Public Transportation Superheros

​Read stories from across the SWTA Nation detailing how transit agencies outside of the affected area are mobilizing to fill needs.

Denton County Transportation Authority to Launch New Transit Tracker System on Monday, September 18

Lewisville, TX (September 5, 2017) – On Monday, September 18, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) will launch Transit Tracker – its new vehicle tracking system that will provide passengers with access to real-time information for the DCTA A-train, fixed-route bus and shuttle services. Passengers will be able to track agency vehicles via phone, online, text and free mobile application. DCTA’s Transit Tracker will replace the agency’s current Where’s My Ride tracking tool.

Capital Metro to Increase Service at Mega Shelter

Starting this weekend, Capital Metro will add increased service to and from the mega shelter for Hurricane Harvey evacuees. The agency installed a temporary bus stop at the MetCenter in Southeast Austin, and will increase frequency of Route 228 to serve the shelter location.

Jane Williams Appointed Deputy FTA Administrator

K. Jane Williams has been appointed Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Williams will help lead the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that funds public transportation systems across the country and oversees their safety.

VIA Provides Free Service to Hurricane Evacuees

VIA Metropolitan Transit announced Tuesday it will continue to provide free public transportation to Hurricane Harvey evacuees who are in emergency shelters in San Antonio and Bexar County. Passengers are asked to show their shelter-issued wrist band in order to access the free service and may travel anywhere within VIA’s service area.

VIA Jeff Arndt - Selected Top CEO

VIA President and CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt was recently named one of the best CEOs in the region by the San Antonio Business Journal.

NTSB Releases Full Report on Speeding-Related Crash Study

For the first time in its 50-year history, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a landmark study on speeding aimed at reducing speeding-related injuries and fatalities. The report acknowledges that speed is a deadly problem on our streets and roads, and that other federal agencies and states can do more to address it.

SWTA Spotlight Award Winners for Transit Marketing Excellence

​South West Transit Association Announces 30th Anniversary Spotlight Award Winners for Transit Marketing Excellence

New Regional Fixed Route Bus Service In The Works for North Central Kansas

Salina, Kansas – A new regional fixed route bus service will be in operation in early September 2017 for north central Kansas.

The Kansas Rides 81 Connection will serve Highway 81 locations from Belleville to Salina with a tentative start date of September 5, 2017.

Valley Metro Receives Recognition for GIS, Rail Northwest Extension and Commuter Campaign

PHOENIX, AZ — Valley Metro continues to receive recognition for its leadership in the transit industry as it grows to connect more communities and people to opportunities. Valley Metro received three prestigious awards over the summer.

EMBARK Selects Streetcar Operator

EMBARK’s Board of Trustees awarded a contract Friday with Herzog Transit Services, Inc. for the start-up, operation and maintenance of the seven-vehicle Oklahoma City Streetcar system that’s expected to begin passenger service in late 2018. The $131 million MAPS 3 project started construction in January.

Developing Adaptive Survival Skills for Life

Standing on the curb in Brooklyn, New York with 20 other Suits trying to get to LaGuardia airport, can be a lesson in adaptive survival.

LATS Celebrating 15 Years of Service

After 15 years of service in Lawton Area Transit System (LATS) is looking to give back to its employees and the community.

NMDOT Awards NCRTD With $1.02 Million Transportation Alternatives Program Grant

​The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) has been awarded $1.02 million dollars from the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) for its ADA Transition Plan under the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to modify RTD bus stops and facilities to bring them into ADA compliance.

CARTS Free Rides Friday, April 21, 2017

The Capital Area Rural Transportation System will celebrate Earth Day 2017 by offering Free Rides on all CARTS services Friday, April 21st.

VIA Debuts New CNG Fleet that’s Red on the Outside, ‘Green’ on the Inside

VIA’s new buses are red on the outside and ‘green’ on the inside

EMBARK Offers Free Bus & Spokies Rides for Earth Day

EMBARK is making SmartMoves by adding compressed natural gas buses to the fleet and encouraging the public to take steps to reduce emissions.

CATS Board of Commissioners Approves Purchase of Land for North Baton Rouge Hub from LSU

Hub location could reduce travel time, increase access to health care

It’s almost goTime! VIA’s goMobile app launches summer 2017

VIA Metropolitan Transit’s new mobile app will change the game for riders by putting convenient planning and purchasing power in the palm of their hand.

Gary Thomas, DART/SWTA Board President, Testifies Before Subcommittee on Federal Funding Needs

DART is one of many public transit agencies that has projects in the federal funding pipeline. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives wanted to know how Capital Investment Grants (CIG) will advance these transit projects.

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.

Falling apart: America’s neglected infrastructure

The following is a script of “Falling Apart” which aired on Nov. 23, 2014. Steve Kroft is the correspondent. James Jacoby, Michael Karzis and Maria Gavrilovic, producers.

House Democrat Introduces Tax Reform Bill

Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) introduced a new plan Friday (December 12, 2014) to pay for highway improvements through fresh revenues from offshore income.