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October 15, 2021 | An APTA Publication
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Transportation Leaders, Dignitaries Celebrate MTD’s Zero-Emissions Initiative
The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD), Urbana, IL, unveiled its solar-powered hydrogen generating and fueling complex and deployed its first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses Oct. 14. The unveiling attracted transportation officials and elected representatives including Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, and APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas, who praised the agency’s efforts to transition completely to zero-emissions.
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Discover the Latest Innovations, Solutions and More with APTA’s EXPO Learning Zones!
APTA’s TRANSform Conference & EXPO, Nov. 7-10 in Orlando, is just over three weeks away! While attending the world’s most comprehensive public transportation showcase, be sure to take advantage of the Learning Zones conveniently located on the EXPO show floor. The five Learning Zones are free for all attendees and include sessions on the latest innovations, solutions and products that will help organizations operate more efficiently, enhance the passenger experience and more. Learn more and register. See you in Orlando!
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PLEASE NOTE: The health and safety of all who are gathering in Orlando for the in-person APTA TRANSform Conference & EXPO is paramount. APTA has instituted several protocols, including the requirement that all attendees, exhibitors and guests provide either proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered within 72 hours of the start of the event or proof of a COVID-19 vaccination. In the next few days, registered attendees and exhibitors will receive an email from CrowdPass with instructions on how to upload COVID-19 test results or vaccination cards. Be sure to add CrowdPass, support@crowdpass.co, to your safe sender list!
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COMMENTARY
Working to Secure a Seat At the Table
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Whether you self-identify as a Hispanic, Latino, Latinx or Afro-Latino, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15) is more important than ever. Recent statistics indicate that approximately one in five individuals in the U.S. are of Hispanic heritage. We are your neighbors, your school mates, your coworkers and your service providers. Likely, none of this information is new to you, but have you looked at your organization? Are one in five leaders in your organization of Hispanic or Latino heritage? Who are your customers? Are one in five of your customers of Hispanic or Latino origin? Likely, the response to these questions will depend on what part of the country you reside. This statistic may not be your current reality, but if it is, it’s time to start examining our organizational processes.
BY ALVA CARRASCO
Vice President–Transit and Rail National Business Line, West Region Market Lead
WSP USA
President of the Board of Directors
Latinos In Transit
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Public Transit Marks Hispanic Heritage Month
Public transit agencies across the country are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15), recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history and culture of the U.S.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
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October Is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month seeks to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity for individuals and organizations across the U.S. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the National Cyber Security Alliance are proud to continue using the overarching theme this year: “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” Cybersecurity is a growing concern for public transit. APTA provides a number of resources and services to help its members gain a better understanding of cybersecurity, including educational webinars and sessions and the development of recommended and best practices.
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APTA Provides Comments to FTA on CIG Program
“APTA strongly supports the CIG program, and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide this input. We appreciate that FTA is seeking feedback from the industry and all interested parties and is considering a myriad of ways that the CIG program and processes could be improved,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “As APTA considers ways to improve the CIG program and processes, we urge the agency to undertake a zero-based review of all CIG requirements. We are also excited that FTA’s RFI suggests that the CIG program expand ways for FTA to consider issues of equity, access to opportunity, human health and other ways that transit can improve the lives of Americans.”
APTA also released a robust update of its dashboard of CIG projects in FTA’s program pipeline. This important advocacy tool shows the unmet need that remains for current CIG projects and how much funding remains available by project type. Currently, the CIG Project Pipeline includes 67 projects totaling almost $28 billion of unmet CIG funding.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
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Sound Transit Opens Northgate Link Extension
Sound Transit, Seattle, WA, has opened its 4.3-mile Northgate Link light rail extension for service. The extension adds three new stations to the Link system, with trips of 13 minutes from Northgate to downtown Seattle. The opening marks the beginning of significant public transit expansion in the region.
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APTA's The Transit Authority: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, APTA sat down with Alva Carrasco, president of the board of directors, Latinos In Transit, and Cindy Chavez, board member, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA, for the latest episode of APTA’s official podcast, The Transit Authority, to discuss pathways to leadership, how to foster inclusion and equity, advancing Latinos in the public transit industry and more. Listen here. |
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Classifieds
See the latest industry employment opportunities, proposals and notices.
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APTA Webinar on Building a Transit Agency Cybersecurity Program
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced recently that TSA is to issue a directive requiring the largest rail and public transit systems to identify a cybersecurity point person, report incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and create an incident recovery plan. APTA will host a Cybersecurity Roundtable Oct. 20, 2:00–3:30 p.m. Eastern, where federal officials will discuss why a transit agency cybersecurity program is required and how to build one and will share federal resources. There will be time for a Q&A following the roundtable discussion. Register here.
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Metro-North Railroad Completes Port Jervis Station Transformation
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the completion of the transformation of the Port Jervis station, making the station ADA-compliant and giving it a more modern feel.
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VIA Opens Third Transit-On-Demand Zone
VIA Metropolitan Transit has opened its third VIA Link zone, in Northwest San Antonio, with service connecting the University of Texas at San Antonio main campus, Northwest Vista College and the surrounding area. VIA Link is VIA’s on-demand service that replaces fixed routes with more frequent service for the same fares as regular bus service.
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PSTA Donates Bus for Mobile Market
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA), Saint Petersburg, FL, has donated a bus to local non-profit Reach St. Pete for use as a mobile market. The retrofitted bus will bring food and other resources to underserved communities across Pinellas County, where more than 135,000 residents struggle with food insecurity.
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RTA Kicks Off “Proudly Serving” Project with New Buses
The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA), OH, recently launched its “Proudly Serving” project with the debut of two new buses: Kettering and Trotwood. The project is a tribute to communities in Montgomery County and showcases points of interest within the agency’s service area.
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Highlights from this Issue of Passenger Transport
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American Public Transportation Association | 1300 I St. NW, Suite 1200 East | Washington, DC 20005
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