November Newsletter-Summit Registration is Open, MPact Reception, Join a Working Group, & Streetcars in the News

Tempe Streetcar

CSC was at the MPact Transit + Community Conference in Phoenix

What an amazing conference! If you haven't been to a MPact Conference, you've got to put it in your budget for next year. MPact will be in Philadelphia, October 20-23, 2024, and it is a special place for transit nerds. In November, CSC joined forces with our friends at Valley Metro to experience a MPact mobile workshop on the Tempe Streetcar before heading to Whole Foods for a reception, where we heard from Congressman Blumenauer. As you may have heard, he's decided not to run again for Congress, but make no mistake, he's not retiring from supporting causes dear to him, like streetcar expansion.

2024 CSC Summit--Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

Make plans to join us at the 13th Annual Community Streetcar Coalition Summit in Charlotte!

The Summit will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, and a block of rooms has been set aside at the nearby Embassy Suites. You can register for the conference, book your hotel, and check out the agenda on our website.

Early-Bird Registration ends December 31!

Potential Sponsors, the sooner you commit to a sponsorship level, the sooner we can post your logo!

FTA Announcements:

FTA Seeks Public Comments on Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Register Now for Dec. 5 Listening Session

On October 30, 2023, FTA published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on Transit Worker Hours of Service and Fatigue Risk Management in the Federal Register to request feedback and comments from a wide array of stakeholders, including the public and industry.

Currently, there are no Federal minimum standards for hours of service and fatigue risk management programs in the transit industry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FTA stakeholders have identified transit worker fatigue as an area of concern, and research shows that fatigue can have a detrimental effect on transit worker performance.

The requested feedback will help FTA better understand current practices, priorities and requirements, as well as the costs and benefits of developing Federal requirements. FTA will use the information received in response to the ANPRM to inform FTA’s future decision-making on whether and how to pursue Federal regulatory action.

The ANPRM will be open for comments until Friday, December 29, 2023.

FTA is hosting a virtual listening session on the ANPRM on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Register now!

Webinar for FTA Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Funding Opportunity

Join FTA at a webinar on Thursday, December 14 to learn about the current Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility funding opportunity. The program supports partnerships between health, transportation, and other service providers to improve transportation access for underserved communities.

Potential applicants to the Fiscal Year 2023 Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants are welcome to attend the webinar below. FTA staff will discuss funding amounts, eligibility requirements, the application process, and the evaluation criteria during the webinar. Registration is not required for the webinar. Applications are due February 13, 2024.

Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Webinar Thursday, December 14, 2023 | 3:00PM ET Webinar

FTA announces New Webpage for Spare Ratio Policy Frequently Asked Questions

FTA has updated its webpage to clarify guidance regarding the spare ratio policy, which ensures that grant recipients operate within prudent financial management guidelines and do not use federal funds to acquire rolling stock until needed.

See FTA’s new frequently asked questions webpage to learn about the range of options within this guidance for agencies to manage their fleets and local needs. The updated FAQ page showcases flexibilities to ensure that all agencies are aware of the range of fleet management options especially as more transit agencies transition fleets to zero emission technology. The updated FAQs do not change guidance but clarify existing policies regarding spare ratios.

Interested in Getting More Involved in the Coalition?

Membership Working Group-focuses on improving the Coalition's members' experience.

Legislative Working Group-shares recent developments in D.C. and is developing a legislative agenda.

Communications Working Group-shares streetcar marketing and communications experience.

Click the button and send Christy an email with your preferred working group.

STREETCARS IN THE NEWS

First Phase of Omaha’s Modern Streetcar Design Completed

masstransitmag.com

The first phase of Omaha’s modern streetcar design has been completed and will be reviewed by the Urban Design Review Board (UDRB). City code requires the board’s review and approval of projects related to public buildings or streetscapes at the early stage of design for compliance with the city of Omaha Master Plan and urban design zoning requirements.

The review includes conceptual designs for stations at the 16 stops planned along the streetcar route. There will be 13 stops at the curb along Farnam, Harney, Capitol Avenue and 8th St. and three stops in the median on Farnam Street between Midtown Crossing and the Blackstone District. The median stops will create a safer pedestrian crossing and slow traffic in the busy corridor.

This month, “Future Boarding Zone” signs will be installed along the route to identify where the streetcar stops will be located. The signs include a QR Code to learn more about the zones.

New Orleans Celebrates Streetcar Centennial

railwayage.com

In an unusually low-key celebration for the Crescent City, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) held a block party and conducted tours of its historic Carrollton Barn in the Riverbend section of the city to celebrate the centennial of the streetcars that that have been running on St. Charles Avenue in regular service for all their 100 years. By transporting both New Orleanians and visitors for that length of time, the cars have become an integral part of the city’s culture and legend.

A Couple Just had Their Wedding on a TTC Streetcar

blogto.com

One couple recently decided to tie the knot onboard a TTC streetcar in Toronto, and the moment they said their "I do" vows has already gone viral on social media.

Contrary to popular belief, Lisa and James didn't actually meet on the TTC, and the idea of getting hitched on a streetcar originated after the couple browsed through other pricey wedding venues in the city.

"The streetcar idea was born out of us wanting to have a very small, simple wedding," Lisa told blogTO.

Valley Metro CEO Shares Vision for Agency

metro-magazine.com

Valley Metro, the public transit agency serving the Phoenix metropolitan area, underwent the biggest change any company can make in March 2022, but that hasn’t stopped it from making a difference in the community.

In March 2022, the agency named Jessica Mefford-Miller as its new CEO, following the retirement of Scott Smith in the spring of 2022.

Despite the change at the top, the agency is pushing forward with its zero-emissions goals, Tempe streetcar service, and more.

Mefford-Miller has more than 15 years of experience connecting people and places through transit in the St. Louis region. She has now been the leader of Valley Metro for more than a year and is still seeking the best for the agency’s riders.

“My vision for Valley Metro is that we will deliver excellent customer experiences by becoming more connected to our communities, developing our talent within our organization, leveraging data and technology, and creating a safer more secure transit environment,” Mefford-Miller says.

She adds that Valley Metro is developing and growing its team so that it can “deliver the world-class transit system that our fast-growing region needs and deserves.”

The agency is continuing to deliver a large capital expansion program, including planned streetcar and light rail extensions.

Community Streetcar Coalition