Public Transportation

U.S. Navy Electronics Technician

Three urban planning scholars of Arizona State University and MIT have published a study critiquing the American Planning Association's selection of "Great Neighborhoods." The study's writers take issue with the fact that these "great neighborhood" rankings fail to take into account affordability or social diversity, while being lauded as a definitive voice in the field. Looking at the data, it is apparent that the places the APA applauds for 'revitalization' may actually just be heavily gentrified.   

AMMAN-University student Khadija Gowda's was worried about her final exams but just as worried that she wouldn't make it to her exam on time.  The distance from Khadija's house in Tabrbour to the University of Jordon is about 11 kilometers, Khadijah has estimated. But she has to leave three hours to get to the exam by public minibuses.

It may be time to consider the cost and benefits of adding security cameras to buses and ferries in the "interest of keeping all modes of public transportation safe," Shadow Minister of Transport Lawrence Scott said.
Mr Scott said, "Last week, an incident happened on a public bus that highlights the need for security cameras to be installed on all public transport. As the incident is under investigation by the BPS, I will refrain from details, however, it was traumatic for all passengers on board the bus at the time which included tourists and locals alike.   

After 34 years on the job, Casey is retiring on Sept. 30.
Since assuming leadership in 2008 of the mass-transit system that moves thousands of Philadelphians to work every day, Casey has led SEPTA out of its dismal decades of doomsday scenarios when the ancient infrastructure and the cash-strapped budget were always tottering on the brink of ruin.  Casey, 59, replaced those eve-of-destruction scenarios with dozens of station rebuilds, 715 new hybrid buses, 120 new Silverliner V regional rail cars, and 24/7, Twitter-driven, real-time transit alerts (warts and all) that ushered in an eye-opening "you look like you need a hug" embrace of frazzled riders.

Instead of driving or taking the train, visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in Philadelphia next weekend can hop on the next best thing: A school bus.  Long-distance transportation service Ryde on Monday launched PopeBus.com, a website allowing riders to book a trip to the World Meeting of Families, with transportation coming via school bus and commuter rail.   

Mass transit agencies across the country are being recognized for their high security standards by the Transportation Security Administration.
During the past few years, TSA has commended mass transit agencies from across the nation for earning TSA's highest rating of "Gold Standard" using the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement program for its dedication to building a strong security program.  The BASE program is a voluntary security assessment of national mass transit and passenger rail systems and is performed by TSA's Transportation Security Inspectors. The assessment informs development of risk mitigation priorities and determines TSA allocations or resources. TSA recognizes agencies demonstrating a strong security program with its Gold Standard Award.

This spring, Doug Walker did what would have seemed unthinkable a year ago: He bought a car.  For eight years he made his daily commute on Metro. But after moving to West Springfield last year, he grew weary of the endless delays and service problems on the Blue Line. Service reductions to make way for the new Silver Line had stretched his evening commute to 90 minutes on trains where riders were packed tighter than sardines - and that's when he could even get on.  "You would see this crush of people trying to get in and then be turned away," he said. "Once or twice, during really bad days, [trains] would not even stop. .?.?. There was just no room."  

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced that 21 organizations around the country will receive a share of $19.5 million in grants to support comprehensive planning projects that improve access to public transit. The funds are made available through FTA's Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning Pilot Program for communities that are developing new or improved mass transit systems.  

With the 2024 Summer Olympics in mind, public transit leaders in Los Angeles County want to speed up ongoing expansions of light rail and subway service.  The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has asked for federal help to fast track connections to the city's international airport  and west side.  Current timetables wouldn't see the projects completed until 2028 for LAX and 2036 for the subway to the University  of California, Los Angeles.  LA Metro CEO Phillip Washington called the proposed timetable "extremely aggressive" in a letter asking to join a Federal Transit Administration  program that would accelerate federal money to the projects.