People in the News
David Genova
Regional Transportation District
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors named David Genova interim general manager, following the announced departure of outgoing General Manager Phillip A. Washington. Genova currently serves as assistant general manager of safety, security and facilities and was designated by Washington as his successor in the staff succession plan. Genova has been with RTD for more than 21 years, serving RTD since 1994 as the assistant general manager of safety, security and facilities for eight years and prior to that was the senior manager of public safety for 10 years.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12063434
Guy Vachon
MCI
Guy Vachon joined MCI as vice president of aftermarket sales. Vachon will be responsible for MCI Service Parts’ PSM (regional parts solutions managers) field representation, and will also oversee the management of large national accounts and the strategic direction of the customer service support team. Vachon will be based at MCI headquarters in Des Plaines, Illinois. Vachon formerly held several sales, marketing and strategic planning leadership positions in the commercial vehicle industry. Prior to joining MCI, he was director of aftermarket sales and service with Morgan Olson
www.MassTransitmag.com/12059404
Eric Marx
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
Eric Marx, Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission’s (PRTC) director of planning and operations, has been appointed as interim executive director of the transportation agency. The appointment was made by the PRTC board of commissioners. PRTC’s current executive director, Alfred Harf, informed the commission earlier in 2015 of his intent to resign after more than 16 years as the organization’s leader and agreed to time his departure to suit the commission’s need for an orderly transition.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12065070
Paige Stewart
Stertil-Koni
Stertil-Koni announced that Paige Stewart has been named logistics specialist. Stewart previously served as marketing associate and recently made the transition to the operations department at Stertil-Koni, where she will leverage her educational and training background. She began her career in the vehicle lifting industry with Stertil-Koni in 2011, following her graduation from McDaniel College. Over the past several years she has focused on advancing the company’s social media and web presence.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12067497
Darryl Haley
Cincinnati Metro
Cincinnati Metro has promoted Darryl Haley to executive vice president. In this role Haley will serve as second in command at Metro, under CEO and General Manager Dwight Ferrell. Haley will oversee the daily administration functions of Metro’s operations, administration, planning and development, and human resources departments. Haley began his career with Metro in 2006 and has held various positions.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12068345
Michael Poore
Complete Coach Works
Complete Coach Works (CCW) announced the appointment of Michael Poore as Southwest regional sales manager. He brings more than 35 years of leadership and automotive expertise to this role. Poore served as CCW sales executive in 2006, leading the company in business development and planning, creating alliances and partnerships, and advancing technological integrations. Poore held previous senior management and executive positions in the U.S. Army for more than a decade, at Schuff Steel Co., Sunset Enterprises Inc. and Eagle Support Services Corp.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12068999
Arjan van Angel
GIRO
Arjan van Andel has been appointed as director of business development at Giro. Van Andel joins Giro after holding several high-level positions with software and technology companies in the public transportation sector. During his career in North America and Europe, Van Andel has worked with various cities and transit agencies to implement ITS systems and passenger information systems. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and logistics from the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12070234
Christopher Papazoglou
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Christopher Papazoglou has been named a senior supervising engineer in the New York City office of Parsons Brinckerhoff. In his new position, Papazoglou will have technical and managerial responsibilities on rail design projects in the New York region. He is currently working in support of the East Side Access project. Prior to joining Parsons Brinckerhoff, he was a senior railroad engineer with a New York engineering firm, responsible for projects involving new track alignment, structural design, traction power, and civil/drainage engineering.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12070020
Industry News
More Than 350 Organizations Participate in “Stand Up For Transportation” Day
Local, state and federal elected officials, business and transportation leaders, public transit advocates and riders called for a long-term transportation bill.
“Yesterday was a huge success as more than 350 organizations from across the country in small, medium, and large communities participated in the Stand Up for Transportation Day, a grassroots local advocacy day,” said American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President and CEO Michael Melaniphy. “There were more than 150 community events with many elected officials, business, community, and transportation leaders, and public transit riders. Also, #standup4publictransportation was the third highest trending topic in the United States yesterday.”
www.MassTransitmag.com/12072794
Metro 7000-Series Train Debut
Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (Metro) first 7000-series trains entered passenger service April 14, on the Blue Line.
The 7000-series cars feature new technologies that are generations ahead of Metro’s current railcars, all of which were designed to be “backward compatible” with Metro’s oldest cars, the 1000-series. For example, Metro’s current railcars use analog technology for onboard public address announcements, whereas the P.A. systems on 7000-series cars will be entirely digital and feature clear, automated announcements.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12058918
Tri-Rail Airport Station Opens
Tri-Rail’s new Miami Airport Station (MIA) opened April 5 as part of the Miami Central Station at the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC). Tri-Rail passengers can enjoy a seamless and immediate connection to the airport via a short ride on the MIA Mover.
“This is another significant milestone, which is symbolic of our vital role to connect South Florida to the world,” said Commissioner Bruno Barreiro, chair of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority/Tri-Rail. “Our loyal passengers, plus the thousands of new riders that we anticipate to travel in and out of Miami International Airport, will greatly enjoy this state-of-the art facility that we expect will become an international transit hub of which we can all be proud.”
www.MassTransitmag.com/12058467
TriMet Max Orange Line On Time, Under Budget
With the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project — the future Max Orange Line — substantially complete, TriMet announced that the project is not only on schedule, but also millions under budget. The overall $1.49 billion project is under budget in the range of $10 to $40 million, and the Federal Transit Administration will keep its proportional contribution toward the project of 50 percent. This leaves local savings likely in the range of $5 to $20 million.
“Not only are we improving our transit system with this project, we’re delivering it on time and under budget,” said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12059401
USHSR Conference Highlights Innovative Project Funding
A the recent US High Speed Rail Association (USHSR) Conference in Washington, D.C., there were a variety of sessions, including proposals for privately-funded projects and the potential to utilize public-private partnerships (P3s) to move them forward.
USHSR showcased several high-speed rail projects that would rely primarily on private capital. The North American HSR Group discussed its plans for a 90-mile line between Minneapolis and Rochester/Mayo Clinic. Congressman John Mica pitched a 2-hour, privately run service between Washington, D.C., and New York. A proposal for a line from Washington, D.C., to Hampton Roads/Norfolk was also highlighted.
http://www.ushsr.com/
Frecciarossa 1000 Very High Speed Train Makes Maiden Journey
Italian transport operator Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane hosted the inaugural journey of the V300ZEFIRO very high speed train, known as the Frecciarossa 1000 in Italy. The train ran from Italy's main financial hub of Milan to the nation's capital Rome. The new very high speed trains will start commercial service in June 2015.
Manufactured in partnership with AnsaldoBreda, the Frecciarossa 1000 is the newest member of the Bombardier Zefiro family of high-speed trains. Bombardier Transportation was responsible for leading the project management, mechanical and engineering product development (including propulsion and TCMS), manufacturing bogies and propulsion, as well as testing, homologation and commissioning of the first five train sets.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12068520
New Solar Energy Source Powering Valley Metro Light Rail Facility
Valley Metro chose April 22 — Earth Day — as the kick off day to begin powering the Valley Metro Rail Operations and Maintenance Center using solar power.
The new solar plant, which comprises 2,800 solar voltaic panels spanning 1.15 acres, is mounted at ground-level and on parking lot shade canopies. It’s capable of generating 1.3 million Kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy savings annually, or enough electricity to power 123 homes.
“From reducing greenhouse gases to improving fuel usage, we are proud to be involved in a variety of initiatives to protect and preserve our environment,” said Steve Banta, Valley Metro CEO. “Solar energy is a principal addition to our growing sustainability efforts.”
www.MassTransitmag.com/12065901
VVTA Tests Real-Time Transit Sign in Apple Valley
Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) launched real-time transit signage at its Apple Valley Transfer Point. The digital signage delivers real-time bus arrival information for several VVTA Routes, enabling riders to easily plan trips on the fly.
The sign manufacturer, FleetWatch, provided the real-time signage free of charge, as a 90-day demonstration of its abilities. During this period, VVTA worked closely with the manufacturer to develop usability and reliability improvements, including the introduction of solar power, low-voltage lighting, real-time data transmission that reaches as far as Lucerne Valley for VVTA Route 23, and programming.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12069296
IndyGo Begins Building Electric Bus Fleet
In 2013, IndyGo received a $10 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to purchase 21 electric buses, which will give it the largest fleet in the country.
Earlier this year, IndyGo received its first electric buses from Complete Coach Works. The buses are completely refurbished Gilligs, each with a set of 12 Lithium-Ion, also known as Lithium Cobalt batteries, a three-phase 480 watt motor and the new Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) and have a range of 130 miles on a single battery charge.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12067545
Triangle’s Transit Providers Unveil New Names
At a press conference in March, North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Tony Tata, Raleigh Mayor Pro Tem John Odom and Durham Mayor and GoTriangle Board Chair William V. “Bill” Bell, unveiled GoRaleigh, GoDurham and GoTriangle. The transit providers are part of a new family of services called GoTransit.
“Today’s launch is another important step in our mission to provide a well-connected multimodal transportation system that meets the growing needs of our state,” says Transportation Secretary Tony Tata.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12058463
SFMTA Purchases New Buses
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has taken delivery of its first New Flyer Industries electric trolley and biodiesel-electric hybrid buses. Sixty brand new electric trolley buses will replace buses that have been in operation for more than two decades. Concurrently, the SFMTA has purchased 61 new biodiesel-electric hybrid buses. The combined purchases are part of the agency’s five-year plan to replace the entire bus fleet.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12067594
Events
Iowa Public Transit Association Annual Meeting and Roadeo
June 10-13
Des Moines, Iowa
13th Annual Latin American Leadership Forum
June 10-12
Antigua Guatemala
30th Annual Transport Chicago
June 12
Chicago, Ill.
2015 APTA Rail Conference
June 15-16
Salt Lake City, Utah
2nd Annual Asset Information and Data Management for Smart Rail Conference
June 23
London, U.K.
Locus Michigan Leadership Summit
June 23
Detroit, Mich.
Africa Rail 2015
June 30-July 1
Johannesburg, South Africa
9th World Congress on High-Speed Rail
July 7-10
Tokyo, Japan
2015 APTA Transit Board Members & Board Support Seminar
July 18-21
Denver, Colo.
2015 West Virginia Transit Association Annual Conference
July 28-31
Roanoke, W.V.
2015 APTA Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop
Aug. 2-4
Portland, Ore.
Kansas Public Transit Association Annual Meeting & Expo
Aug. 3-5
Manhattan, Kan.
5th Annual Modern Railways
Aug. 3-5
Bali, Indonesia
2015 Right of Way Fatality and Trespass Prevention Workshop
Aug. 4-6
Charlotte, N.C.
Indiana Transportation Association 81st Annual Meeting
Aug. 11-13
South Bend, Ind.
For more on upcoming events, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/events
