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April 9, 2021 | An APTA Publication
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| APTA Board Approves Racial Equity Action Plan
The APTA Board of Directors approved the APTA Racial Equity Action Plan, April 1. The plan is a product of the association’s Diversity and Inclusion Council, following a months-long effort by its Racial Equity Working Group. It outlines how APTA could have a truly transformational impact on racial equity and best support members in their efforts.
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Experts Discuss the Future at APTA’s High-Speed Rail Forum
More than 300 people attended APTA’s virtual 2021 High-Speed Rail Forum: Connecting America’s Cities, April 7-8. New FRA acting administrator, Amit Bose, was keynote speaker and Jeff Wharton, director, alternative delivery services, SYSTRA, served as emcee. APTA Chair Jeff Nelson, general manager, MetroLink, Moline, IL; Vice Chair Matthew O. Tucker, executive director, North County Transit District, Oceanside, CA; President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas; and Joe Giulietti, commissioner of Connecticut DOT and chair of APTA’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Committee; also addressed attendees.
A discussion on how “High Speed Rail Drives the Economy” was introduced by two special speakers: Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Irene Plenefisch, director of government affairs for Microsoft. Rep. Moulton, who had previously served as managing director of Texas Central High-Speed Rail and is a member of the Rail Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, noted the need to invest in 21st-century infrastructure, namely a national high-speed rail (HSR) network. He used international examples to demonstrate the proven benefits such an investment could deliver in the U.S.
In China, he noted, high-speed rail has helped build new economic mega-regions across the country and reduced economic regional disparity by more than 25 percent through increased access to opportunities. Pointing to economic disparity in the U.S., Moulton said, “High-speed rail can literally help knit our country back together.”
In Germany, HSR helps promote more efficient, coordinated travel choices when there is free-market competition among modes. He explained how Lufthansa offers rail-and-fly tickets to connect train passengers to Frankfurt International Airport, thereby creating greater customer convenience and reducing the need for less economical short-haul flights.
Plenefisch explained Microsoft’s support for the Cascadia Innovation Corridor High-Speed Rail Project and its potential to expand opportunities and improve the quality of life in the area. The project’s vision is based on the idea that collaboration among businesses, academic institutions and government institutions within the Seattle, Portland and Vancouver metro areas will drive more benefits for residents and businesses if these entities work together rather than separately.
“We believe that high-speed rail is a foundational project for achieving those benefits and maximizing the potential of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor by making it more efficient to pull together in-person interactions,” Plenefisch said, encouraging more communications, coordination and collaboration across the region.
Beyond the business and economic benefits, she said HSR will also help address pressing challenges across the region. She asserted that it will: 1) increase affordable housing options by expanding the geographic area that is within realistic reach of major employment bases; 2) create new opportunities for individuals not living in major cities to access jobs in those cities, which will increase the income potential outside of the job centers; and 3) reduce traffic congestion, time wasted and carbon emissions by providing another transit option.
Both Plenefisch and Moulton cited the Cascadia project as an example of how connecting cities in Washington state, Oregon and British Columbia through high-speed rail would cost less than building another single lane of highway in each direction for the length of the corridor—and spur more than $355 billion in regional economic growth, far exceeding the cost of the project.
Moulton said there is a generational opportunity to invest in infrastructure but cautioned this shouldn’t be squandered by investing in the last generation’s infrastructure. “HSR is the future; we see it all across the globe,” he stated. “It’s time to see it here at home in America as well.”
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Secretary Buttigieg, Gov. Northam, Others Announce Virginia Rail Infrastructure Plan
USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently joined Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and other leaders at Alexandria’s Union Station to mark a $3.7 billion investment in Virginia rail and the signing of the Transforming Rail in Virginia agreement. They were joined by representatives of Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and CSX.
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COMMENTARY
Transitioning with Our Employees
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 COVID-19. Shifting revenue streams. Social unrest. A new ridership paradigm. Day-to-day operations. Major projects underway. Union contracts. New technology. Zero emissions. What this industry has faced this last year—and continues to face—can induce anxiety with specific personal experiences coming to mind just by reading the list. You’re welcome. In all seriousness, though, did we crumble? To the contrary; our industry has stepped up and excelled. That said, our journey is far from over.
BY STEVE SCHOEFFEL
Managing Director
Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD)
Springfield, IL
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FTA Announces $187 Million for BRT Projects
FTA has announced that $187 million in federal funding will be allocated to four BRT infrastructure projects in California, Washington State and Utah through its Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Small Starts Program.
| | | | | Durango Approves First Transit Measure of 2021
Voters in Durango, CO, approved the nation’s first public transit ballot measure of the year, April 6. The measure increases the city’s lodgers’ tax—paid by visitors staying in hotels, motels, campgrounds and vacation rentals—from two to 5.25 percent. The increase is estimated to raise $2.6 million annually, with approximately $520,000 of the money dedicated to public transit.
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NTSB Removes PTC from “Most Wanted”
The NTSB has removed Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation from its list of “Most Wanted” safety recommendations. NTSB took this action after APTA advocated strongly for its removal and detailed how commuter railroads have made PTC fully operational.
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APTA Extends Awards Deadline to April 23!
Not yet nominated for the 2021 APTA Awards? APTA has extended the nominations deadline to April 23!
APTA Awards winners are outstanding role models whose accomplishments have greatly advanced public transportation. The awards recognize excellence on both the individual and the organizational level.
Help recognize the public transit industry's "best of the best" and nominate your choices today. For more information, contact Kym Hill at khill@apta.com or Ann-Marie Glanville at aglanville@apta.com.
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Register for APTA’s Canada Study Mission
Register today to join APTA in a virtual study mission to Canada, April 20-22. Held in collaboration with the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA), the mission will examine the future of public transit through the lens of recovery, touching on such topics as new innovative revenue and financing opportunities, infrastructure planning and investment, gaining back ridership, alternative service delivery models and mobility innovation. Learn more and register.
| |  | | New CEOs Named
| Wiggins, LA Metro
 Stephanie Wiggins was unanimously approved April 8 to be CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), making her the first woman to head the agency. She succeeds Phillip A. Washington, who announced in February that he was stepping down after six years when his contract expires in May.
Wiggins has served as CEO of Metrolink, Los Angeles, CA, since 2018. Prior to leading Metrolink, she was deputy CEO for LA Metro. For APTA, Wiggins is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council and Public Transportation CEO Coordinating Council, and of the Bus & Paratransit CEOs and APTA Awards committees, among others.
| Gjorgjievski, Ecolane
 Ecolane has named Spiro Gjorgjievski as its new president and managing director. Gjorgjievski has more than 20 years of experience serving in leadership roles for multinational companies across a broad range of industries, including transportation, energy, oil and gas, transaction processing, payments and financial services.
| | | Classifieds
See the latest industry employment opportunities, proposals and notices.
|  | | Register for Upcoming APTA Webinars
Data Governance – Don’t Drown in Your Data Lake!
April 14, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
This webinar will cover a variety of lessons learned, best practices and innovations in Data Governance Programs, Big Data Challenges and Enterprise Data Management systems. Speakers will share the steps of conducting an assessment and typical results. Learn more and register.
PERSPECTIVES: A Focus on the Future of Transportation Sustainability
April 15, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Kick off Earth Day week with a conversation on the outlook for clean transportation technology, innovations in sustainability and the key role of public transportation. Hosted by Janet Gonzalez Tudor, chair of the APTA Sustainability Committee and transportation operational resiliency director, HDR. Guest speaker is Michael Berube, acting deputy assistant secretary for sustainable transportation at US Department of Energy. Learn more and register.
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BART Takes on Sexual Harassment, Gender-Based Violence
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Oakland, CA, has partnered with Alliance for Girls and its members, including Betti Ono, Black Girls Brilliance and The Unity Council’s Latinx Mentorship and Achievement Program, among others, to launch the Not One More Girl campaign. The campaign addresses sexual harassment and gender-based violence through a community-led partnership that reimagines safety by centering BIPOC girls* and gender-expansive youth.
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JTA Begins Clay Community Green Line
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), Jacksonville, FL, has launched the Clay Community Transportation Green Line, expanding access for residents in rural communities to the Middleburg Veterans Affairs Clinic. The Green Line is the fourth route introduced through Clay Community Transportation (CCT), a partnership between the JTA and Clay County.
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APTA Launches Knowledge Hub
APTA is pleased to announce the launch of its newest member service, the Knowledge Hub. The hub allows users to explore the latest reports, whitepapers and other helpful resources from public transit industry thought leaders and experts.
| | | In Memoriam
| James R. Mills
 James R. Mills, a retired California state legislator who authored legislation that created San Diego’s 54-mile trolley system and Old Town State Park, died March 27. He was 93. | | | | Highlights from this Issue of Passenger Transport
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| | Passenger Transport Wishes to Thank its Advertisers
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