Center Update
Center Presents on Efforts to Advance Public Transportation Apprenticeship at DOL Meeting
 
April 19 -21, Xinge Wang, Deputy Director and Tia Brown, Program Manager attended the American Apprenticeship Initiative National Meeting held in Washington, DC. Tia Brown participated in the Industry Specific Opportunities for Apprenticeship Expansion panel on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. She was joined by Anne Whetmore the AAI Grant Apprenticeship Specialist, a South Seattle Community College and Dr. John Gaal Director of Training and Workforce Development for the St. Louis - Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council. This panel was an open discussion of innovations and challenges where Tia Brown discussed mentorship, apprenticeship facilitation and implementation, conversion of apprenticeships into hybrid models, and the Center's Train-the-Trainer.

For more information on the American Apprenticeship Initiative, please download the Center's informational poster or contact Program Manager Tia Brown at  [email protected] .
Public Transportation News
An uncontested vote by the Beverly Hills City Council could guarantee a chauffeur for all residents in the near future. However, instead of a driver, the newly adopted program foresees municipally-owned driverless cars ready to order via a smartphone app. Also known as autonomous vehicles, or AV, driverless cars would appear to be the next big thing not only for people, but local governments as well - if the Beverly Hills City Council can get its AV development program past a few more hurdles, that is. The technology itself has some challenges ahead as well.
International Transportation News
Mass Transit Magazine - April 18, 2016
The ridership of the Dubai Metro, both the Red and Green Lines, during the first three months of 2016 year is on the rise compared to the same period 2015 year. Statistics reveal that during the first quarter of 2016 year, the Dubai Metro had served 49,913,698 riders, and the Dubai Tram had reported a ridership of 1,338,601 riders. "This rise in the ridership of both the metro and tram during the first three months of this year is indicative of the appeal of these modes to residents and visitors of Dubai. The metro and tram are shaping into prime mobility means within the Emirate, thanks to their smooth, enjoyable and safe transit experience offered to various commercial & residential communities across the Emirate," said Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Rail Agency of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA).
It's out with the "old new" and in with the "new new" in New South Wales, as public transport could soon shift to an open payment system using credit cards instead of Opal cards. The new system is set to be tested out next year and will have commuters disregarding their current Opal cards in exchange for their credit or debit cards if the trial is successful. Announced by Transport Minister Andrew Constance during the Future Transport summit, the credit card trials will use existing Opal card readers in certain parts of Sydney next year to "tap on and off buses, ferries, light rail or trains."
Transit System/Partners
Commuter advocates fear that NJ Transit could make more cuts to service and lay off non-union workers this year in order to close a $45 million budget gap.  Gov. Chris Christie took one possibility, a fare hike, off the table for fiscal year 2017 when he announced the settlement of rail union contracts last month. Fares increased 9 percent in October and some service cuts were made to close a $56 million budget hole.
Green News
Triple Pundit - April 19, 2016
I don't know if you noticed, but last year was the hottest year on record.  Yes, you read that right: the hottest year in recorded history!  In my opinion, that fact alone should be enough to indicate a climate crisis of epic proportions.  Now I'd like to address how we, as individuals, can support and effect change in our homes, as well as our communities. Advocating for change in our homes and communities is all well and good, but what about the carbon emissions from something we use every day: our cars?  What if we found ways to reduce our personal share of transportation-related carbon dioxide by riding our bikes, carpooling, or taking public transportation?   
Building Transportation Infrastructure
Montgomery Media - April 18, 2016
A new SEPTA station in East Falls is still a few years away, but before the official gears start working, students at Philadelphia University are offering their own visions for the future of the neighborhood Regional Rail stop. The project was suggested to the school by the East Falls Development Corporation, resulting in a course last school year, according to Professor David Kratzer, and after the EFDC and SEPTA saw those designs, they asked to bring it back this year with older students to get more detailed plans which they hope will. 
Livingston Daily - April 19, 2016
A local group is pushing for expanded bus service in Livingston County by transforming the county-operated Livingston Essential Transportation Service into an independent agency financed through a transportation tax.
Ideas for expanding county bus service have been kicking around for years. The Livingston Transportation Coalition, which is promoting the plan, has been around since 2000 as part of multiagency efforts coordinating the county's public and private social service agencies.
Building Transportation Infrastructure
Brentwood Home Page - April 11, 2016
Nashville MTA/RTA Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland spoke at the Williamson County Association of Realtors on Monday morning about the future of transit in Tennessee. Bland went over the current state of traffic and public transportation and discussed three future transit scenarios. The overall plan is called nMotion 2016, aimed to get public feedback on the scenarios and improve traffic for the Nashville area through 2040. "It's been over a year process to identify these options to improve mobility to folks in Tennessee," Bland said. "No one piece of the pie will solve the problem. We're really going to have to use all the tools in the toolbox."
The Seattle Times - April 11, 2016
Our region's population will increase by at least 30 percent by 2040. Anyone stuck in rush hour on Interstate 5 can tell you the Seattle area already has a transit problem, and additional freeway lanes aren't going to accommodate the massive influx of new commuters in the coming decades.
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