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Transit Dispatchesby Will KemptonApril 27, 2011

OCTA CEO: Transportation funding facing a changing landscape

President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Federal Aid Highway Act, signed in 1956, marked the first time in U.S. history the federal government assumed a greater role in providing transportation infrastructure to the nation. Since then, the devolving role of the federal and state government has resulted in local governments stepping up to maintain and expand our transportation infrastructure.

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From the Editor'sby Alex RomanApril 13, 2011

California: The last hope for high-speed rail

It would be nice to not have to discuss federal funding for a change. I mean, wouldn't you like to wake up one day just knowing that there is a high-speed rail system on its way or that your bus or train was going to be at its stop or station instead of being cut? Yeah, me too.

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From the Editor'sby Nicole SchlosserApril 8, 2011

What would a government shutdown mean for transit?

On the eve of a possible government shutdown, what’s your forecast for the weeks ahead?

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Safety Cornerby Louie MaielloApril 1, 2011

How to improve bus operator reaction time

A discussion about bus operator reaction time will no doubt bring many different opinions on its definition. There are formulas to come up with reaction time and, maybe I'm the lone wolf on this subject, but breaking down the science of reaction time for bus operators is something I did not spend much time doing. Allow me to share with you something that I feel is of greater importance, the "Adverse Reaction Tip Off!"

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Transit Dispatchesby Will KemptonMarch 30, 2011

OCTA CEO: Sales tax program delivers success to voters and transit

Orange County Transportation Authority delivered on its promise to voters, through Measure M, to reduce freeway congestion, improve local streets and invest in transit. March 31 marks the final day that the half-cent sales tax will be collected to go toward Measure M. It represents the sunset of a successful program that has helped keep this county moving with more than $4 billion invested in transportation improvements.

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From the Editor'sby Alex RomanMarch 25, 2011

What is best for motorcoach safety: Science or politics?

In the wake of the bus crash earlier this month in New York, there is a wave of support growing to pass legislation reintroduced by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) on the fourth anniversary of the Bluffton (Ohio) University baseball team bus crash that killed seven in Atlanta.

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From the Editor'sby Nicole SchlosserMarch 23, 2011

FTA bus test adjustment touches on weighty health problem

What seemed like a run-of-the-mill transportation regulation story attracted lots of mainstream media attention. Their angle: Americans are getting fatter. Beyond that, though, what will the FTA's potential passenger weight changes mean for the industry?

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From the Editor'sby Alex RomanMarch 16, 2011

Would growing ridership hurt or hinder transit agencies?

In a study released earlier this week, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) predicted that public transportation ridership would grow to record numbers as gasoline prices continue to spike.

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From the Editor'sby Nicole SchlosserMarch 11, 2011

The End of the Old Oil Order

Cheap oil is no more. Young people, performing on a show set in an older era, actually get that. When will the rest of us?

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From the Editor'sby Janna StarcicMarch 9, 2011

Are public tweetings in your future?

What if you set up a meeting to get public comments on your transit system’s proposed fare increase or service changes and nobody came? I’m sure that’s the case for many transit systems. What if there was a way to reach out to your customers directly without all the hassle that goes into a public meeting?

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Safety Cornerby Louie MaielloMarch 4, 2011

Bus operations: A 'cradle to grave' philosophy

With regard to bus operations, a "cradle to grave" philosophy between employer and employee requires a hands-on approach by the training department, not simply at the hiring stage, but throughout the career of the operator.

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Transit Dispatchesby Will KemptonFebruary 25, 2011

OCTA CEO: The coveted 'quiet zone'

This month in Orange County, Calif., one of the nation’s most comprehensive rail safety enhancement programs ushers in a new era of silence around our railroad tracks. The program is in direct response to the concerns of residents who have been experiencing an increase in rail traffic and the corresponding noise that comes from federal safety requirements.

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