Rock Region METRO: Hires New Executive Director

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (May 7, 2018) — The METRO Board of Directors announced the hiring of Charles Frazier, current assistant director of Palm Tran in Palm Beach County, Florida, as the new Rock Region METRO executive director. Frazier has 22 years of experience as an administrator, serving in the Palm Beach County administration as division director of electronic services and security and manager of network services for the county, in addition to serving on the Palm Tran leadership team. He is among 25 public transportation officials selected for the year-long American Public Transportation Association leadership program, designed to help participants develop their skills and prepare them for senior and executive leadership roles. His first day at METRO will be Monday, June 25.

Topeka Metro Honors Public Employees with Free Ride Week

In conjunction with Public Service Recognition Week, Topeka Metro honors federal, state, and local public employees by offering free rides May 7 through May 12, 2018. Public employees with proper identification can receive unlimited free rides on the fixed routes.

VIA Debuts Connection to ‘Confluence & Culture’ on VIA Bus

VIA Metropolitan Transit, the City of San Antonio Tricentennial Commission, and the Witte Museum on Wednesday unveiled a mobile version of the premier Tricentennial exhibit, “Confluence and Culture: 300 Years of San Antonio History,” now on display at the Witte. The history-on-wheels project sponsored by VIA is an extension of the current multi-faceted exhibition that portrays San Antonio as the hub of the frontier under many flags over three centuries.

APTA Provides Resources to Help you Understand the Decline in Ridership

Recent declines in public transportation ridership have prompted a discussion on the factors influencing and causing those declines, and the steps public transit agencies should take to change the ridership trend. Recent nationwide trends, like the emergence of new mobility companies and new technologies, have the potential to reform the current mobility landscape and reduce personal automobile trips. However, public transportation agencies must adapt in order to reinforce the position of public transit as an efficient mode of travel. The public transportation industry can potentially capitalize on external technological innovation and broad economic trends in the coming years. The industry should work to implement adaptations that will provide increased access and use for this efficient mode, while reinforcing the value public transportation still provides.

VIA Debuts Connection to ‘Confluence & Culture’ on VIA Bus

VIA Metropolitan Transit, the City of San Antonio Tricentennial Commission, and the Witte Museum unveiled a mobile version of the premier Tricentennial exhibit, “Confluence and Culture: 300 Years of San Antonio History,” now on display at the Witte. The history-on-wheels project sponsored by VIA is an extension of the current multi-faceted exhibition that portrays San Antonio as the hub of the frontier under many flags over three centuries.

TIGER is Now BUILD, and the Application Window is Open

Per the Appropriations Bill from last month, $1.5B is available.

VIA’s New CNG Fueling Station Largest in North America

VIA Metropolitan Transit officially dedicated its new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station April 18, at the regional transit agency’s San Antonio campus. Guests at the Wednesday morning Dedication Ceremony got a first look inside the 10,980 square foot compressor compound that stands as the largest in North America.

NAIPTA CEO & General Manager Wins Statewide Transit Award

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (April 18, 2018) –Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA) CEO & General Manager Jeff Meilbeck was recognized as the “Transit Individual of the Year” at the 2018 Arizona Transit Association (AzTA) and Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) Excellence Awards.

Rock Region METRO: Awarded Largest-Ever FTA Compensation Grant for Buses

Rock Region METRO was awarded $3,570,000 in Federal Transit Administration funds to purchase seven compressed natural gas buses slated to join the METRO fleet in 2020. This is the largest FTA competitive grant for bus and bus facilities METRO has received.

Congressman Marc Veasey Named South West Transit Association Legislator of the Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — South West Transit Association (SWTA) honored Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) with the organization’s 2018 Legislator of the Year Award. Even on a wet, dreary morning more than 75 transit leaders from across SWTA’s eight-state region braved the cold to attend the ceremony and breakfast.

Do You Transport the Elderly During Flu Season?

When fall rolls around, the weather begins changes, you start to get in the holiday spirit, and… almost everyone gets sick? This isn’t a coincidence. The colder weather coincides with the beginning of flu season—a time when people being diagnosed with the flu occurs more frequently than normal rates.

Tulsa Transit Kicks Off The Connecting Progress Plan.

TULSA, Ok— The Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (Tulsa Transit) is excited to announce the start of the Connecting Progress Plan. Tulsa Transit will complete the Connecting Progress Plan which is an operations analysis to determine the best way to deploy, and possibly reorganize, routes to serve existing and future transit customers. Potential outcomes of the Connecting Progress Plan include improvements to route connections, frequency, service span, and trip speed.

City Hires New Wichita Transit Director

Michael Tann, the executive director for Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority in Erie, Pa., has been hired to lead Wichita Transit, City Manager Robert Layton announced on Tuesday.

SWTA Members to Vote on Revised Bylaws and Slate of Officers

Two important SWTA Member issues to consider: Bylaws Revision and 2018-19 Slate of Officers and Directors.

Proterra Named in “2018 Global Cleantech 100”, And Winner “North American Company of the Year” Award

Proterra is Named in the 2018 Global Cleantech 100 and as Winner of the “North American Company of the Year” Award

Your Emotional Support Duck Is Not Welcome in Seat 15C

Delta casts a skeptical eye on snakes, turkeys, possums and ducks in the cabin.

FAQ’s About the Government Shutdown and Transit - CTAA Analysis

Read about the government shutdown and the Community Transportation Association of America’s analysis of how it affects you.

Mark C. Nestlen Named Executive Director of Oklahoma Transit Association (OTA)

After an extensive search, the OTA Board Members unanimously voted to appoint Mark Nestlen as the new Executive Director, effective February 1, 2018.

Former SWTA President and Transit Executive John Bartosiewicz Joins KL2 Connects, LLC

Transit industry executive search firm KL2 Connects LLC announces the addition of John Bartosiewicz as the firm’s sixth principal.

The Most Popular Forms of Public Transportation

Politico Pro released this fantastic infographic identifying trends of public transit use across the nation. Details on how more than 7.5 million American workers utilize services in their communities are invaluable in the continuous process to best serve these patrons.

FTA Apportionments

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has posted its annual apportionments online in 19 detailed tables.

SWTA Visits Delegation in Washington, DC

SWTA made its fourth visit to Washington, DC, to share good news stories with members of Congress about the excellent transit work being done in the SWTA Nation! I try to target different areas of the region, keeping a balance between Senate and House as well as sections of the region. The choice of who I visit is typically because there is targeted messaging or because a SWTA member has requested a visit or shared a story with us.

Congress Passes Continuing Resolution

By a vote of 72-26, the Senate passed a Continuing Resolution (CR; H.R. 5325) that funds federal government programs through December 9 at Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 levels. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 342-85. The President is expected to sign the bill before the new FY 2017 began on October 1.

SWTA’s Docket Submission to FTA’s NPRM Transit Agency Safety Plans

SWTA’s Docket Submission Included

Take the Mystery Out of Submitting Comments to the FTA Docket

A brief tutorial that will take the mystery out of submitting comments and give you a voice in the Federal government.

President Signs FAST Act Into Law

President Obama signed into law the FAST Act(Fixing America’s Surface Transportation), H.R. 22. There was no ceremony and no fanfare - just a simple statement from the White House that the President had signed the bill (which followed a presidential statement from earlier yesterday morning saying that the bill was “not perfect, but it is a commonsense compromise, and an important first step in the right direction”). The text of the enrolled bill as signed into law is here.

SWTA’s Letter to the Senate and House Conference Committee for the Surface Transportation Bill

​See Link

Capital Bus Investment Sorely Underfunded, Pick-Up Your Phone

The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Reform (STRR) Act is the House answer to a long-term transportation funding bill. This week the House Rules Committee will consider amendments to the bill. This is your opportunity to provide information that will help the House make the right decision about Capital Bus Investment.

SWTA Sends Letter on Behalf of Membership to Key Congressional Committee Staff Leaders

This letter is being sent on behalf of the 182 public transportation providers, businesses and members of the South West Transit Association, from the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

APTA Alert: House Passes FY 2016 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bill

Tuesday evening, the House of Representatives finished floor debate and passed, by a vote of 216- 210, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill. The House voted on the first series of amendments to the bill last week, and completed amendments before voting for final passage late Tuesday night (June 9, 2015).

APTA Alert: Senate Passes Short-Term Authorization Extension

Early Saturday morning the Senate passed H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015 by voice vote. This legislation extends the MAP-21 authorization from May 31 through July 31. The bill has now passed both chambers of Congress and is expected to be signed by the President this week.

Mayor of Oklahoma Stands Up for Transit in OpEd to NY Times

EVERY day, millions of Americans rely on a remarkable network of roads, bridges, subways, trains and buses to connect us to work, school and opportunity. But our transportation system, once the envy of the world, is in jeopardy.

In New York City, subways and buses are overcrowded and often unreliable, and roadways and bridges are in dire need of repair and rehabilitation. From the next phase of the Second Avenue subway to plans to connect the Metro-North Railroad to Pennsylvania Station, to the proposed new subway line under Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, there isn’t a short- or long-term expansion project that isn’t dependent on federal funding.

Letter to Transit Industry about Surface Transportation Lapse

Federal Transit Administration sent this bulletin at 05/12/2015 12:42 PM EDT

House Committee on Appropriations Releases the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Bill

On Tuesday morning, 4/28, the House Committee on Appropriations released the draft Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016. This bill is scheduled to be brought before the THUD Subcommittee Wednesday morning for a markup. The measure appropriates discretionary spending totaling $55.3 billion, which is $1.5 billion above FY 2015 level, but $9.7 billion below the President’s budget request. With reduced offsets, however, the bill represents an actual increase of only $25 million above the current level.

Legislative Alert: U.S. DOT Secretary Foxx Releases Revised GROW AMERICA Act

By: APTA

On Monday, March 30th, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx unveiled a revised version of the GROW AMERICA Act, the Administration’s proposal for a multi-year surface transportation bill. As newly proposed, the GROW AMERICA Act would authorize a strong funding level of $478 billion over six years (as opposed to $302 billion over four years authorized in the previous version). As in the previous version, the Administration recommends that highway, transit, and passenger rail programs be funded through a restructured Transportation Trust Fund. Funding for that Trust Fund would be a combination of current Highway Trust Fund revenue supplemented by a 14 percent transition tax on the approximate $2 trillion of foreign earnings that U.S. companies have accumulated overseas (“repatriation”).

FY 2015 Apportionments and Allocations Now Available

FTA has now published its Fiscal Year 2015 Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information, providing funding for FTA’s programs as authorized by MAP-21, pursuant to the FY 2015 Appropriations Act. For FTA’s formula assistance programs, the amounts apportioned are approximately 8/12th or $5.722 billion in contract authority at this time. The notice and apportionment tables are available at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/12853.html

Appropriations Hearing on Administration Budget

​Legislative Alert from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Second Surface Transportation Hearing Held by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee

Legislative Alert for the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

Obama Signs $1.1 Trillion Government Spending BillSummaryofBills

The 114th Congress has been working to wrap up this year with a series of end-of-year bills. Some of those directly affect public transportation. A quick summary of two of those bills is provided.

Budget compromise keeps highways and transit steady, cuts TIGER

The $1.01 trillion spending agreement reached by House and Senate negotiators on Tuesday (December 9, 2014) night freezes highway spending at $40 billion while avoiding the big cuts to transit projects in the House proposal.