Center Update
In Next Phase of Work, Transit Elevator/Escalator Training Consortium Focuses on Assessments and Courseware Updates
  
Transit Elevator/Escalator Subject Matter Experts Draft Written Assessments

With the addition of Amtrak as a member of the Transit Elevator/Escalator Training Consortium, this group was able to take on a new phase of work. On Tuesday March 7, 2017, principals from the member agencies and their representing unions met to define that new scope of work. It was determined that the focus of work in this next phase would be on assessment development and simultaneous courseware updates to meet changing technologies and requirements as per American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code. The Center is working with Diane Jones from the Urban Institute to update the competencies for the program.
 
Last week, the consortium Courseware Development Team which is comprised of two Subject Matter Experts from each location met at SEPTA to start work on this scope. During the two day meeting, the group:
  • Wrote 120 multiple choice assessment questions
  • Defined competencies for an apprenticeship program
  • Started to identify minimum training hours for a competency-based apprenticeship
  • Shared best practices for training and maintenance
 For more information on the Transit Elevator/Escalator Training Consortium:
-      View courseware samples on Transit Training Network 
-      Contact project manager Jim Kinahan .

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is now accepting applications for the Emerging Leaders Program, formerly known as Early Career: www.apta.com/emergingleaders . This national professional development program includes skill building and educational sessions, a mentoring program, and networking opportunities. The target audience is transit professionals who have 3-5 years of experience working in the transit industry, including 1-3 years of experience managing tasks, people, or projects. Applications are due Monday, March 27, 2017. Consider applying or nominating someone from your organization! Please note that applicants must be sponsored by an APTA member. 
Public Transportation
PBS Newshour - March 10, 2017
The nation's infrastructure received an overall grade of "D- plus" in a report card published this week by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the same grade the group issued in 2013. Among the 16 categories graded: bridges received a "C-plus"; roads, dams and airports, a "D"; while mass transit came in with a "D-minus."
The Hill - March 13, 2017
The 2016 GOP platform calls for entirely eliminating federal funding for mass transit, bike-share programs, sidewalks and rail-to-rail projects, arguing that mass transit is "an inherently local affair that serves only a small portion of the population, concentrated in six big cities."
Redfin - February 6, 2017
According to recent Redfin research, the construction of parking spaces for residential properties is starting to wane, as is the number of families who own two cars. And as traffic concerns and commute times rise across the country, many people are opting out of car ownership entirely.
NextCity - March 13, 2017
Detroit's M-1 Rail streetcar, the first urban rail transit line in the U.S. to be built and run by a private, nonprofit organization, finally has a grand opening date.
Transit System/Partners
U.S. News and World Report - March 13, 2017
Changes were proposed in the Senate to send a portion of the extra funding to New Jersey Transit as well. The legislation allocates $260 million for roads and bridges and $140 million for NJ Transit.
Greater Greater Washington - March 9, 2017
It's been about two years since Metro first introduced the 7000 series railcars, which were designed to expand the rail fleet and replace older cars. The hope was also that they'd be more reliable, and while there is still the occasional breakdown, they're well on their way to serving that purpose.
WAMU 88.5FM - March 14, 2017
While the report criticizes the lack of preparation that preceded the wholesale reconstruction of the oldest track infrastructure, the report credits Metro with learning from initial missteps and developing a "new organization-wide quality control and assurance framework and is implementing it for the first time through SafeTrack."
The Atlantic - March 13, 2017
Last year the San Francisco Bay Area became the first laboratory in North America for a mass-transit incentives program, with BART offering rewards to commuters who shifted their morning commutes away from the peak rush.
StreetsBlogUSA - March 13, 2017
For the last year and a half, Columbus's Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District - which has property taxing authority downtown - has been piloting a free transit pass program for 844 downtown workers. It made an impact: The share of workers in the program who commute via transit increased from 6 percent to 12 percent.
The Dallas Morning News - March 13, 2017
Federal funding is critical for public transit agencies like DART. In its most recent five-year business plan, DART projected that formula and discretionary federal funding would account for nearly 15 percent of its $5.6 billion in incoming funds.
Economic Issues
The New York Times - March 8, 2017
Decades' worth of studies show that whenever cities add roads, new drivers simply fill them up. This isn't because of new development or population growth - although that's part of the story - but because of a vicious cycle in which new roads bring new demand that no amount of further roads can satisfy.
Building Transportation Infrastructure
The Washington Post - March 9, 2017
The Trump administration promises to pump $1 trillion into improving the country's crumbling infrastructure, but a benchmark report says it will take almost $4.6 trillion over the next eight years to bring all those systems up to an acceptable standard.
Green News 
The Atlantic - March 14, 2017
Few industries are as well positioned as railroads to lead a transition to a clean economy. Unlike other heavy, long-haul transportation vehicles such as ships, planes, and semitrucks, trains can be easily electrified, and electricity is increasingly coming from clean sources such as sun and wind. Rail is already the most efficient form of ground transportation, and it has an unparalleled capacity to provide clean freight and passenger mobility.
Workforce Development
Metro Magazine - March 14, 2017
A $200 billion investment in the nation's public transportation infrastructure, over a 10-year period, could create and sustain 10 million jobs across America, according to a new analysis by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). In addition, it could provide sustained economic growth by contributing $800 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product over a 20-year period.
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