Without a doubt, 2013 was a busy year for the mass transit industry. A lot of transit systems and businesses saw changes and the news was never dull.
Here is a list of our most viewed news stories, press releases and videos of 2013.
Top Five Most Read News Stories of 2013
1.BART’s Top-Paid Worker of 2012 Never Worked a Day
With a gross salary of more than $333,000, BART's highest-paid employee last year wasn't its general manager, police chief or a worker who racked up gobs of overtime scrubbing grime from filthy train seats.
It was someone who did no work at all for BART in 2012: Dorothy Dugger, the agency's former general manager who resigned under pressure more than two years ago.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10957704
2. BART Police Probe Porn Video Shot on Train
BART police are investigating an amateur pornographic video shot on a moving BART train that came to their attention Thursday, authorities said.
The cell phone video shows a "partially disrobed" couple having intercourse on a seat at the end of a train car, said deputy police chief Ben Fairow.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10987101
3. LIRR Will Try to Revoke 600 Retiree Pensions
The Long Island Rail Road will try to revoke the pensions of 600 retirees whose federal disability benefits were cut last week because of suspicions about fraud, LIRR officials said Tuesday.
The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board voted to end disability payments for the former workers. They were all examined by Dr. Peter Ajemian, who admitted to signing hundreds of bogus disability claims and was sentenced in May to 8 years in prison.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10980917
4. NJ Gov Blames Civil Servant for Sandy Train Damage
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says a low-level manager — not the state's mass transit chief — was to blame for failing to move trains to higher ground during Superstorm Sandy, causing $120 million in damage.
Christie told The Record newspaper's editorial board Thursday that the employee deviated from a storm plan at the last minute without the knowledge of New Jersey Transit executive director Jim Weinstein.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11186560
5. Old Subway Station Uncovered in PATCO Elevator Work
Elevators for two PATCO train stations have been delayed by construction problems and the discovery of the remnants of an abandoned, century-old subway station during excavation work.
The elevators were supposed to be ready for use by the end of 2012 at PATCO's Ninth-10th and Locust Street subway station in Center City and the elevated Ferry Avenue station in Camden.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10883393
Top Five Most Viewed Videos of 2013
1. Why California High-Speed Rail is ‘Opportunity of a Lifetime’ for Central Valley
Fourth Generation Fresno resident Lee Ann Eager tells the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors why the project is so important to the economy, environment and future of the Central Valley.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11172939
2. Poetry in Motion: Grand Central by Billy Collins
Grand Central Terminal turns 100 and the celebration began February 1, 2013.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10877041
3. MTtv: 5/17/13
This cast of MTtv takes a closer look at the bus maintenance component of the American Public Transportation Association's International Bus Roadeo.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10940752
4. New Flyer Midi Unveiling
New Flyer unveils its Midi at the 2013 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10941208
5. PSTA Bus Buzz 2: Empty Bus Myth
In Episode 2: "Busting the Empty Bus Myth!" PSTA addresses the common question of why our buses may *appear* empty.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10883178
Top Five Most Read Press Releases
1. Mass Transit Announces its Top 40 Under 40
Mass Transit announces the fifth annual Mass Transit Top 40 Under 40 list, honoring those professionals who have made significant contributions to the public transit industry.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11150527
2. Cody Ponder: 1977 to 2013
Cody Ponder, CART assistant transportation director, died Nov. 26 at age 35 after a long battle with cancer.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11251106
3. New Flyer Announces the Acquisition of North American Bus Industries
New Flyer Industries Inc. announced on June 21 the acquisition of North American Bus Industries, Inc. (NABI) from an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. for cash consideration of approximately $80 million, virtually all for the satisfaction of affiliate debt.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10975272
3. Brookville Awarded Contract to Manufacture First American Designed and Produced Off-Wire Capable Modern Streetcars for city of Dallas
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Brookville Equipment Corporation officially agreed to terms Feb. 26, for the supply of two off-wire capable Liberty Modern Streetcars to the downtown Union Station to Oak Cliff extension project with an option for two additional streetcars.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10891648
4. Cummins Launches QSK95 High-Speed Diesel with More Than 4,000 HP for Locomotives
Cummins Inc. launched the QSK95 engine with more than 4000-hp (2983 kW) output at the Seymour Engine Plant, where the new engine will be manufactured for locomotive applications ahead of the Tier 4 ultra-low emissions standards taking effect in 2015.
www.MassTransitmag.com/10446673
5. McDonald Transit Awarded One of the Largest U.S. Bus Operating Contracts in Austin
McDonald Transit Associates (McDonald Transit), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, has been retained by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) to operate the major part of the fixed route bus network of Austin, Texas, for a three-year term with four optional years.
Joe Petrie | Associate Editor
I came to Mass Transit in 2013 after spending seven years on the daily newsbeat in southeastern Wisconsin.
Based in Milwaukee, I worked as a daily newspaper reporter with the Waukesha Freeman from 2006-2011, where I covered education, county and state government. I went on to cover courts for Patch.com, where I was the main courts reporter in the Metro Milwaukee cluster of websites.
I’ve won multiple awards during the course of my career and have covered some of the biggest political events in the past decade and have appeared on national programs.
Having covered local government and social issues, I discovered the importance of transit and the impact it can have on communities when implemented, supported and funded.
