Second Avenue Subway Opens
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo celebrated the on-time arrival of the Second Avenue Subway — the system’s first major expansion in more than 50 years – with the line’s inaugural ride.
The Second Avenue Subway began revenue service January 1. The bright, spacious new Second Avenue Subway stations feature access for the disabled, climate control features to maximize comfort, high ceilings column-free design for an open, airy atmosphere..
A two-tiered mezzanine design is a fixture of the new stations and improves the flow of riders, reduces crowding on the platform and enhances the overall subway experience for riders.
CTDOT Awards 5-Year Contract for up to 112 Commuter Coaches
Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. announced the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has awarded a five-year contract for up to 112 MCI Commuter Coaches. The contract for these 45-foot clean diesel-powered motor coaches has an approximate value of $56 million with the first 40 vehicles set for delivery in the third and fourth quarter of 2017.
Supersized Buses Arrive in Phoenix
The Phoenix Public Transit Department has three new New Flyer Xcelsior compressed natural gas articulated buses currently serving both local and RAPID routes, with 25 more due to arrive in early 2017. The Artic buses can accommodate up to 20 more passengers per bus compared to a standard 40-foot bus.
Outfront Media Expands On Smart Media Liveboards in D.C. and Boston
Outfront Media Inc. announced that it will begin work with its newest partner, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on December 21, 2016. In addition, Outfront Media completed the installation of On Smart Liveboards across 24 additional rail stations in the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's metrorail system in Washington, D.C.
PVTA Introduces First Battery Electric Buses into Fleet
Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) has purchased three 40-foot Catalyst FC battery-electric buses, two fast chargers and one depot charger.
SamTrans Begins Work on San Carlos Transit Center Project
On December 27, SamTrans began construction of the San Carlos Multi-Modal Transit Center Project, located on the west side of the railroad corridor at the site of the existing San Carlos Caltrain Station. Work on the Transit Center Project is expected to last until July 2017.
The Transit Center Project consists of transforming the existing San Carlos Caltrain Station parking lot into a multi-modal transit center that will better serve the community by improving safety and accessibility between SamTrans fixed-route bus services, Caltrain commuter rail services, local shuttles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
NIST Pilot Helps to Launch Atlanta Streetcar App
NIST’s Trusted Identities Group (NIST) is working with Portland tech companies Moovel and Tozny to help deliver Atlanta Streetcar’s new mobile app to allow mobile ticket purchasing.
PSTA Wins Gold in State Safety Award
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) has received the Gold Award in safety at the 2016 Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) Bus Safety Excellence Awards for the creation of a database called AIMS, or Accident and Incident Management System.
Navya, Keolis and City of Las Vegas to Launch First Driverless Transit Vehicle in U.S.
Navya and Keolis, in partnership with the city of Las Vegas, launched the first completely autonomous, fully electric shuttle ever to be deployed on a public roadway in the United States. The shuttle is being launched in the new Innovation District that was recently created by the city of Las Vegas in downtown Las Vegas.
UTA Officers Deliver Gifts to Refugee Kids
Members of the Utah Transit Authority's (UTA) Transit Police Department paused their usual patrols on Christmas Eve to pay a special visit to a local refugee community. Officers delivered Christmas kits containing hats, gloves, a toy and candy to more than 150 children living at the South Parc Townhomes in South Salt Lake City.
Alstom to Acquire Nomad Digital
Alstom has signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of Nomad Holdings, commercially known as Nomad Digital from Amadeus Capital Partners, SEB Venture Capital and Deutsche Telekom Strategic Investments together with other investors.
NCTCOG Selects LAN Team to Conduct Dallas HSR Station Area Planning Study
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the metropolitan planning organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth Region, selected the Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam (LAN) team to conduct a high-speed rail station area planning study in downtown Dallas.
CAT Celebrates 30 Years
Chatham Area Transit Authority (CAT) is proud to announce 30 years of service to the Savannah-Chatham County community.
FWT Joins with Papercast to Transform Real-Time Passenger Information
Papercast Ltd has announced a partnership with FWT, the transport information design specialists.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Janet Gonzalez, Sustainable Transportation Director, HDR
Greenroads Foundation has welcomed Janet Gonzalez, HDR’s sustainable transportation director, to its governing board of directors. Established in 2010, Greenroads Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that advances sustainability education and initiatives for transportation infrastructure. The organization’s board of directors governs its identity, mission and brand. Board members set goals, create strategies and define values. During her 2017-2019 term, she will play an active role in overseeing and supporting core programs and publications.
Molly Marsicek, Customer Experience Director, Community Transit
As part of an ongoing effort to improve its service to customers, Community Transit has hired Molly Marsicek to lead a new customer experience department. Marsicek most recently served as senior manager of customer experience at Premera Blue Cross in Mountlake Terrace, where she developed a customer empathy program and helped embed a customer-based culture throughout that company. Marsicek will oversee Community Transit’s customer care division and will oversee customer outreach, the vanpool program, and customer-facing technology solutions.
Michael Hennessey, Board Chairman, Orange County Transportation Authority
Vice Chair Michael Hennessey was unanimously selected Monday as the new chairman of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors. Hennessey served as the OCTA board’s vice chairman for the last year. He replaces outgoing Chair Lori Donchak, who remains on the board. Hennessey is the principal of his own real-estate development and consulting firm, Hennessey Group, and has served on the OCTA board as a public member since 2011.
Blair Thompson, Strategic Management and Innovation Chief, Caltrans
Caltrans has announced the appointment of Blair Thompson to be its first chief of innovation, risk and strategic management. Thompson will oversee a newly created office, tasked with developing ways to streamline and improve department performance. In addition, Thompson will manage and implement the 2015-2020 Strategic Management Plan, as well as additional innovation initiatives and risk management projects. Thompson comes to Caltrans from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), where he worked since 1998.
John Rogers, Interim Chief Executive Officer, MV Transportation Inc.
MV Transportation Inc. recently announced that board member John Rogers has been named MV's interim chief executive officer, effective immediately, while the board conducts a CEO search process. Rogers, an entrepreneur and an expert on public policy and government affairs, has been a member of the MV board of directors since September 2015. Rogers succeeds Brian Kibby, CEO since January 2015. During Rogers' 30-year career, he has founded and successfully built companies in the public policy and national security industries.
