Registration is now open for SWTA's 2021 Summer University Conference in Santa Fe, this July 18 - 22, including full session topic & speakers agenda! Details below. Click here or above to register.
New Orleans RTA enters bus into service celebrating city’s Freedom Riders
The bus features the artwork, “Tribute to the Freedom Riders,” and depicts New Orleans Civil Rights icons and Freedom Riders, Doratha “Dodie” Smith-Simmons, and Jerome “Big Duck” Smith. The latest public art installation bus entered service June 18 servicing various areas of the city. Read More
Legislative Update: Biden, bipartansan senators reach tentative agreement on in infrastructure bill; see full details on transit impacts below...
Norman Council Adopts Go Norman Transit Plan
On Tuesday, June 22, 2021 the City of Norman City Council adopted the Go Norman Transit Plan. The Go Norman Transit Plan is a roadmap for optimizing and expanding transit service within the City of Norman, providing detailed and prioritized recommendations for service improvements and expansion. The plan is the outcome of a nearly year-long study that included a comprehensive review of the City of Norman’s existing transit service and numerous community engagement activities. Read More
Innovation, Access Drive KCATA Forward
In April, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) introduced its first two GILLIG electric buses to the community as part of its ongoing commitment to being good environmental stewards to the region it serves. The move was just the latest example of the agency’s intent to remain an integral part of Kansas City’s continuing economic growth, even despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
Miami-Dade to add 42 Proterra electric buses to existing order
Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is preparing to operate one of North America’s largest fleet of 40-foot battery-electric buses following the county issuing a Notice to Proceed on an agreement that will expand electrification of Metrobus fleet. Read More
Transit News from Across the SWTA Nation
Project Connect: The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) has created a plan for mobility investments in Central Texas (AustinTexas.gov)
RTA board approves transit fare reductions effective July 1 (Norta.com)
Major overhaul of DART bus system includes expanded service in Plano (CommunityImpact.com)
We held this newsletter edition an additional day as word emerged yesterday that President Biden and a group of 10 bipartisan Senators reached a tentative agreement on an infrastructure proposal. Among $579 billion in total new investment, $48.5 billion would be channeled through existing federal transit programs, another $7.5 billion to support purchase of electric buses and another $66 billion to intercity (Amtrak) and freight rail programs. See the chart at right for a comparison of how the agreement compares with Biden's original infrastructure proposal, and a framework for the agreement released by the White House here.
Of course, the agreement – thus far – is limited to the President and the bipartisan working group. How it fares in both the House & Senate is uncertain, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requiring the Senate to vote on both the infrastructure bill and a reconciliation measure to overcome a all-but-certain fillibuster by Senate Republicans before the House takes it up. With some opponents of the measure arguing transit may be receiving too much investment following the successive CARES, CRRSA and American Recovery Act over the COVID-19 period, we will be considering the balance of transit funding to ensure transit providers across the SWTA Nation are receiving a fair share.
We'll keep you updated on the latest regarding any infrastructure legislation impacting transit. Meanwhile, the full House of Representatives will take up the INVEST Act (H.R. 3684), which was approved out of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee earlier this month, including $109 billion for public transit investment. SWTA, APTA & CTAA encourage their members to contact their U.S. representatives in support of the INVEST Act before the expected vote this coming Wednesday (6/30).
UPCOMING EVENTS FROM STATE & NATIONAL TRANSIT ASSOCIATIONS
