Join us for the first meeting of the ATTAIN Rail/Signals/Traction Power and Facilities/Elevator-Escalator Committees on September 14, 1:30 – 3:00 pm ET. Members of both committees and those interested in apprenticeship for any rail- or facilities-related occupation are welcome to attend.
Hear short presentations on apprenticeship programs at transit agencies across the country and engage in interactive discussion with presenters and your peers about how these programs are developed and how they work.
Learn everything you’ve wanted to know about rail and facilities apprenticeships! Register here.
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We applaud the USDOT announcement of $1.66B in grants including a $43.4 million investment in transit workforce training. These funds will improve air quality and ensure a well-trained workforce to move people to jobs, school, and other opportunities.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration announced $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country to invest in 150 bus fleets and facilities. Funded by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, more than 1,100 of those vehicles will use zero-emissions technology, which reduces air pollution and helps meet the President's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This year's funding alone will nearly double the number of no-emission transit buses on America's roadways. For the first time, five percent of low- and no-emission bus funding will be used to train transit workers on how to maintain and operate new clean bus technology. The bus grant awards – made under FTA's Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission Vehicle programs – are FTA's first competitive grant selections under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The programs support the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to expand our nation's transportation infrastructure, create and maintain good-paying jobs, and fight climate change.
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Route Fifty – August 11, 2022
Transit agencies that depend heavily on fare revenue predict they will only recover 70% to 90% of their pre-pandemic ridership, the analysts noted, but several agencies are lagging behind their own estimates.
METRO Magazine – August 15, 2022
When a transit agency offers fare capping and allows customers to pay as they go with their own contactless card or smart device —also called open loop payments — the benefits can multiply. Riders don’t need to tie up funds on a transit card in anticipation of their commutes nor consider how often they will be riding to get the most value from a pass. Instead, they can use their existing contactless credit, debit or prepaid card, or payment-enabled device to pay for rides directly and be guaranteed the best price for those rides.
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Greater Greater Washington – August 11, 2022
Under the current approved RTS plan, Metro is allowed to run up to eight 7000-series trains in service any one day, and the agency is expected to inspect the wheelsets on each one before they go out into service again. The daily inspections are used to ensure that the train wheels haven’t moved on their axles since the prior day. If they have, the railcar fails the inspection and won’t be allowed to go out. The daily inspection has been a limitation for the number of trains that Metro can send out into service on a daily basis. The agency has previously said that inspecting the wheelsets on a train takes about 3-4 hours, and there are limited locations and employees with which the inspections can be done. Prior to the derailment, Metro standards called for inspecting wheelsets on its railcars every 90 days. Metro is hoping to be able to transition from the manual wheel inspections to an automated inspection system, but would similarly need to win approval from the WMSC to put that into use. The WMSC says the agency is currently “working to validate” the system.
NJ.com – August 15, 2022
NJ Transit plans to rebuild 200 of its newer “transit” style buses as part of a $27 million program that will be done by the agency’s mechanical staff over two years, saving millions in the cost to buy new buses. The program, approved by NJ Transit’s board of directors last month, would rebuild 200 of the agencies newer 2012 to 2013 North American Bus Industries transit buses at the agency’s Central Maintenance Facility Avenue in Newark.
The New York Times – August 15, 2022
New York City’s transit leaders guessed from the start of the pandemic that the crisis would sap subway and bus ridership, strain the system’s budget and underscore its overreliance on fares. But they didn’t expect passenger numbers to slump for so long. At its most recent board meeting, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority revealed that it will face a $2.5 billion deficit in 2025. An infusion of federal aid that has propped up the system during the pandemic will have dried up by then with no more relief expected from Washington. The shortfall, which amounts to 12 percent of the operating budget, arrives a year sooner than predicted largely because ridership has struggled to rebound in the face of a quickly evolving coronavirus and the continued popularity of remote work. Some transit riders could also be staying away after several high-profile violent incidents have amplified the perception that the system has become more dangerous.
Mass Transit – August 15, 2022
Whether for new challenges or opportunities, or to build a better life, TriMet's roughly 1,300 part- and full-time operators have found a fresh start. As TriMet continues on its biggest hiring blitz in the agency’s history, it hopes to have more stories to tell in the future as its roster of incredible operators grows.
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Smart Cities Dive – August 11, 2022
Transit bus manufacturers New Flyer and Proterra reported continued growth in new orders for battery-electric buses but deliveries slowed due to component shortages, the companies said in earnings announcements last week. “We are seeing significant positive momentum in our order book, with record bid activity within our North American business contributing to significant new orders, especially for zero-emission buses,” said Paul Soubry, president and CEO of NFI, the parent company of New Flyer, in a press release last week.
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Next City – August 12, 2022
Extreme weather events, which are increasing in severity and frequency due to climate change, pose a problem to the millions of Americans who rely on public transit to get to and from work, school, the grocery store, the hospital and social events. According to Maria Sipin, a former Transportation Justice Fellow at the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), public transit is a “lifeline” for many groups of people that already face disproportionate challenges due to historic discrimination or marginalization — think disabled individuals, low-income communities where private car ownership is rare, and Black and Brown communities that are less likely to have access to a car and more likely to live further from their jobs and rely on public transit for their commutes (thanks in part to the legacy of redlining and ongoing disinvestment in minority neighborhoods). When extreme weather impacts public transit, it has the potential to deepen existing inequalities.
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Mass Transit – August 11, 2022
All Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) branches and partner testing sites will implement a new, modernized commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test beginning Aug. 22. In addition, MDOT MVA will host its third Bus Drivers’ Day at the MDOT MVA on Aug. 20, to help school districts statewide meet staffing requirements prior to the start of the school year. The updated CDL skills test comes after Maryland was one of three states to participate in a pilot program through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) this past year. FMCSA has given MDOT MVA permission to expand the use of this new test statewide.
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METRO Magazine – September 8 and 29, 2:00 pm ET
From training & preventative maintenance to charging options and processes, learn what you need to know before adding electric to your fleet. Hear real-life experiences of peers who have successfully implemented electric bus programs.
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International Transportation Learning Center
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