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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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From the Editor'sby Alex RomanFebruary 23, 2011

Public transportation to the rescue

With me and my wife expecting a child soon, we are reading and equipping ourselves for everything you could possibly expect.

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From the Editor'sby Nicole SchlosserFebruary 18, 2011

May the best state win

California and New York have both asked for the extra slice of the federal high-speed rail pie, which was rejected by Florida’s Governor. But would it help California’s project or its chronic traffic problems? Is New York a better candidate?

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From the Editor'sby Alex RomanFebruary 16, 2011

The cost of not funding public transportation

Last week, Proposition 1 in Lakewood, Wash., which would have raised a sales tax by three-tenths of 1 percentage point to help pay for bus service, was defeated 56 percent to 44 percent. As a result, Pierce Transit is set to recommend a reduction of services by 20 percent in October and another 15 percent early next year, to help shore up its budget issues, according to a News Tribune report.

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