Balancing Demand, Funding Shortfalls Difficult for Top 200

As budgets and funding continue to shrink, demand continues to grow, as does the role public transportation plays in preserving the environment. Appropriately, many transit systems continue to innovate and make their case known, both at the federal and local levels. New York City Transit takes the top spot in this year’s survey.

Web Extra: U. of Alabama transit agency celebrates 5 years

Before instituting the system in 2007, the university held approximately 80 town hall meetings to inform the community of parking changes that were set to be made and receive feedback for the transit system.

George Brennan

Study: Fed transit funding to boost Calif. economy

Although the U.S. rail manufacturing industry is small — the report's authors estimate its employment at between 10,000 and 14,000 employees — industry analysts expect it to grow due to pent-up demand for intercity and urban rail service.

Timothy Butler

METRO Briefs

Arizona launches BRT. Bus-only lane benefits outweigh parking woes. Gov. Doyle seeking high-speed rail stimulus funding.

Blue Bird consolidates divisions, forms 'Coachworks'

Establishment of Blue Bird Coachworks is seen by the company as a big step towards growth of non-school bus business.

Oahu Transit: Delivering Friendly Customer Service on the Island

Charged with perpetuating the spirit of the island, the agency known as TheBus, promotes 'the feeling of Aloha' to grow and maintain its ridership, while instituting programs to protect the environment. Two buses in its fleet recently hit the million-mile mark.

Wash. paratransit grapples with cost, growing need

The transit system projects that use of its paratransit service will grow five percent each year. To help with the rising costs, C-Tran plans on putting two ballot measures to voters next year asking for a percentage of sales tax.