Transit Unplugged Weekly News Minute with Julie Gates

Bloomberg reports a two-day experiment at a Paris metro station, where passenger turnstiles were turned into turbines that converted kinetic energy to electricity. If turbines were implemented across the entire Paris metro network, they could produce 136 megawatts a year, saving 30, 000 tons of CO2. Source:  Bloomberg . In the US, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has seen a...

There’s a bus manufacturing crisis in the U. S. as several manufacturers have to close their doors due to multiple issues including inflated supply chain costs and long procurement timelines. To add more stress to the situation, transit agencies are receiving more funding than ever to convert to low or zero emission bus fleets to meet their greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. But the bus manu...

Chicago's going to send automated tickets to bus lane violators. APTA went to the White House to solve the bus crisis. And the FTA is offering 1 billion in grants for American transit vehicle manufacturing. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute. In Chicago, a new program will send automated tickets to people violating bike and bus lanes. The Smart Streets program plans to go into pilot mod...

 MTA has new subway cars that improve accessibility, California's considering merging its Bay Area Transit Agencies, and Amelia Earhart's plane may have been located. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

Pace in Chicago has an innovative solution to the bus operator shortage. TriMet Portland going fare free on Sunday and happy 120th anniversary to CUTA welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

A major electric bus acquisition is complete and TransLink is reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6, 500 tons. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

Thanks to Florida's TriRail, it's a lot easier to travel to downtown Miami. And APTA is asking Congress to deliver the money that was promised to transit and passenger rail. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute. Is the bullet train coming to Texas? And BART gets serious about fare evasion with new gates.

Bikeshare numbers are soaring in Paris, and the Utah Transit Authority is celebrating its 2023 wins. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute. This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo, passionate about moving the world's people.

Transit Unplugged News Minute: New York Congestion Pricing & Vancouver Braille Signage This week on Transit Unplugged News Minute, learn about New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board approving congestion pricing to bring in 1 billion in annual tolls and reduce downtown gridlock. Vehicles will be charged $15 to drive in Manhattan's Central Business District, encouraging the use o...

The Federal Transit Administration is considering implementing limits on service hours of transit operators to prevent worker fatigue, with public comments open until December 29th. Meanwhile, Uber users will be able to hail London's famous black cabs via the app starting in 2024. Cab rides will include assistance from the ever-helpful London cab drivers. 00:00 Introduction 00:12 New Safety Standa...

New TTC Streetcars in Toronto and Bus Rapid Transit in Vancouver | Transit Unplugged News Minute In this episode of Transit Unplugged News Minute, Tris Hussey shares updates on Canada's public transit systems. Toronto's TTC has recently introduced the first of 60 new Alstom-made streetcars. Jointly funded by the TTC, the City of Toronto, and the Province of Ontario, the remaining streetcars are se...

Transit Unplugged News Minute: FTA Funding and Canadian Heroism Award Winner This episode discusses the U.S. Federal Transit Administration's announcement of 4.7 million dollars in new grant funding, aimed at improving access to transportation services for underserved populations. Applications for the funding are due in February 2024. Additionally, the Heroism Award from the Canadian Urban Transit...

Edmonton's Winter Transit Initiative and SEPTA's Augmented Public Art Project This Transit Unplugged News Minute explores how The City of Edmonton is expanding its overnight transportation service to ensure people's safety during the harsh winter season. The augmentation of this service includes staff support and transportation to emergency shelters when needed. The episode also discusses the inno...

Ribbon Cutting for WMATA's New Integrated Command and Communication Center The Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) has inaugurated its new Integrated Command and Communication Center (MICC). The 14-story building in Alexandria, Virginia will serve over 1,400 employees and act as a technology hub, housing the data center, cybersecurity operations, bus and rail video teams,...

SEPTA conducted a summer this past spring and summer looking at bus lane violations. Read the entire report: https://www5.septa.org/media/news/septa-releases-findings-of-ai-camera-assistedbus-lane-enforcement-study/

Los Angeles Metro is giving 1,000 residents $150 a month for transportation costs, and Tempe, Arizona launches its first car free neighborhood. Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

Passenger trains now require video recording devices to increase safety, and happy 150th birthday to the cable car!

Confetti is flying as Brightline's rail service now links Miami and Orlando. I'm Julie Gates, and this is your Transit Unplugged News Minute. Privately owned high speed rail operator Brightline debuted its expanded service linking downtown Miami to the Orlando International Airport. Many see this as the beginning of a new era for passenger rail, creating a blueprint to travel with ease between two...

I'm Julie Gates and this is your Transit Unplugged News Minute. Transit agencies all over the globe are reimagining their bus networks to meet the changing ridership patterns that were triggered by the pandemic. In November, Florida's Miami Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works will be moving into Phase 2 of its Better Bus Network SHIFTS Into Gear program. With the help of publ...

I'm Julie Gates and this is your Transit Unplugged News Minute. We're seeing a big win for Chicago. We're talking a potential funding in the billions. The Federal Transit Administration announced that funding for the Red Line Expansion Project has moved to the next phase. The project would extend the Red Line 5.6 miles to Chicago's far South Side, providing a more equitable transit system for comm...

Imagine paying your fare just by walking through the faregate? This is being tested in Seoul, South Korea right now and hear more about it on this week's Transit Unplugged News Minute.

A quick minute of transit news from Paul Comfort. This week Paul covers the Boston MBTA's new plan to attract new drivers. In the first month they've seen more than a 350% increase in applications. Make sure you subscribe to Transit Unplugged in your podcast app to listen to the full podcast episodes released every Wednesday.