Read More: RATP Dev USA Awarded GoDurham Fixed-Route Operations Contract
RATP Dev, COMET Begin 'Hy-Drate Me' Campaign
The program started as a pilot back in July.
August 18, 2023
RATP Dev staff, along with The COMET team, will continue to provide water each Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at its hub on the corner of Laurel and Sumter streets through the end of August.
Photo: The COMET
1 min to read
The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) and its contractor RATP Dev announced they are helping the public cope with the Midlands’ hot summer by providing bottled water at its COMET Central hub every Friday in August.
“In the spirit of serving our community, our team was concerned about the well-being of our riders with temperatures reaching above 90 degrees,” said Lenny Cooksey, GM of RATP Dev at The COMET. “The Hy-Drate Me program is our small way of keeping people safe in the heat.”
Hy-Drate Me Program's Beginnings
The program started as a pilot back in July.
RATP Dev staff, along with The COMET team, will continue to provide water each Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at its hub on the corner of Laurel and Sumter streets through the end of August.
“Keeping our riders safe is one of the hallmarks of our service,” said LeRoy DesChamps, interim executive director of The COMET. “We are pleased to offer this program to the community and hope to continue it next summer as well."
The next Hy-Drate Me water distributions will take place on Aug. 18 and 25 at 11:30 a.m.
More Security and Safety
Transit Agencies Highlight Safety Gains at National Summit
Leaders from 15 major transit systems shared crime-reduction results and safety initiatives while discussing the role of continued federal support.
Read More →
DART Launches Major Security, Fare Enforcement Initiative
The 90-day demonstration will deploy coordinated security teams at five light rail stations while testing controlled access and gathering data to guide future investments.
Read More →
RTD Launches NextRide App to Consolidate Trip Planning, Fares, Security Reporting
The app expands on RTD’s existing NextRide web application and allows customers to view real-time vehicle locations and service alerts, purchase and store digital fares, and access customer support.
Read More →
TAPTCO Updates OSHA Compliance Training for Transit Maintenance Operations
The revamped program addresses 26 OSHA standards for maintenance facilities, with TAPTCO pointing to training, documentation, and everyday shop hazards as continuing challenges for transit operations.
Read More →
Sponsored•August 18, 2026
How VaporVision Adds Value to Transit Door Systems
Wabtec engineers explain how the system improves doorway detection, strengthens diagnostics and gives transit agencies and OEMs greater operating flexibility.
Read More →
FRA Announces $5.3B in Rail Investments, Including $2B for Amtrak
Funding will support grade-crossing improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and new Amtrak equipment in 23 states.
Read More →
Chicago, Maryland Expand Non-Law-Enforcement Safety, Rider Support
The CTA and MTA are launching new programs aimed at de-escalation, crisis response, rider assistance, and greater transparency.
Read More →
LA Metro, City of West Hollywood, and Partners Advance Smarter Bus Lane Enforcement
The award-winning partnership combines AI-powered detection with human oversight to improve bus reliability, accessibility, and enforcement efficiency.
Read More →
LA Metro Reports 57% Decline in Homelessness on Transit System Since 2024
The agency's latest homelessness count offers new data on how care-based services and cross-sector partnerships can complement traditional transit security strategies.
Read More →
FTA Launches 'Transit Moves America' Dashboard to Highlight Agency Safety and Performance
The online dashboard transforms National Transit Database information into a public-facing resource that allows users to compare transit agencies on key operational and safety metrics.
Read More →