and planners should be talking about BRT

...as a transportation planner who has worked on bus rapid transit-style systems in the greater Washington region, I’ve noticed a disconnect in the public’s expectations versus the reality of the systems they’re getting. It got me wondering: do people have an accurate picture of what BRT means or the benefits the systems provide? During public-planning sessions, I’ve heard a lot of feedback on BRT. The gist is, “That’s really nice that the bus is a different color and the station platform is fancy, but I just want it to be on time.”

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Safety Cornerby Steve MentzerOctober 12, 2016

The Power of Collaboration to Promote Safe Bus Operations

Years ago, I was with Louie Maiello when someone walked over and asked him for some advice: “We’re having problems with people remembering to secure the bus before they leave their seat. Do you have any advice? How can we get them to remember?” Without missing a beat, Louie said “PIN it.” The advice seeker happened to be a veteran mechanic, so he understood and walked away to resume his work. I stood there for a while scratching my head. Pin it?

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Transit Dispatchesby Heather RedfernSeptember 26, 2016

'See Something, Say Something' is Key Anti-Terrorism Tool for Transit

After acts of terrorism — domestic or international — law enforcement agencies are almost always asked: “How are you ‘ramping up’ your security efforts?”

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Safety Cornerby Louie MaielloSeptember 16, 2016

Bus Collisions and the Fully-Equipped 'Medicine Cabinet'

Diagnose, Prescribe & Follow-Up, are the usual doctor’s actions that are utilized when visiting the doctor’s office for whatever is ailing us. This formula should also apply within your training department with regard to the ailment of Bus Collisions.

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Transit Dispatchesby Alaa MilbesSeptember 14, 2016

How billions of dollars in transportation spending can transform our communities

Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent buying buses and railcars every year. Although the national unemployment rate has declined since the Great Recession, for low-income families and communities of color, the unemployment rate remains in the double-digits and good, family-supporting jobs can’t come fast enough. We need strategies that revive U.S. manufacturing and other industries that can create the kind of jobs we want.

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