Federal Transit Administration

As we continue promoting safety in the transit industry, FTA recently spoke at the International Brotherhood of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Passenger Transportation Conference and discussed safety regulatory updates, assaults on transit workers and fatigue risk management. tinyurl.com/4dmad6rk

GRTC will receive $750,000 from FTA to plan for equitable growth along the city’s second proposed bus rapid transit line extending from Henrico County through downtown Richmond and into Chesterfield County. Transit-oriented development and affordable housing will be key features in the area’s Pulse Corridor, making it possible for people of all income levels to access quality rapid transit. tinyurl.com/FY24TOD

Congrats to City of Phoenix, which will receive $1.2 million from an FTA transit-oriented development planning grant to study ways to incorporate affordable housing and mixed-use development around 3 light rail stations under construction downtown. The goal: to increase ridership, spur economic development and enhance quality of life. tinyurl.com/FY24TOD

Congrats to Greater Cleveland RTA for being awarded a $700,000 grant from FTA to plan for transit-oriented development on Cleveland’s busy Lorain Corridor. A proposed multi-modal project will incorporate a bus rapid transit line with existing Red Line train service connecting downtown to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). The plan for a 15-mile BRT, one of the longest in the area, complements the city’s vision for encouraging economic development and connecting neighborhoods on Cleveland’s west side. tinyurl.com/FY24TOD

FTA Special Advisor Catherine Teebay joined a panel discussion at the WOMENS TRANSPORTATION SEMINAR FOUNDATION annual conference in New Orleans, outlining FTA priorities for 2024. Teebay discussed how FTA is collaborating with other U.S. Department of Transportation agencies, including participating in White House Interagency Councils and working together on transportation planning for the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. She also told the women’s industry group about FTA’s support for the DOT Equity Action Plan, improving the rollout of electric bus fleets, micromobility, and building a diverse transportation workforce. 

Transportation workers: We need your input! Let us know how you find and use transportation research. Your response to Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida's questions will guide FTA in delivering research findings. Please share this link with your colleagues and let us know your thoughts. #TransportationResearch tinyurl.com/yc5467rd

Congrats to City of Alexandria, Virginia, which will receive a $550,000 FTA grant to plan for mixed-use development and affordable housing along a proposed 4-mile bus rapid transit line. The city’s first BRT will link 2 ends of the city, and the TOD plan will expand housing options, improve affordability and address barriers to equitable housing access in the West End and the King Street Metro station, and the Alexandria stations for the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Amtrak. tinyurl.com/FY24TOD

The City of McAllen, TX will receive $500,000 from FTA to plan for transit-oriented development around Metro McAllen stations and bus routes, including a proposed BRT corridor. The plan will enhance housing options and walkability around Central Station in downtown McAllen with mixed-use development and improve multimodal connections at the new North Transfer Station. tinyurl.com/FY24TOD

Did you know? In the early 1970s, FTA funded innovative experiments in on-demand transportation. The programs were called “Dial-a-Ride.” A demonstration project in Haddonfield, NJ allowed riders to call a control center to request a pickup, with a minibus ready to arrive at their location within 20 minutes. Dispatchers used both manual and new computerized scheduling techniques to plan routes, then radioed bus drivers with the locations of their next stops. Over 3 years, the service carried more than 700,000 passengers, many of whom were older adults and people with disabilities. Today, FTA continues to work toward improved paratransit and enhanced mobility for all.

ICYMI: FTA recently spoke at the American Public Transportation Association’s Mobility Conference and discussed safety rulemaking updates, fatigue management, transit worker assaults and transit’s role in the National Roadway Safety Strategy. tinyurl.com/mvy5h3ft