In yet another fare scam, this time in Pittsburgh, a Port Authority of Allegheny County (PA) worker was accused of stealing and reselling bus tickets. When arrested, the maintenance worker was carrying 2,800 tickets worth about $10,000. “It’s an unfortunate situation and we’re pleased our police department was successful in its investigation of this illegalRead… Read more »
Three stories from the U.S. Department of Transportation today — LaHood on YouTube, new grants for green transit, and a big loan for Amtrak. Secretary Ray LaHood’s latest installment of On the Go is on YouTube. This month LaHood tackles viewer questions about livability, sustainability, and traffic safety. Next, the Federal Transit Administration announced thatRead… Read more »
Thinking about Japan’s magnetic levitation train of the future (34 years from now to be exact), Eric Jaffe writes about some “far-flung railway visions of the past” in The Infrastructurist. First up is a vacuum tube that would whisk passengers from Boston to New York at 1,200 miles per hour. Rocket scientist Robert Goddard cameRead… Read more »
A British designer has updated the iconic London Underground map, which was created in 1931. Designed by Mark Noad, the new version attempts to show routes and distances more accurately; an iPhone app is in the works. “Harry Beck’s original Underground map was a brilliant piece of information design but it has not been lookedRead… Read more »
The Federal Transit Administration announced $1.58 billion in New Starts funding for 27 major transit projects. Funds were allocated to commuter rail projects in Denver (CO), Salt Lake City (UT), and Central Florida, along with light-rail projects in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MN) and Houston (TX). Also on the list are “small starts” bus rapid transit projectsRead… Read more »
Thirteen Dartmouth College (NH) students and recent graduates are touring the country on an old Greyhound bus converted to run on waste vegetable oil. The Big Green Bus is scheduled to visit 31 states in 11 weeks, spreading the messages of sustainability and environmentalism. “Our focus is two-fold: to discover the environmental success stories ofRead… Read more »
After a successful test, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority extended its quiet car program to all 13 commuter rail lines. Mimes were on hand in Boston’s North and South Stations to distribute cards that explained quiet car protocol. Peak-period passengers riding in the car closest to the locomotive will be asked to refrain from loudRead… Read more »
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CA) announced the winners for its application competition. LA Metro Alerts was the winning mobile application; developer Ross McFarland has developed similar applications for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, San Francisco Muni (CA), and AC Transit (CA). Best college app went to CSULA Transit, by Robert Martin andRead… Read more »
TransLink (BC) will end its discounted pass program for residents of UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain at the end of the year. Under the Community Pass program, about 900 of the 3,000 residents paid $30 per month for three-zone passes that would otherwise cost $151 per month. The goal was to encourage transit use among membersRead… Read more »
In a welcome twist for people with good ideas but no programming skills, two U.S. cities are trying a new take on the latest trend in applications development — the competition. In New York City, the NYC BigAppsIdea challenge is asking the public to share the apps they want for residents, businesses, and visitors.To enterRead… Read more »