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August 12, 2022 | An APTA Publication
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Pictured are Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald (D-PA); Katharine Kelleman, CEO, Pittsburgh Regional Transit; APTA Sustainability Chair Amy Shatzkin, Sound Transit (Seattle) deputy director, Environmental Affairs and Sustainability (at left); and Transit Operations Planning and Scheduling Subcommittee Chair and Sound Transit Corridor Operations Director Lacy Bell.
Transit Professionals Convene in Pittsburgh for APTA’s 2022 Sustainability Workshop
More than 260 transit professionals gathered in Pittsburgh, August 7-10, for APTA’s annual Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop. Due to pandemic restrictions, the workshop had not convened in-person since 2019 but came back strong in 2022 with Pittsburgh Regional Transit as host.
The event brought together various categories of professionals, including sustainability officers, and transit service planners and schedulers to talk about current trends and hot topics.
In opening remarks, APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas said, “The workshop represents our future. Sustainability is about pursuing the triple bottom line of environmental, social, and economic outcomes. And every transit professional, business leader, and engineer know that all innovative operations begin with planning and scheduling. There is an essential synergy between these two themes as the transit industry addresses current challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, facilitating the transition to zero emission fuels and operations, service restructuring, and assuring equity in transportation planning and service.”
Skoutelas opened the workshop, along with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald; Pittsburgh Regional Transit CEO Katharine Kelleman; APTA Sustainability Chair Amy Shatzkin, Sound Transit (Seattle) deputy director, Environmental Affairs and Sustainability; and APTA Transit Operations Planning and Scheduling Subcommittee Chair Lacy Bell, Sound Transit Corridor Operations director.
Speaking at a General Session, Kelleman underscored the richness that comes with careers in public transportation. She spoke about how the perspectives gained as a transportation planner provided the foundation for ongoing career development. She also described the recent transition from “Port Authority of Allegheny County” to “Pittsburgh Regional Transit,” and perspectives on how public transportation can make communities stronger and people’s lives better.
Tuesday’s General Session highlighted FTA’s connections with the policy themes of the workshop. The session included FTA Director of Environmental Programs Megan Blum, FTA Director of Planning Fleming El-Amin, and Director of Sustainability for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Rachel Healy.
The workshop featured ways transit providers are addressing issues associated with extreme weather, excessive heat, sea level rise, and flooding. Conversations covered both the human impact of climate on transit riders and workers, plus the impacts on transit infrastructure and operations. Cool pavements, bus shelter design, tree canopies and native plants around transit stops and real estate holdings, and vulnerability assessments/risk assessments were among the specific ideas considered.
The 2023 Sustainability/Operations Planning and Scheduling Workshop will be held July 30–Aug. 2, 2023, in Anaheim, CA.
|  | Senate Passes Inflation Reduction Act
On Aug. 7, 2022, the Senate passed H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, by a vote of 51-50. The bill includes alternative fuel tax credits and significant new investments in climate, zero-emission technology, equity and environmental streamlining. The House is scheduled to consider the bill today. If it passes, President Biden will sign it.
The bill includes numerous important provisions that benefit public transportation. Among them, it:
- Extends the excise tax credits for alternative fuels, biodiesel, and renewable diesel;
- Extends and substantially restructures the alternative fuel vehicle property credit;
- Establishes a new commercial clean vehicle tax credit; and
- Provides significant new investments in climate, zero-emission technology, equity, and environmental review, including $27 billion for a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; $3.2 billion for Neighborhood Access and Equity Grants; and $2 billion for Low-Carbon Transportation Materials Grants.
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US DOT Announces RAISE Funding for 166 Projects
Yesterday, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced that the Biden-Harris Administration has awarded more than $2.2 billion from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to help urban and rural communities move forward on projects that modernize transit, rail, bridges, ports and intermodal transportation. More than $490 million will be devoted to public transit and passenger rail projects.
This year’s allocations include more than $2.2 billion which, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides an additional $7.5 billion over five years for the program to help meet the strong demand to help projects get moving across the country.
“We are proud to support so many outstanding infrastructure projects in communities large and small, modernizing America’s transportation systems to make them safer, more affordable, more accessible, and more sustainable,” said Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Projects were evaluated on several criteria, including safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness and opportunity, partnership and collaboration, innovation, state of good repair, and mobility and community connectivity. Within these areas, US DOT considered how projects will improve accessibility for all travelers, bolster supply chain efficiency, and support racial equity and economic growth—especially in historically disadvantaged communities and areas of persistent poverty.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority was awarded $25 million to advance its project beyond the 119-miles under construction and into downtown Merced.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority was awarded $25 million to rehabilitate the above-ground portions of the Five Points MARTA station.
The City of Elizabeth, NJ was awarded $5 million to examine, identify and assess the feasibility of construction of a ferry terminal and incorporation of a ferry service from Elizabeth, NJ to Manhattan.
The full list of awards can be found here.
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FTA Announces Research Funding to Improve Access to Transportation
FTA announced this week a $6 million Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to help improve people’s access to affordable transportation, especially in areas that currently lack efficient and convenient options.
“Transit can be a great equalizer, but for many Americans, such options are limited or simply don’t exist,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This new program will help eliminate barriers to affordable transportation and improve access to jobs, school, healthcare, friends and family–all of the ingredients for a good quality of life.”
Under the newly created Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity: Creating Links to Opportunity Program, the selected organization will partner with FTA to establish a research and demonstration program to improve access to affordable transportation options for everyday destinations. FTA plans to share findings with the public so research organizations, transit agencies, and others can learn from and expand upon the insights developed from FTA-funded research.
Instructions for applying can be found on FTA’s website and in GRANTS.gov (funding opportunity FTA-2022-012TRI). Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.gov "APPLY" function by 11:59 p.m. ET on Oct. 11, 2022.
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FHWA/FTA Award $49.2 Million for Innovative Technology Grants to Improve Mobility
This week, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and FTA together awarded $49.2 million in innovative technology grants to improve mobility and multimodal connections for millions of Americans who travel on the nation’s transit systems and highways. Grants can be applied to technologies ranging from systems that detect and prevent wrong-way crashes to advanced technology to improve trucking operations and terminal operator activities at a port. A full list of recipients is included below.
FTA awarded $4 million in Enhancing Mobility Innovation (EMI) grants to nine transit agencies and organizations in six states and the District of Columbia to improve access and mobility.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said, “We’re pleased to support these innovative solutions that will improve driving and public transit for Americans in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.”
“FTA’s Enhancing Mobility Innovation program provides more tools to improve mobility and make all modes of transit easier to use and more attractive to riders,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This funding will help recipients test new innovations with a goal of deploying long-lasting solutions that improve the lives of people in their communities.”
“ATCMTD grants promote innovations that help expand access to transportation for communities in rural areas and cities alike, improve connectivity, and prepare America’s transportation systems for the future,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack.”
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KCATA Appoints White as Interim President and CEO
 The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has announced that Frank White III, will serve as its interim President and CEO. White will be transitioning out of his role of vice president of the RideKC Development Corporation (RKCDC), an organization he helped create to facilitate transportation-oriented development along the region’s transportation corridors.
White was hired at KCATA in 2016 as a Senior Marketing Manager and quickly ascended the ranks of the agency, including roles of Chief Marketing Officer, Director of Strategic Planning and Development, and Vice President of RideKC Development Corporation.
He succeeds Robbie Makinen, who recently resigned as CEO of KCATA.
| | Medical Fitness for Duty and Fatigue Risk Management Report
FTA has published the Medical Fitness for Duty and Fatigue Risk Management Report as part of the its Standards Development Program. The report assesses current standards and identifies gaps in practices for fatigue risk management, hours of service for public transit workers, route and personnel scheduling, medical examination certifications, testing for sleep disorders and training. Access this report and other FTA research reports on the FTA website.
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UPCOMING APTA WEBINAR
Kaleidoscope: Equity in Infrastructure Project: Taking Action Now
Aug. 24, 2022 at 3 PM (ET)
Register here.
The Equity in Infrastructure Project is designed to improve public contracting practices by creating more opportunities for historically underutilized businesses to build generational wealth and to close the racial wealth gap by creating more prime, joint venture, and equity contracting opportunities. This webinar highlights some of the signatories to this project who will discuss the actions they are taking now to generate equity in infrastructure projects.
Eve Williams, Chair, BMBG, President and CEO, Dikita Engineering, Dallas, TX will moderate the session which includes panelists: Dorval Carter, Chair, Legislative Committee, president, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago, IL; Nathan Heitzman, DBE Regulatory Specialist, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Philadelphia, PA; and John D. Porcari, Operating Partner, Corsair Infrastructure, Washington, DC.
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UPCOMING APTA EVENTS
Summertime isn't slowing down progress in the public transportation industry. Keep up to speed with APTA's summer schedule of impactful, in-person events. Then, get ready for TRANSform, the biggest public transit event of the year!
APTAtech
Aug. 14-17
Explore information technology, fare payment systems, cybersecurity and real-time open data solutions for public transportation.
State Public Transportation Partnerships Conference
Aug. 27-30
Redefining our communities' experiences from our shared successes, lessons, trials and tribulations will make us stronger than before.
TRANSform Conference
Oct. 9-12
Hurry! Early Bird registration ends today for APTA's TRANSform Conference, the biggest industry event of the year.
Jan. 24-27
Registration is now open for APTA’s Business Members Annual Meeting in Honolulu, HI.
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