Transit Unplugged Weekly News Minute with Julie Gates

Congestion pricing came back from the dead in New York City, and it's CUTA conference time. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute, where we cover the biggest stories in the transit industry.

After being put on hold last summer, New York's congestion pricing just got the green light from the governor. The new $9 toll for the most gridlocked part of Manhattan will go into effect on January 5th. Congestion pricing has been successful in crowded cities like Singapore, London, and Stockholm, and proponents believe it will help New York City eliminate traffic, reduce pollution, and bring necessary revenue to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Source: NY MTA

Canada's largest transit events take place this week in Toronto. The Canadian Urban Transit Association's annual conference, along with the one day Canadian Transit Show, run through Thursday. Source: CUTA

And leading the way for innovation in transit, the Jacksonville Transit Authority Board, in partnership with the Florida Public Transportation Association, approved a shortlist for statewide procurement for autonomous transit vehicles. Source: JTA

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Transit won big in last week's United States elections, with 19 out of 25 communities approving transit measures on their ballots. According to the American Public Transportation Association, transit has seen an 86.67% win rate in 2024, with more than $25 billion going to fund public transit. Source: APTA

On Remembrance Day, November 11th, Vancouver's TransLink is providing free transit to veterans and military personnel in honor of their service and sacrifice. Source: TransLink

The Chicago Transit Authority launched its new fall schedule, providing pre pandemic levels of rail service. The CTA is adding over 1,200 weekly rail trips each year. And increasing service by 20%. Source: CTA

And congratulations to New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which celebrated its one billionth subway rider of 2024. In celebration, rider Michael Carrasquillo received one month of unlimited subway rides. Source: NY MTA

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo.

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute where we cover the biggest headlines in the public transit industry.

It’s Election week in the United States, with 23 transit initiatives on the ballot in 9 states. On Thursday, The American Public Transportation Association will hold a post-election webinar to discuss how the results will impact the transit industry. Source: APTA

You better behave if you’re going to ride transit in the City of Calgary, Alberta. The City increased its fines including verbal harassment, threats, and intimidation directed at transit operators, riders, and staff. Source: City of Calgary

Congratulations to the North County Transit District for breaking ground on its hydrogen fueling station in Oceanside, Calif. Source: LinkedIn, via Shawn Donaghy, CEO of North County Transit District

And Escambia County Area Transit in Florida honored three longterm employees who have provided a combined 137 years of service. Bus Operator Willie Carter, Jr. celebrates his 50th year, and began driving buses before they even had air conditioning. In Florida! Source: ECAT

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world’s people.

The State of New York's very first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses have arrived at Rochester's Regional Transit Service. The vehicles join the fleet that already has 20 battery electric buses. Source: RTS

Trinity Metro in Fort Worth has brought some true Texas swagger to Cowtown with its new Orange Line service connecting downtown to the stockyards. The Texas themed buses feature Fort Worth's famous Cattle Drive and Billy Bob's Honky Tonk. Source: Trinity Metro

And transit is at the center of this week's Halloween festivities.

In Maryland, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation brings back Monster Flash, a decorated haunted house themed bus. And in Salem, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Keolis added more commuter rail trips and coaches to the trains to accommodate the volume of visitors flocking to the Witch City for its annual Haunted Happenings Festival. Sources: Montgomery County and Keolis

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought Modaxo, passionate about moving the world's people.

One of the biggest issues facing U.S. public transit is the bus manufacturing crisis. There aren’t enough manufacturers to make the number of zero-emission buses needed for agencies to reach their greenhouse gas reduction goals. One of the hurdles is too much customization.

To help, the L.A. Metro Board of Directors adopted a new policy, which includes coordinating with the other Los Angeles County transit agencies to buy their buses together with reduced customization. Source: LA METRO

Last week, Lane Transit District in Oregon held a “State of the District” event. One of their goals is for the community to try a transit or mobility option for one roundtrip each month, for a year. Source: Lane Transit District

And the Utah Transit Authority was having issues with the lifespan of the external bus speakers that they use for ADA announcements that help customers know which buses are pulling up to the stop. UTA's engineers got innovative and decided to use a 3D printer to make their own speaker housing unit that should be able to withstand the cold Utah winters. Source: UTA

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo.

We've all been monitoring the heartbreaking news coming out of the Southeastern United States that has been ravaged by back to back hurricanes. The American Public Transportation Association has issued a statement saying APTA stands ready to aid our members, their employees, families, and communities. Source: APTA

This Wednesday, the Transit Unplugged Podcast will release a special episode featuring Florida transit leaders to hear the latest on their evacuation and recovery efforts. Be sure to tune in. Visit Transit Unplugged to listen and follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

In Edmonton, Alberta, they're seeing a record number of riders using transit services, with six million trips taken in September. Source: Edmonton Transit

And with Halloween only two weeks away, Lebanon Transit in Pennsylvania is holding its first costume contest, asking for riders to take photos of themselves in a costume with a Lebanon Transit bus, van, or bus shelter. The winner gets a 31 day bus pass and swag, because it's always about the swag. Source: Lebanon Transit (PA)

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo.

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute, where we cover the biggest headlines in the transit industry.

Good news for those who want to update their urban passenger rail systems. The U. S. Federal Railroad Association issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for more than $1 billion. This funding is for systems working to expand, modernize, and improve America's intercity passenger rail network. Source: US DOT

The Toronto Transit Commission welcomed its first new battery electric buses to its eBus fleet. By the end of 2026, the TTC will have a total of 400 eBus vehicles and the largest fleet in North America. Source: TTC

And in an effort to recruit more bus operators, Duluth Transit Authority in Minnesota Added a new twist to its Your Turn to Drive promotion. This year, they invited local celebrities to drive 40 foot diesel buses on a closed course to see who could get the best time. The celebrities may have run over a few orange cones, but no one was hurt and everyone had a great time. Source: Duluth News Tribune

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo.

If you're looking for a more sustainable way to travel, Google has teamed up with Amtrak to show train routes for people booking travel on the search engine. Each time travelers choose Amtrak instead of flying, they can reduce their carbon footprint by up to 72%. Source: Amtrak

This week, the American Public Transportation Association hosts its annual APTA TRANSform Conference in Anaheim, California. 2,600 public transportation professionals are expected to attend. Source: APTA

And in Boston, there wasn't a dry eye in the house at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. During a touching reunion between a ferry passenger who had collapsed and stopped breathing during her commute and the heroes who saved her life. Thanks to quick thinking from bystanders and crew members, she's doing fine today. And last week they gathered for a heartwarming reunion and to celebrate the heroic acts of the group. Source: MBTA (via LinkedIn)

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute, where we cover the biggest headlines in the transit industry.

Ferry systems across the U.S. are about to get an upgrade. The Federal Transit Administration has awarded $300 million in grants to modernize ferry systems across 14 states. Source: FTA

Vancouver's TransLink is one step closer to achieving its net zero emissions goals by converting the West Coast Express commuter rail to renewable diesel. This fuel comes from organic waste, such as cooking and vegetable oils. Source: TransLink

We're learning more about the high speed rail train that Brightline West will operate on its route between Las Vegas and the greater Los Angeles area. New renderings show the pet friendly train will also include a party car where guests can kick back and drink some champagne. Source: Brightline West

And Tech Mobility Conference MOVE America takes place this week in Austin, Texas. Transit Unplugged's Paul Comfort will be presenting on the five traits of a future transit leader. Source: MOVE America

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world's people.

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute, where we cover the biggest headlines in the transit industry.

Last week, the American Public Transportation Association held a fly-in in Washington D.C. where transit agency leaders and advocates met with over 75 members of Congress and staff, urging them to not cut the funding levels to public transit and passenger rail. Source: APTA

The University of North Texas Economic Research Group validated that transit oriented development is good for cities. The project proved that TODs in the vicinity of Dallas Area Rapid Transit stations brought in nearly $1B in direct spending and 11k jobs in a two-year period. Source: DART

There are a couple of fun things to note this week. First, watch out for seafaring shenanigans on Thursday which is Talk Like a Pirate Day. In previous years, Brisbane, Australia converted one of their buses into a pirate ship for the day. Source: Wikipedia

And this Sunday is World Car-Free Day. California's Riverside Transit is offering free rides to commemorate the occasion. Source: Riverside Transit