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November 18, 2022 | An APTA Publication
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WMATA Opens Its Silver Line Extension
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) has opened its Silver Line Extension, adding 11.4 miles to the Metrorail system and connecting passengers to six new stations, including at the Washington Dulles International Airport. Randy Clarke, Metro general manager and CEO, was joined by USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other federal, state and local officials for opening ceremonies at the Dulles airport station. The event was followed by a special inaugural train ride from Ashburn to Largo.
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FTA Announces $13.1 Million in Grants for TOD
FTA has awarded 19 grants totaling approximately $13.1 million through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to help boost local economies, fight climate change and provide more transportation options through development near new or expanded transit project corridors.
Funded by FTA’s Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning, the awards support local strategies to increase transit access and encourage ridership through mixed-use and mixed-income development near public transportation projects. The program helps communities plan for opportunities created by new transit stations, such as affordable housing, economic development and better connections to schools, hospitals, stores and restaurants.
“Transit stations represent access to jobs, schools, affordable housing and so much more,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, adding that “more communities will be able to develop the areas around their transit stations, which will mean stronger local economies, cleaner air and better access to the essential services families rely on.”
The BIL provides a total of $68.9 million in funding for the TOD Planning Program through 2026.
“FTA’s Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps communities examine ways to improve economic development and multimodal connectivity,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “When communities build new housing, retail, offices and other construction near transit, they advance environmental justice and promote equity, particularly to underserved communities, by increasing access to opportunity and enabling and encouraging the creation and preservation of affordable housing.”
Projects were selected for funding based on criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, which also marked the first time that applicants were asked to prioritize TOD in areas with high incidence rates of homelessness. Nearly 89 percent of the applicants selected addressed homelessness in their proposals.
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BIL Marks First Anniversary
This week marked the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)—a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and competitiveness in the U.S. One year into implementation, the Biden-Harris Administration is already following through on its promise to deliver results by upgrading public transit and passenger rail systems and rebuilding roads, bridges, ports and airports.
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In Memoriam
James L. Lammie, Parsons Brinckerhoff
 James L. Lammie, a long-time transportation professional and renowned advocate for advancing the engineering profession, died Nov. 9. He was 91. Lammie spent 30 years at Parsons Brinckerhoff (now WSP) and was its president and CEO from 1990-1996. He was an instrumental part of transit development projects, including for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Pittsburgh’s light rail system, San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue and Red lines, Boston’s Central Artery/Tunnel project and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Philadelphia elevated rapid transit line.
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APTA President Speaks at Global Forum
APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas spoke at the 2022 Global Innovation Summit on “Building Competitiveness: From Local to Global” in Athens this week. The summit was hosted by the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils, the Delphi Economic Forum and the Council on Competitiveness of Greece and brought together prominent political, business and academic leaders from around the world.
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TSA Announces New STSAC Members
STSAC is composed of up to 40 voting members, representing surface transportation providers, users and employees. STSAC advises the TSA administrator on surface transportation security matters, including recommendations for the development, refinement and implementation of policies, programs, initiatives, rulemakings and security directives pertaining to the surface transportation sector.
Among the reappointed STSAC members are Polly Hanson, senior director – security, risk & emergency management, APTA (who serves as STSAC vice chair); Anthony Mercogliano, deputy chief, security operations, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; Joseph Perez, chief of police & security, Metra; and Robert Finnegan, chief security and safety officer, Delaware River Port Authority.
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Greater Montreal Inaugurates New BRT Service
Public transit users in Montreal have a new BRT system, Pie-IX. The service is an integrated project developed by the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain, the City of Montreal and the Ministère des Transports and carried out in close collaboration with the Société de transport de Montréal, the City of Laval, the Société de transport de Laval and exo.
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COMMENTARY
Transforming to Serve a World-Class City
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 Operating a public transportation system in north Texas offers tremendous opportunities. There is an openness among residents—and in the landscape—that allows us the chance to transform the way people commute, live and thrive. When I announced I was heading to Texas to lead Trinity Metro, my colleagues and friends in the Northeast would smile and joke about how Texans love their trucks. I hear the same from residents in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. They have beautiful big trucks, and toll lanes can whisk you from one part of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to the other at 70mph. However, public transit is key to the region’s future. Fort Worth is ranked the 13th largest city in the U.S. and is the fastest growing among the nation’s biggest cities. That growth shows no sign of slowing down. Transit ridership is strong and growing quickly with consecutive all-time monthly ridership records on Trinity Metro TEXRail, our commuter rail line between Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The notion that people only want to move by highway is outdated and does not reflect reality for the millions who live in our region.
BY RICHARD ANDRESKI
President and Chief Executive Officer
Trinity Metro
Fort Worth, TX
| | | APTA Meets with Treasury on Transit Tax Credits
APTA staff met with U.S. Department of the Treasury senior staff this week to discuss implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, and specifically tax credits that benefit public transportation.
| | |  | | APTA Meets with OMB to Discuss BABAA
APTA staff, together with coalition partners, met with Livia Shmavonian, director of the Made in America Office of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), this week, to discuss implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABAA), particularly regarding the Buy America requirements for construction materials.
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SEPTA Celebrates a Century of Elevation
In early November, officials from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the City of Philadelphia marked a significant milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Frankford elevated section of SEPTA’s Market-Frankford Subway/Elevated Line in Northeast Philadelphia. Construction of the long-awaited, 6.5-mile Frankford section began in September 1915, and took seven years to build, at a cost of $11.6 million—equivalent to more than $200 million today. For the first time, people living in Northeast Philadelphia had access to Center City in an hour or less.
BY JOHN GOLDEN
Public Information Manager
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
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| | New CEO Named
Jewell, LOSSAN
 Jason Jewell has been appointed managing director of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, Orange, CA, the second busiest intercity passenger rail corridor in the U.S. He has been serving as interim managing director since April. Jewell has worked for the LOSSAN Agency for seven years. Prior to his appointment as managing director, he served as chief financial officer. Before joining LOSSAN, Jewell worked in accounting and finance management for more than 10 years with the Orange County Transportation Authority.
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MCTS Celebrates Arrival of BEB for New BRT
Milwaukee County Transit (MCTS), WI, unveiled the first of its new battery-electric buses (BEBs) at a special celebration held recently at the heart of its upcoming BRT route, MCTS CONNECT.
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Fiesta Buzz Service Comes to Mesa
Valley Metro has launched its Fiesta Buzz service in the City of Mesa, AZ. The free, neighborhood circulator will connect the Fiesta District, Asian District and Mesa Riverview with stops at central locations including Mesa Community College, Banner Desert Hospital, Mekong Plaza and Sloan Park.
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