MTA Long Island Rail Road (NY) launched a pilot program to allow customers to purchase tickets on board trains using major credit and debit cards. Conductors are equipped with wireless handheld ticket issuing machines, called TIMs, which can process cash and credit transactions and print a receipt. “We live in a time that is moreRead… Read more »
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (CA) plans to upgrade security cameras on 358 buses to improve reliability and to add new features like real-time monitoring. Many of Muni’s existing surveillance cameras are over 10 years old and difficult to maintain. “What we currently have is very staff intensive,” said spokeswoman Kristen Holland. “There areRead… Read more »
The Staten Island Ferry (NY) will convert one boat from diesel fuel to liquefied natural gas with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Boat Discretionary Program. “Converting the Staten Island Ferry to liquefied natural gas is a win-win-win: It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, lower operating costs and help the environment,”Read… Read more »
The City of Kalamazoo (MI) is making a series of transit ITS improvements for Metro Transit and its Metro County Connect paratransit service. “Our ITS will use a minimum of 18 different technologies,” transportation director Bill Schomisch told the city commissioners. “Bus schedules will be streamlined. People with visual impairments will be able to tellRead… Read more »
Zimride, which started as a carpooling network for college campuses in 2007, is ready to go mainstream. To attract new users, the company has set up what it calls “sponsored routes,” such as Los Angeles to San Francisco, and is offering a $20 bonus to drivers who sell seats in their vehicles at a predeterminedRead… Read more »
Hampton Roads Transit’s The Tide, the first light-rail system in Virginia, will open to the public on Friday and begin carrying paying customers on Monday. To help inaugurate the new service, HRT employees and local residents will serve as Tide Guides, distributing schedules and showing customers how to use the ticket machines. Joining them willRead… Read more »
Continuing their cyber-war against Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA), hackers broke into the website for the union representing BART’s police force and published personal information for 102 officers. “These people are criminals and we’re going to forward this information to the FBI,” said union president Jesse Sekhon. “These people need to be brought to justice.Read… Read more »
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority announced plans to install wind turbines at two commuter rail stations. Work on the first turbine, to be located near the Kingston station, begins next month. The turbine is expected to generate enough power to cover 65% of the station’s electricity needs, including lighting the train platforms and parking lot.Read… Read more »
Bay Area Rapid Transit (CA) shut down four downtown San Francisco stations on Monday night to disperse a protest over its decision to curtail cell phone access on its platforms last week; Muni services were also affected by the shutdowns. No one was injured or arrested, cell service stayed on, and all stations re-opened byRead… Read more »
Ten winning ideas were announced last week for the NYC BigApps Ideas Challenge. Starting in June, people were encouraged to submit concepts for applications by answering the following question in 140 characters or less: “I want a NYC App that ______.” No programming was required and participants submitted ideas, not functioning apps. Some of theRead… Read more »