APTA

Transit Briefs: SacRT, APTA, BART, MARTA

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project’s second train crossing; construction begins on BART’s Lake Merritt Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Indian Creek TOD project following rezoning approval.

During 2023, rail ridership grew by eight percentage points relative to 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, ending the year at 70%, while bus ridership grew by 12 percentage points to 81% of 2019 levels, according to the latest APTA report. (Chart Courtesy of APTA)

APTA Releases Ridership Trends Report

After falling to 20% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, public transit has recovered to 79% of pre-pandemic levels as of March 2024, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest ridership trends report.

(Amtrak Photograph)

APTA to Congress: Support THUD Appropriations Act

House and Senate Appropriations Committee leaders on March 3 released the final, bipartisan THUD Appropriations Act (Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024) (H.R. 4366, Division F) as

Sound Transit photo

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, Amtrak, CHSRA

Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line gets closer to opening on the Eastside. Also, Amtrak completes upgrades at Selma-Smithfield Union Depot; and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) takes home a national honor for the award-winning student engagement “I Will Ride” program.

Pictured, from left to right: Carita Ducre, APTA Vice President, Workforce Development and Educational Services; Simon Minelli, CUTA Director, Research, Technical Services and Industry Programs; Marco D’Angelo, CUTA President and CEO; Paul P. Skoutelas, APTA President and CEO; Petra Mollet, APTA Vice President, Strategic and International Programs; and Art Guzzetti, APTA Vice President, Mobility Initiatives and Public Policy. (CUTA Photograph)

CUTA, APTA Renew Transit Advocacy Partnership

The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) on Jan. 12 reported signing a new memorandum of understanding with sister organization American Public Transportation Association (APTA) that reconfirms for the next three years their

APTA to Congress: Fully Fund FY24 Public Transportation Investments

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is urging the House and Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Committee leaders “to resolve their differences and provide the critical investments needed to improve our nation’s public transit, passenger rail, and multimodal infrastructure.”

Shawn M. Donaghy will serve as NCTD's new CEO, beginning March 1, 2024.

NCTD Appoints Donaghy as CEO

The North County Transit District (NCTD) Board of Directors on Dec. 21 unanimously approved Shawn M. Donaghy as the agency’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective March 1, 2024.

From Left to Right: David Carol, CEO, APTA; Greg Regan, TTD, AFL/CIO; Harrison M. Wadsworth, Vice President, Government Relations, AECOM; and Mike Friedberg, Partner, Holland & Knight.

Collaboration for Passenger Rail Success

One of the main themes of the Railway Supply Institute’s (RSI) breakout sessions at this year’s Railway Interchange was collaboration, including “Collaboration for Passenger Rail Success,” which took place on Oct. 3 in Indianapolis.