Eno Center for Transportation – January 19th at 2:00 pm ET
Christof Spieler has recently released the second edition of his wildly popular book Trains, Buses, People. Christof’s new book now covers eight Canadian cities and two new US areas (Indianapolis and Puerto Rico). His original book was dubbed “a transit wonk’s bible” that has guided “a smarter conversation about urban transit”. Christof will discuss the evolving conversation around transit in the past three years since the book originally published. He’ll also briefly cover updates around fare policies, wayfinding, transit governance structures, customer experience, how to create inclusive transit systems that work for all riders.
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The Washington Post – December 10, 2021
There are four ways transportation poses barriers for students: because of the cost; because stops or stations aren’t close enough to where they live or work; because available routes and times don’t sync with college schedules; and because it’s unreliable, one study found.
Trapeze – December 7, 2021
Going low emission-zero emission was one of the hottest topics at APTA EXPO 2021 and agencies across North America are gearing up to make the switch over the next ten years. But, as discussed in this recent Transit Unplugged episode covers, agencies can’t just flip a switch and start using electric buses. You have to plan for making the switch. And more than just plan, as you bring electric and hybrid buses into your fleet you need to adapt your systems and operations for the unique needs of these vehicles.
TransitCenter - December 9, 2021
FTA periodically reviews agency policies to ensure compliance with Title VI, generally every three years. Members of the public can also challenge agency decisions by filing administrative complaints; in response, FTA can order policy changes or even withhold federal funding to agencies. However, these complaints are hard to win, and the main power of the circular comes through the standards it sets for transit agencies. Today, these standards are weak, with little ability to secure equitable transit. So it’s encouraging to see that in its request for information from the public, FTA asks a series of questions that suggest it is open to major changes to the rules. A revitalized approach to Title VI could require agencies to measure equitable transit access, create new ways to hold agencies accountable for discriminatory policing, and help agencies implement inclusive public participation.
Next City - December 8, 2021
Most U.S. public transit agencies still find themselves staring at a ridership hole even as the economy bounces back from the pandemic lockdowns. As a result, some agencies are rethinking how and where they provide service. And, as Jake Blumgart reports in Governing, those agencies are finding that focusing on transit equity reaps ridership rewards.
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Metro Matters – November 30, 2021
Despite the uncertainties many of our agencies face—from funding to in-person work timelines to workforce availability—the vision of what transit can be and the future it makes possible remain clear. Public transportation means living in neighborhoods that are walkable (and rollable), commuting to school or to work comfortably and reliably regardless of your ability or your income, enjoying cleaner air and water, driving commerce to strengthen the local economy, and empowering all people to be an active part of their community and to connect to the places and experiences that matter most to them. We need to share that vision loudly, especially during this time of nationwide uncertainty.
Metro Magazine – December 14, 2021
This funding is part of more than $30 billion for public transportation in the American Rescue Plan Act which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11 of this year. The funding comes from the $26.6 billion allocated by statutory formulas to urban and rural areas, tribal governments, and for the enhanced mobility of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Act also included $2.2 billion for additional transit pandemic-associated need, which will be awarded next year. No local share is required for this funding.
Greater Greater Washington – December 6, 2021
The panel began with identifying who transit riders are, with Gidigbi-Jenkins highlighting that bus riders are more likely to identify as lower-income and/or people of color. Many transit systems, including ours, tend to center white-collar commuters and other workforce travel, whereas a majority of trips undertaken are not commutes. This has important implications for what types of trips are prioritized for better and more reliable service, and can widen disparities by relegating riders outside of the “9-5” white-collar workforce to worse service and fewer opportunities.
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Labor Network for Sustainability
This year, Transit Equity Day (TED) will take place on Feb. 4, 2022. TED is a great opportunity for local unions to join with transit advocates, riders, environmental groups, public officials and others in ways that are simple but with deep and far-reaching impacts on why public transit is a civil right and has been essential for your community throughout the pandemic and beyond.
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Building Transportation Infrastructure |
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KCUR - December 8, 2021
He applauded Kansas City’s zero-fare bus rides and its adoption of electric buses. “It’s a win, win, win,” Biden said. “They’re manufactured here in America, creating good union jobs. They’re good for the environment and they’re making them free for all riders.”
Bloomberg CityLab - December 8, 2021
As the U.S. prepares to spend some $1.3 trillion on public works projects under President Joe Biden’s new infrastructure law, the lessons of how a once-modest transit expansion metastasized into one of the most expensive rail projects in the world are worth recounting. Otherwise, if history is a guide, the U.S. may not get much of a return on its investment.
Pew Trusts - December 7, 2021
More than 25 million Americans have self-reported travel-limiting disabilities, according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Money included in the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law by President Joe Biden last month aims to make public transportation more accessible to them. The new federal All Stations Accessibility Program will provide $1.75 billion in competitive grants over five years to state and local governments to upgrade older rail transit stations that remain inaccessible to people with disabilities. It’s part of the larger bipartisan infrastructure law, which provides nearly $107 billion for public transit; agencies also can use that money to improve accessibility.
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Mass Transit – December 3, 2021
The extension of the mask requirement on transportation is part of the administration’s plans to combat two variants of COVID-19, Delta and the newly discovered Omicron. The Delta variant became the dominate variant in the U.S. this summer and Omicron has emerged with the label from the World Health Organization as a “variant of concern.”
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International Transportation News |
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Mass Transit Magazine – December 8, 2021
Lorraine Ward, the union's organizing director, said: "We need to encourage more people onto public transport, but cutting station staff will damage that effort. Staff are already fearful for their futures and the way that London Underground has snuck this out just weeks before Christmas is shameful. TSSA will fight these job losses and stand up for our members and passengers. We are totally opposed to any job cuts across London Underground and TfL."
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National Skills Coalition – December 8, 2021
With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November, Congress signed off on a portion of the President’s vision, including over $1 billion in investments in skills training. With the anticipated passage of the companion Build Back Better Act, the nation could be looking at another up to $40 billion in skills investments. Thanks to a year of relentless direct advocacy by NSC’s networks, together, these two bills could represent the largest investment in workforce development since the Great Depression.
Mass Transit – December 10, 2021
“As New Orleans and the nation continues to rebuild its workforce since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the RTA is more focused than ever on building a pipeline of employees who are committed to our regions historic transit system and the riders we serve,” said RTA CEO Alex Z. Wiggins. “By tapping into the progressive re-entry training programs offered by Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections, RTA is not only building a highly skilled workforce, but also helping justice involved individuals re-enter society successfully. This opportunity will allow them to earn thriving wages to support their families, which will in turn build community and improve the quality of life for all.”
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International Transportation Learning Center
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