Guide Dog Puppies in Training with Colorado Springs Mountain Metropolitan Transit
Leading with Love, consisting of up to nine guide dog puppies in training, rode with the Colorado Springs Mountain Metropolitan Transit Route 3 bus to Manitou Springs to walk around, get used to riding the bus, and to do some obedience exercises. These types of outings are essential in the development of these very special dogs before they go through formal guide dog training.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12019597
Caption: When the puppies are 8 to 9 weeks old, they are ready for their first road trip.
Clayton County Says “Yes” to MARTA
Clayton County citizens voted overwhelming to join MARTA, marking what will be the first jurisdictional expansion of the transit system since its inception more than 40 years ago.
Earlier this year, the Clayton County Commission voted to put the binding MARTA referendum on the November ballot. Many Clayton County residents had been clamoring to join MARTA after budget cuts forced the shutdown of the C-Tran bus system in 2010.
“Public transit is the critical link we need to bring quality job opportunities to the citizens of Clayton County. This is the catalyst to bring significant development to the south side of the region over the next few years.”
Collection of the 1 percent sales levy will begin in March 2015, as would three bus routes and complementary transit servicing Clayton County.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12016848
Tramway System Starts Operation on World’s First 100% Catenary-Free Line
On 11 November, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince, Chairman of the Executive Council inaugurated the Dubai Tram, by Alstom Transport, in presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council and His excellency, Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport.
This full system project - assigned to Alstom by Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) - was launched to foster multimodal transportation use and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. This first Tramway in the entire Gulf region is expected to serve about 27,000 passengers per day and is anticipated to hit about 66,000 by 2020.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12018372
Caption: The Dubai Tramway is the first tram in the world able to run in temperatures of up to 50 °C and to withstand harsh climate conditions such as humidity and sandy atmosphere.
Metrolinx Contract for $80M includes up to 203 Buses
Nova Bus announced a new partnership with Metrolinx, who coordinates transit vehicle purchasing initiatives for 13 municipalities in Ontario. Between 2015 and 2017, up to 188 40-foot transit buses and 15 articulated transit buses will be delivered to cities under the Metrolinx agreement for a total value of $80 million.
The new order includes 27 buses with deliveries scheduled to start in 2015. The joint procurement also includes options for future orders until 2017 – quantities up to 188 40 footer buses and up to 15 articulated buses – to meet demand. Since vehicle specifications vary greatly from one city to another, the Metrolinx-Nova Bus agreement comprises various types of propulsion technologies such as clean diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and compressed natural gas.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12019280
Caption: The 13 participating municipalities are Barrie, Burlington, Durham Region, Hamilton, Kingston, Milton, North Bay, Oakville, Sarnia, St. Catharines, Welland, Windsor and York Region.
People In The News
Stehpen W. Shaw
Keolis
Keolis announced that Stephen Shaw has been named president and chief executive officer of its Keolis Transit America subsidiary, with overall responsibility for managing the company’s transit operations in the U.S. He has more than 35 years of experience managing a variety of transportation operations and joined Keolis Transit America in August 2013 as chief operating officer.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12019288
Jared A. Forte
Sun Tran
Sun Tran has named Jared Forte as a new assistant general manager. Forte most recently served as the assistant general manager for the Transit Authority of Lexington Kentucky (Lextran). He is an employee of Transdev, the company contracted by the city of Tucson to manage the daily operations of Sun Tran.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12016837
Andy Goddard
Metropolitan Transit System
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) promoted Andy Goddard to superintendent of Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) Maintenance. With more than 17 years of experience, he is now responsible for developing and implementing the department’s strategic plan to maintain a fleet of 129 trains that provide 39 million passenger trips per year.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12019274
Katharine Eagan
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority
The HART Board of Directors selected Katharine Eagan as the authority's new chief executive officer. She has been the HART Interim CEO since the previous CEO Philip R. Hale announced his retirement in May 2014. HART hired Eagan in 2009 as chief of service development.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12015876
Charles R. Lynch
Gannett Fleming
Charles Lynch was hired as vice president of the Gannett Fleming Transit & Rail Systems Division where he will serve as project manager for the firm’s work to support Caltrain’s extensive modernization program, including the Peninsula Corridor electrification project.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12017557
Jeffery A. Hurley
Gannett Fleming
Jeffery Hurley was hired as Gannett Fleming’s deputy project manager on the Caltrain project. He will lead day-to-day operations for the project; plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and review the work of project staff and sub-consultants; and serve as a liaison between project stakeholders.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12017557
Tina Quigley
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
The Nevada International Women’s Forum (NVIWF) selected Tina Quigley, general manager of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), to receive its prestigious Carolyn M. Sparks Founders Award. NVIWF honors a professional woman who has established herself in her sphere of interest.
www.MassTransitmag.com/12016011
Events
Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting (Highlight this one)
Jan. 11-15
Washington, D.C.
The TRB Annual Meeting program covers all transportation modes, with more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 750 sessions and workshops addressing topics of interest to all attendees—policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry, and academic institutions.
Wisconsin Urban & Rural Transit Association Coalition Meetup
Jan. 6
Madison, Wis.
UITP Planning Tomorrow's Smart Cities: Turning Plans into Reality
Jan. 22
Brussels, Belgium
2015 APTA Business Member Board of Governors' Annual Business Meeting
Jan. 26-28
Palm Beach, Fla.
2015 AzTA Legislative Day at the Capitol
Jan. 29
Phoenix
14th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
Jan. 29-31
Baltimore
Iowa Public Transit Association Legislative Meeting
Feb. 3-4
Des Moines, Iowa
2015 Smart Card Alliance Payment Summit
Feb. 3-5
Salt Lake City, Utah
Oklahoma Transit Association Winter Meeting
Location: Oklahoma City, Okla.
For more on upcoming events, vist www.MassTransitmag.com/events
