Metrolink Opens New Transit Center in Rock Island
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Metrolink opened its new $2.1 million transit station Jan. 13 in downtown Rock Island, Ill.
The station replaces the current on-street transfer site located at 16th Street and 3rd Avenue. It provide nearly 2,000 square-feet of enclosed passenger waiting area complete with restrooms, a passenger information kiosk, and a 52-inch monitor displaying next bus arrival information.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11293803
DCTA Kicks off I-35E Construction Marketing Campaign for A-Train
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The Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) on Jan. 13 announces the launch of its year-long marketing campaign, positioning itself as an alternative for transportation during the construction along the I-35E corridor which began last October 2013.
The agency is looking to increase A-train ridership by encouraging current and potential passengers to ride its commuter rail to avoid heavy traffic on I-35E for a hassle-free commute.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11292962
SEPTA to Install Second Hybrid Energy Storage System
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The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) will install a second ABB Enviline energy storage and recovery system for DC rail transportation.
The second system will incorporate a hybrid approach to energy storage, enabling SEPTA to recover train braking energy to reduce the electricity consumption, while simultaneously generating revenues by participating in ancillary (micro-grid) services of the local Regional Transmission Organization (RTO).
www.MassTransitmag.com/11293077
AVTA Buys Two Electric Buses
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The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) is embarking on a demonstration project to determine if electric buses are a viable alternative for the small transit agency with the purchase of two BYD buses, which are expected to be places in service by Apri.
The AVTA intends to hire a project engineer to help facilitate the electric bus demonstration project, support their Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project, and lay the groundwork for a potential bus rapid transit project.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11292100
PSTA Breaks Ground on New Transit Center
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State representatives, county commissioners and a cadre of local elected officials gathered at the PSTA transfer facility in Pinellas Park Dec. 2 to celebrate a milestone in Pinellas County's transportation history: The ceremonial groundbreaking for a new Pinellas Park Transit Center.
The center will be the first of its kind in central Pinellas and will feature a Customer Service window for information and ticket sales, along with fully equipped and maintained restrooms for the hundreds of riders who pass through the facility every day.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11255504
OCTA Starts BikeShare Pilot Program
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The Orange County Transportation Authority has kicked off a bike-sharing pilot program that provides commuters with a convenient, healthy and emissions-free transportation option in Fullerton, Calif.
There will be a 90-day testing period for the public to try the system and provide feedback on their experience. BikeShare initially has 10 stations where bikes can be checked out.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11293864
VISTA and RoadRunner Test All-Electric Buses in Ventura County
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The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) has ushered in a new era for local transit. In a demonstration sponsored by Camarillo-based Roadrunner Shuttle, Ventura County’s first all-electric bus operated without a hitch.
The retrofitted Gillig bus features an all-electric zero-emissions propulsion system (ZEPS) that is both quiet and clean. It made two trips along VISTA’s 25-minute-round-trip CSUCI-Camarillo route, carrying approximately 80 passengers in the process.
The bus was field tested again over a two-week span in January and will be modified to improve hillside braking and overall top speed.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11263341
Plymouth & Brockton Congratulated on 125th Anniversary
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The year 2013 marks the 125th anniversary of the Plymouth-based Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co.
In addition to a recent anniversary event at the P&B home, the company also hosted a chamber of commerce event at which representatives of the Plymouth Board of Selectmen presented a proclamation from the town to congratulate the company on its anniversary and contributions to the region.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11267543
MTD Receives Governor’s Sustainability Award
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Lois Rodriguez of the Prairie Research Institute's Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) presented the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) with the Governor's Sustainability Award at the Dec. 4 MTD Board of Trustees meeting.
Since 1987, ISTC has presented Governor's awards to organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through outstanding and innovative sustainability practice.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11267554
Viação Rio Vermelho Launches Electric Bus Pilot in Salvador
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This first long-range electric bus was approved officially for evaluation testing by the city bus operator Viação Rio Vermelho in the Bahia capital on Dec. 2.
By paying the standard fare of R$2.80, citizens of Salvador participated in the testing of the BYD electric bus. The testing line was from airport to Lapa, via the coast and ran until Dec. 21.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11269072
Miami-Dade Buses Undergo ‘Clean’ Makeover
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Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) is replacing the original fabric-covered seats on Metrobus with fiberglass inserts to help maintain the cleanliness of its vehicles.
The new fiberglass bus seats are stain-resistant, easy to clean and comfortably contour the passenger’s body. In addition, these new seats do not retain dirt and odor the way traditional fabric seats do. To date, 322 buses have been retrofitted with the new fiberglass seat inserts. MDT plans to install the fiberglass seats throughout its entire 800 vehicle bus fleet.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11269089
NJ Transit to get 84 CNG Coaches
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MCI announced that NJ Transit has awarded it a contract for 84 natural-gas-fueled MCI Commuter Coaches with wheelchair lifts.
The first U.S. agency to purchase CNG MCI Commuter Coaches, NJ Transit took delivery of 50 of the CNG coaches in 1999 as part of a pilot program, ordering an additional 27 CNG units the following year.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11280616
Metro Receives 7000 Series Railcars
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On Jan. 6 the first 7000-series train pulled into the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Greenbelt Station.
The newest addition to the rail fleet will fulfill a critical National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation by replacing Metro’s oldest cars, while also adding train capacity..
The cars will be tested on the system over the next several months, and Metro will send data back to the Kawasaki production facility in Lincoln, Neb. to finalize the railcar design process. Full-scale production of the new cars is expected to begin in mid-2014.
www.MassTransitmag.com/11289490
Palm Tran runs ‘Pink Bus’ to create Breast Cancer Awareness
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Palm Tran, working with the Susan G. Komen South Florida Affiliate and Lamar Advertising, unveiled the 2014 pink breast cancer awareness bus at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach on Jan. 7.
This pink bus was used primarily on Route 1 which travels via US1 from the Palm Beach Gardens Mall to Camino Real in Boca Raton during the month of January in support of the fight against breast cancer. Route 1 is Palm Tran's busiest route, providing more than 9,200 average trips on a weekday.
