Metro-Magazine.com News

Wabtec to equip NYCT railcars

Will provide the following components for the cars: brakes, couplers and current collectors; door operators and related equipment; and event recorders.

U. of Wyoming recognized for environmental efforts

Cited for efforts to increase energy efficiency across campus; provide alternative transportation options such as shuttle service and a bike loan program to reduce the number of cars on campus; and require all new construction and major renovations to seek LEED certification.

U. of Wis. – Madison bus eases faculty commutes

A 2010 survey conducted by the university’s Transportation Services department showed that 20% of UW–Madison employees live between 11 and 25 miles from campus, and 9% live 26 or more miles away.

U. of Denver students protest Saferide cancellation

According to campus officials, the service will be cancelled due to lack of student use and not cost.

Report: Improving transit boosts rural communities

Reconnecting America and the Community Transportation Association of America’s "Putting Transit to Work in Main Street America," found that smaller communities are making a wide variety of transit investments, and these investments have had a positive impact on both the economy and the quality of life of residents.

Mo. officials propose student bus route to up ridership

The FastCAT route would have 11 stops completing a circuit through Missouri University and downtown Columbia.

Is the trend of driving less helping Zipcar on campuses?

The National Center for Education Statistics lists nearly 4,200 four-year and two-year college campuses in the U.S. Of these, approximately 265 have Zipcars.

D.C. Metro investing $5M in bus upgrades

Will introduce new limited-stop MetroExtra routes on three new travel corridors, conversion of four existing routes to limited-stop MetroExtra service, and refinements to eleven existing priority corridors.

Arizona U. provides variety of programs for student transit

In addition to the campus' CatTran bus system, bike and car sharing services, as well as additional parking areas have been implemented.

AECOM wins international contract

Under the contract, the company will provide an architectural and engineering consultancy study for the proposed RTS Link, which would connect Singapore with Johor Bahru in southern Malaysia.

Siemens wins $73M TriMet contract

Vehicles will be manufactured from start to finish at its rail vehicle manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif., a facility powered almost entirely by two megawatts of solar energy. The first new railcars are expected to be delivered in August 2014.

Report: Honolulu has worst traffic gridlock in U.S.

Overall, traffic congestion in the U.S. dropped 30% in 2011, according to an annual report, which cites high unemployment and high fuel prices as contributing factors.

LIRR workers who faked disabilities to get amnesty

Retirees who fabricated claims to get more money in their pensions would avoid prosecution and be able to keep their benefits if they admit wrongdoing as part of a deal with the federal government.

Fla. charter service offering satellite TV

Astro Travel & Tours Inc. provides chartered services throughout its geographic market — spanning northern Florida and southern Georgia — and anywhere else in the continental U.S.

Connecticut breaks ground on first BRT line

The 9.4-mile line will include 11 stations in New Britain, Newington, West Hartford and Hartford, with buses running every three to six minutes during peak commuting hours.

Calif. university signs deal for year-round transit access

California State University Long Beach signed a new three-year agreement with Long Beach Transit that will allow the entire campus year-round access to the city’s U-Pass program, starting May 26.

APTA: 62M summer vacationers to use transit

Among travelers who will be using public transportation during their city trips, 71% said using public transportation relieves them from the worry of finding parking, while 68% believe that it is less expensive than taxis and rental cars. Sixty-seven percent will use public transportation to save money on parking and 52% responded they can save money on gas.

Alleged L.A. bus driver shooter could get death penalty

Bus passenger Anthony Craig Chambers has been charged with special circumstances murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. California law allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty when someone is convicted of lying in wait and murdering a transportation worker.

TriMet gets $745.2M for light rail

The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project will create up to 14,500 direct and indirect jobs and generate up to $573 million in personal earnings. It is the region’s sixth MAX construction project and will expand the rail system to 60 miles.

Officials want inspection of new L.A. Metro rail

State safety regulators discovered a critical design flaw in the agency’s newest light rail line that could increase the risk of train derailments. The agency denied that the Expo Line is unsafe and said it already addressed design concerns.

MV purchases LA DOT contract

Will replace Coach America as LA DOT’s Northern provider of Commuter Express and DASH services in June.

Mass. railcar honors fallen war heroes

The Gold Star Memorial coach will travel thousands of miles across Massachusetts and Rhode Island as a reminder of all of our fallen heroes who gave their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

LIRR announces $211M in capital improvements

Some 40% of the LIRR's daily ridership passes along this critical stretch of track called the Main Line, a place where trains from five branches of the LIRR converge every day.

Denver RTD to open FasTracks line early

Currently 93% complete, the West Rail line is slated for April 26, 2013, eight months ahead of the originally scheduled opening date. It is the first FasTracks project to be completed.

Deal struck to keep Canadian passenger trains running

A possible Canadian Pacific strike would have impacted passenger trains operated by Go Transit, West Coast Express and AMT along CP-owned lines in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

Canada, province to study commuter rail link

The funding agreement follows the federal government's commitment in Budget 2011 to co-fund the study with Ontario, reaffirming its support for the Peterborough Commuter Rail Project. The federal contribution will be provided through the Building Canada Fund – Major Infrastructure Component, a program under the Building Canada Plan.

Calif. rail rider turns Facebook posts into book

Self-published his observations while commuting on Sacramento Regional Transit in the book, “Rail Tales: Adventures on Public Transit.”

ABC delivers Van Hool T2145 to Texas

Vehicle equipped with leather seats, Alcoa DuraBright Aluminum wheels and Van Hool’s contoured parcel rack, including an REI Elite Video System with 22-inch video monitors.

Megabus plans to buy rival's assets, expand by 50%

The express bus operator and its parent company Stagecoach Group PLC announced plans Friday to pay up to $160 million for parts of Coach America Inc., which filed for bankruptcy protection in January.

MBTA releases transit security app

This new See Say iPhone app allows MBTA riders to proactively communicate with transit authorities and receive alerts from authorities in emergency situations.

Kansas transit seeks sales tax to maintain system

Wichita Transit is proposing a quarter-cent sales tax to help mend its financially ailing bus system, which is carrying a $500,000 deficit for 2012.

GO Transit: Possible freight strike to impact service

Learned that there is the possibility of a strike by Teamsters Canada Rail Conference representing CP Rail train crews and rail traffic controllers. A strike could occur as early as midnight Tuesday.

Fla.’s HART may expand, change revenue stream

A growing number of riders prompted the agency’s proposal to approve a new sales tax to fund the system and eliminate the portion of the property tax now dedicated to transit. Shift may boost revenue enough to enable the purchase of 250 more buses and add new routes.

Colo. to build $54.5M BRT line

The Mason Corridor, a five-mile, north-south byway, will help create opportunities for new mixed-use and transit oriented developments that avoid sprawl and enhance sustainability and livability. Nearly two-thirds of area jobs are located within a half-mile of the corridor.

Alstom breaks ground on Canadian plant

Slated for completion next fall, it will support the manufacturer’s role in the $1.17 billion contract between a Bombardier-Alstom Consortium and the Société de Transport de Montréal for the manufacture of 468 new metro cars.

Report: Disabled still experience transportation disparities

“Equity in Transportation for People with Disabilities” findings state that older rail and bus systems, as well as Amtrak, are still inaccessible to people with disabilities and paratransit services required by the ADA are plagued by poor oversight, high costs to transit agencies and inadequate service.

N.C. paratransit struggles to balance efficiency, client needs

Demand for Accessible Raleigh Transportation has increased by 50% over three years. The city devotes 50% of its budget to the paratransit service. It is switching from cabs to a contractor to be more cost-effective.

Mich. MTA unveils hydrogen bus, alt. fuel facility

MTA's new fuel cell bus is hybrid-electric, zero emission and powered by a 120 kW UTC Power PureMotion fuel cell system.

Las Vegas RTC cuts less than expected

Changes to paratransit services include at least a 50% discount for seniors and disabled riders and unlimited paratransit fares will be switched to 46-trip per month coupon books, effective July 2013.

L.A. Metro bus driver shot, killed

The driver was taken to the hospital where he later died. The alleged shooter, who was the only passenger at the time, was detained at the scene.

Ind. catalytic converter thefts threaten paratransit

Fourteen were stolen from Access Johnson County’s vehicles. After the thefts were discovered, some drivers used their own vehicles to transport passengers.

Cobb County to break ground on $4.4M paratransit facility

The move follows a decision in July 2011 to cut three CCT routes to help close a $31 million budget shortfall. Transit officials said the building of the facility will use federal dollars and not money from county taxpayers.

Clever Devices adds Miller, Mitchell

Both are based in Clever Devices’ headquarters in Plainview, N.Y.

Boston gets new senior transportation service

ITNGreaterBoston started by advocacy group Health Resources in Action, began providing rides to seniors in January, and will be expanding its service to other communities over the next several years.

ABA, N.Y. Group Sales extend agreement

Two groups have long had a very successful relationship. The agreement insures that ABA delegates at future Marketplace events will have more opportunities to network and be entertained at the same time.

AARP video touts TOD benefits for seniors

Arlington, Va., residents describe the satisfaction of living in a user-friendly, walkable, mixed-use community with access to a variety of public transit options, entertainment, and recreation, and basic services such as shopping and medical amenities.

Nevada transit receives $5.1M for buses, fueling station

Will fund up to 10 new hybrid electric vehicles and a fueling station that will be built at Reno, Nev.-based Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County’s maintenance and operations facility. Support was provided through the FTA’s FY2011 State of Good Repair grant program.

N.Y. bus crash driver's license suspended 18 times

The driver in a New York bus crash that killed 15 people last March had his driver’s license suspended 18 times and was fired from two previous transportation jobs, according to documents released Thursday by the NTSB.

Iowa opens $137M multimodal project

The Historic Millwork District multimodal improvement project provides more transportation options and reconstructed the street networks to better serve a broad range of users, including drivers, public transportation, pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors, children and people with disabilities.

PB wins 2 UK rail contracts

The contracts, worth $12.8 million, have been awarded by HS2 Ltd. under its Professional Services Framework.