Save the Date!

Join us for the Making Connections 2022 National Conference in Washington, D.C. December 13-14. This conference brings together participants from urban, suburban, rural, and tribal public transportation and industry stakeholders in plenaries, workshops, networking, and ongoing dialogue. Discussions and sessions at this year’s conference will include recruitment and retention, training, mentoring and apprenticeships, new technologies, preparing today’s and tomorrow's workforce, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access. The conference is open to anyone committed to moving transportation workforce development forward, including labor and management representatives, frontline workers, trainers and mentors, community leaders, educators, non-profits, advocacy groups, and government representatives. Registration and hotel information coming in early September.

The Transit Workforce Center —operated by the International Transportation Learning Center— is the Federal Transit Administration’s first ever technical assistance center. Making Connections 2022 is co-sponsored by the National Transit Institute. 

Can Uber-like Public Transit Replace Old-Fashioned Buses?

Pew Charitable Trusts - August 17, 2022

Microtransit supporters point out that, unlike paratransit, a shared-ride service for people with disabilities, on-demand is available to anyone. That includes riders with disabilities who may be frustrated with the long waits and advance notice required by paratransit service. Typically, some microtransit vehicles are handicap accessible, and agencies offer door-to-door service to people with disabilities and older adults. But microtransit has inherent limitations, according to a 2019 brief by TransitCenter, which said it involves traveling greater distances, carrying fewer people and costing agencies much more to run than an average bus route. “Each dollar spent on microtransit is a dollar agencies can’t spend on more cost-effective strategies to increase ridership, like adding frequency on major routes or improving bus stops,” the brief said.

Why Arguments Against ‘Free Transit’ Are Missing the Point

Streetsblog – August 23, 2022

Free transit pilots are popping up around the world as the pandemic rages on — and so are heated debates about whether they’ll stymie agencies’ efforts to deliver the high-quality service that U.S. riders need. But what if those arguments are missing something fundamental about why we charge people for basic mobility in the first place, and about how marginalized people are affected adversely when they can’t afford a fare? On The Brake, host Kea Wilson sits down with Dr. Destiny Thomas to unpack some common arguments against fare-free transit and talk about what our transportation system might look like if we treated mobility as a human right — and why only giving some people a free ride isn’t enough.

Dedicated Lanes, Frequent Service Key to Increasing Bus Ridership: NACTO

Smart Cities Dive – August 22, 2022

Cities wanting to increase transit ridership and reduce transportation-related emissions can start by installing more bus lanes; providing frequent, all-day bus service; and disincentivizing private vehicle use in dense urban areas, the National Association of City Transportation Officials urged in a report released last week.

How Boston-Area Officials Are Responding to Transit Turmoil

Governing – August 19, 2022

The safety crisis is unfolding as the MBTA, like other big-city transit systems, is facing tough long-term funding challenges related to both chronic deferred maintenance and steep drops in ridership during the pandemic. The Orange Line, for example, only serves about half the daily passengers it did in 2019. The Authority is anticipating a “fiscal cliff” in 2024, when it expects to see a $230 million budget deficit as it runs out of federal pandemic relief funds.

SEPTA Celebrates Wawa Station Opening with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Mass Transit – August 19, 2022

 The opening of Wawa Station marks the first extension of SEPTA’s rail service since the Airport Line was established in 1985. SEPTA trains last served this area in 1986. “We are thrilled to be bringing rail service back to this community after 35 years,” said SEPTA General Manager and CEO Leslie S. Richards. “We are thankful to the residents of Middletown Township and Chester Heights Borough for their patience throughout construction and look forward to welcoming them to their new hometown station. SEPTA service from Wawa Station is the convenient way to travel for those returning to offices or visiting the region for recreation and entertainment.” 

Richmond Has Made Monumental Progress on Public Transit. We Must Keep Moving Forward.

Greater Greater Washington – August 19, 2022

In 2011, the policy think-tank Brookings Institute found that out of the top 100 metro areas, Richmond ranked 92nd for transit access, a dismal finding even in a country not known for its public transportation. Thanks to segregation, redlining, and other racist policies, many of Richmond’s, carless, Black, and poor residents were dependent on a woefully inadequate transportation system well into the 21st century. But then things started to shift by 2018. Richmond overhauled the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC)’s bus network, streamlining routes and connecting residents to employment centers with an emphasis on frequent service and equitable mobility. Concurrently, Richmond constructed the first bus rapid transit line in Central Virginia along the region’s busiest corridor, Broad Street, thanks to a federal grant. As a result, ridership immediately increased 17%, and over 5 million people have ridden the Pulse since it opened for service just three and a half years ago.

Move! That! Bus! Tactics for Transforming Transit in Two Years 

National Association of City Transportation Officials – August, 2022

The most powerful tool leaders have to address catastrophic climate change is the humble city bus. Flexible, simple, and efficient, a single bus can carry up to eight times more people than a personal car, reducing emissions by up to 82% per trip. More than half of all trips in the U.S. are less than five miles. With the right improvements, these short trips can be taken by bus at a fraction of the price, with efficient and reliable service that’s competitive to driving. In the U.S., the transportation sector is responsible for the greatest share of greenhouse gas emissions–at 28% of total emissions. Research from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes clear: public officials have less than three years to avert the worst effects of climate change. Move! That! Bus! Tactics for Transforming Transit in Two Years provides decision-makers—elected officials, transit board members, department and agency executives—an action plan for improving bus service and reducing transportation-related emissions in the short time we have left to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

Rail Union: Plan for Contract Deal Doesn't Address Concerns

Journal Star – August 21, 2022

The head of the nation's largest railroad union says the report designed to help resolve stalled contract talks with freight railroads doesn't do enough to address concerns about working conditions, even though it suggests 24% raises. The railroads indicated earlier this week that they were ready to hammer out a deal based on the recommendations of the Presidential Emergency Board that Joe Biden appointed last month. But Thursday's first comments from union leadership suggest that the 115,000 workers they represent may not be ready to sign off.

Battery Electric Bus Fires: Lessons Learned

APTA– August 31, 1:00 pm ET

This month’s APTA Zero Emission Fleet committee meeting is being organized in collaboration with APTA’s Bus Safety Committee to focus on this important topic. Come to the meeting to hear from two transit agencies about thermal event experiences they’ve had, how they responded, and how they are preparing their agency for the future. 

Fleet Electrification Webinar Series

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.