All-Electric Double-Deckers Coming to the U.S.
Foothill Transit has committed to purchasing an electric version of the Alexander Dennis Inc. (ADI) double-deck bus, the Enviro500EV. It will debut in the Foothill Transit’s Southern California fleet in 2019. The purchase of the two electric double-deck buses from ADI is made possible by a Metro Express Lanes Toll Revenue Capital Grant awarded to Foothill Transit in 2018 for $1.4 million. Foothill Transit will replace two 12-year old compressed natural gas (CNG) commuter express buses with the two ADI Enviro500EVs.
New 35-Foot CAT Buses Hit the Streets
Officials with the Chatham Area Transit Authority placed 16 new Gillig 35-foot buses into service. The new buses will replace many of the older buses in the fleet, some with odometer readings of nearly 706,000 miles.
NCTD Board Approves Purchase of New Locomotives
The North County Transit District Board of Directors approved the purchase of five new Siemens locomotives. The five locomotives being replaced were originally built between 1975-1992 and were purchased as used by NCTD. These five locomotives have reached the end of their useful life.
SEPTA Celebrates Arrival of New ACS-64 Electric Locomotives with 'Inaugural Run'
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority introduced Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives. The new ACS-64 electric locomotives will allow SEPTA to expand its fleet while replacing eight aging locomotives, including the last remaining AEM-7 locomotives still running in the country.
CCW Completes Electric Retrofit Project for WSU
Complete Coach Works has announced the completion of an electric retrofit project awarded by Weber State University. The project converts their diesel fuel bus into an all-electric Zero-Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) bus.
In Brief
Trinity Metro deployed CHK America’s Connectpoint Digital Bus Stops at its busiest transit centers.
San Joaquin Regional Transit District announced that, as part of a project team, it won the 2018 California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Award for Sustainable Transportation/Environmental Project of the Year.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority began operations of the Atlanta Streetcar Sunday, July 1. MARTA General Manager & CEO Jeffrey A. Parker and Chief of Police Wanda Y. Dunham took an inaugural ride of the system on July 2.
New Flyer of America Inc. has announced that the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has awarded a new contract for 14 heavy-duty, sixty-foot Xcelsior clean-diesel transit buses with options for 10 additional buses.
IVU Traffic Technologies will equip 69 Stadler trains with new on-board technology in the next few years. As the general contractor, the Berlin IT specialist for public transport is responsible for the entire system integration on board the vehicles.
With a need to expand its fleet to support recent growth, MV Transportation selected MCI’s best-selling clean diesel J4500 based on its luxurious passenger experience and workhorse reliability.
Keolis Commuter Services, the MBTA’s operating partner for commuter rail, graduated 16 new assistant conductors, increasing the roster of conductors to its highest level ever and helping to further improve service.
First Transit announced that the company has been awarded the transit management contract for Mobile’s Wave Transit System.
People in the News
Richard White • SYSTRA
SYSTRA announced the appointment of Richard White as chief strategic officer. In this role, he will lead the development, communication, execution, and sustainment of SYSTRA’s corporate strategic initiatives. He will be based in SYSTRA’s Alexandria, Virginia, office. White most recently served as acting president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association. Richard White has more than 40 years of experience working with public transit agencies and private transportation consulting firms.
Fadi Chakbazof • First Transit
First Transit announced the appointment of Fadi Chakbazof as senior vice president of operations for the west region. Chakbazof has more than 17 years of transportation experience in areas such as operations, finance, legal, labor negotiations and customer engagement and leadership. He most recently was a senior vice president for MV Transportation Inc. Chakbazof earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a juris doctorate from Western State University College of Law.
Maurice Henderson II • TriMet
Maurice Henderson II was announced as TriMet’s new chief operating officer. Henderson comes to TriMet from the city of Portland, where he served as chief of staff and director of strategic initiatives for Mayor Ted Wheeler. Prior to joining Wheeler’s office, Henderson was assistant director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation where he brings operational experience that will complement his duties at TriMet. While at PBOT, he worked closely with TriMet leadership to elevate the importance of transit in the city.
Meredith Clark, PHR, SHRM-CP • Urban Engineers
Urban Engineers announced that Meredith Clark, PHR, SHRM-CP, has been promoted to vice president. She serves as the firm’s director of human resources. In her role, Clark partners with Urban’s executive management team, leading strategic initiatives and providing guidance on the organization's approach to its people. She manages all activities associated with the human resources function including talent acquisition, onboarding, benefit administration and planning, performance management, policy compliance, employee relations, and employee retention.
Jessica Mefford-Miller • Bi-State Development
Bi-State Development announced the appointment of Jessica Mefford-Miller as interim executive director of Metro Transit, effective July 1. Mefford-Miller, currently the assistant executive director of transit planning & system development, will transition to the position held by Executive Director Ray Friem, who will retire on July 1. The executive director of Metro Transit oversees all three Metro Transit operations: MetroLink, MetroBus and Metro Call-A-Ride. As assistant executive director for Planning and System Development at Metro, she has been responsible for developing and implementing mobility solutions the system.
Andrew Johnson • The Rapid
The Rapid’s Board of Directors selected Andrew Johnson as the next CEO. Johnson is expected to start in August 2018. Johnson is a Wisconsin native who currently serves as the chief operating officer at the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District in Illinois. Prior to that, he was the CEO of Connect Transit in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, which was recognized by the American Public Transportation Association as the best system in its class in 2015.
Khaled Shammout • Cincinnati Metro
Khaled Shammout joined Cincinnati Metro as the director of transit development. He is responsible for overseeing Cincinnati Metro’s planning department, infrastructure and transit center design and construction, as well long-term and strategic planning. Prior to joining Cincinnati Metro, he served as director of transit planning for Palm Beach County, Florida, where he managed all planning-related activities for Palm Tran, including scheduling, grants and DBE monitoring.
