Transit News of Interest

KDOT reorganizes management

Joe Erskine has been named Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration at the Kansas Department of Transportation, part of an organization change that is designed to focus administration of the agency, KDOT Secretary Deb Miller said this afternoon.

Erskine has worked at KDOT since March, when he became chief counsel after Sally Howard left the agency to become chief counsel for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

Other changes: Vicky Johnson, a 24-year KDOT employee, has been named chief counsel at KDOT.

Jerry Younger, a 21-year KDOT employee, has been named Deputy Secretary for Engineering and State Transportation Engineer.

Public Transportation Ridership Continues to Grow

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently announced that Americans took nearly 50 million more trips on public transportation during the third quarter of 2007, compared to the third quarter of 2006, representing a 2 percent increase in ridership.

Noting that more and more Americans are choosing to ride public transportation as gas prices remain high and traffic congestion remains a problem, APTA President William W. Millar said, "The greater use of public transit in the third quarter of 2007 demonstrates the importance of a community having a good public transportation system to help its residents save time and money."

In the third quarter of 2007, light rail (modern light rail, streetcars, trolleys and heritage trolleys) had the highest percentage of ridership growth among all modes of transportation, with an 8.9 percent increase. Some of the areas reporting the highest increases in light rail ridership opened new services. The Regional Transit Authority of New Orleans, La., showed the largest increase at 115.7 percent, as it restores more service. Other areas showing notable increases on light rail systems are Denver, Colo., (65.1 percent), St. Louis, Mo., (25.8 percent), Kenosha, Wisc., (23.3 percent), New Jersey (14.1 percent), Tampa, Fla., (13.1 percent), and San Diego, Calif., (12.5percent)

Commuter rail had the second highest growth rate of all modes at 5.4 percent and areas with significant commuter rail ridership increases included: Harrisburg to Philadelphia, Pa., (50.2 percent), Oakland, Calif., (16.2 percent), Oceanside, Calif., (12.8 percent), Dallas-Forth Worth, Texas (12.3 percent), Stockton, Calif., (12.4 percent), Philadelphia, Pa., (9.4 percent), and Anchorage, Alaska, (9.0 percent).

Heavy rail (subways) ridership grew nationally by 4.0 percent during the third quarter of 2007. Areas showing the largest increases in ridership are San Juan, Puerto Rico (10.6 percent), Atlanta, Ga., (10.4 percent), and Staten Island, N.Y., (10.2 percent).

Bus ridership throughout the country showed a slight increase of 0.1 percent, although in communities with a population below 100,000, bus ridership showed a 7.5 percent increase. Demand response (paratransit) ridership increased by 4.5 percent for the third quarter of 2007. Trolley bus ridership increased by 1.5 percent and all other types of public transportation increased by 6.7 percent. To see the complete report, go to http://www.apta.com/research/stats/ridership/

Save the Date:
Community Transportation EXPO
June 1-6, 2008
New Orleans, La.
The Community Transportation EXPO returns in 2008 to New Orleans, La. Nine years after we began Building the Community Transportation Century in New Orleans at EXPO '99, we return to a city very much in the middle of rebuilding itself, one in which mobility and community and public transportation are playing a vital role in that revitalization process.
Our return to New Orleans features some of the most finely tuned training opportunities we've ever developed. From our certification programs to our basic skills sessions, you'll be able to kick off the EXPO week with just the type of intensive training you need. Our professional development sessions, held later in the week, have been completely revamped to offer refresher courses, discussion forums and key transit topics. Also, we offer several excellent special conferences on such key topics as Emergency Evacuation and Employment Transportation.
The EXPO week will, as usual, be filled with our always expanding Trade Fair, a plenary session focusing on Politics 2008, fun events like the Big Night Out and numerous opportunities for you to network and catch up with your colleagues around the nation.
Register Here: Click here for event summary
If you have any questions about the EXPO - from sessions to hotels - please call us at 800.891.0590 x726 or e-mail us at expo@ctaa.org.
If you have questions about exhibiting or sponsorship, please contact AHI, Inc. at 800.788.7077 or convene@aol.com. We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans!

R. E. "Tuck" Duncan
Kansas Public Transit Association