Sharing Ideas on Innovation in Transit
In San Francisco, riders of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) commuter rail are all too familiar with the challenge of finding a parking spot at transit stations on weekdays. With thousands of people – 35,000, at last count – on waiting lists to purchase limited monthly permits for BART parking lots, local officials are encouraging transit riders to carpool to maximize potential for daily parking. At an Federal Transit Administration-hosted mobility workshop in April, 11 transit agencies reporte...
Americans Recognize Benefits of Public Transportation
NEW YORK – Almost nine in 10 Americans (88 percent) recognize public transportation systems provide a wide array of benefits to the communities they serve, according to a new HNTB Corporation America THINKS public opinion survey. The survey, Public Transportation-2017, found 83 percent of Americans have some type of public transportation option available where they live or work; 71 percent of those have used it at some point; and 51 percent have opted to use public transportation instead of d...
USDOT Announces $55 Million Funding Opportunity for Clean-Energy Transit Bus Projects
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the opportunity to apply for up to $55 million in competitive grant funds through FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. The Low-No program supports projects sponsored by local transit agencies to bring advanced, American-made bus technologies such as battery electric power and hydrogen fuel cells into service nationwide. “FTA is proud to support investment in the next generation...
Urban Solar Wins RFP to Supply Bus Stop Lighting Systems for Orange County
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – Urban Solar is pleased to announce it has been awarded a three-year contract to supply its PV Stop lighting systems to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) after successfully winning a competitive solicitation. OCTA chose Urban Solar’s PV Stop to increase safety for riders, further enhancing its bus stop amenities. The PV Stop is a UL Listed solar powered system with high intensity LED lighting. More than 100 of Urban Solar’s PV Stops were successfully ins...
Earthquake Early Warning: Vital for City Transit
Although no one can reliably predict earthquakes, today’s technology is advanced enough to rapidly detect seismic waves as an earthquake begins, calculate the maximum expected shaking, and send alerts to surrounding areas before damage can occur. This technology is known as “earthquake early warning” (EEW). An EEW system called “ShakeAlert” is being developed and tested for the West Coast of the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), along with a coalition of State and university...
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Improved Planning of Future Rehabilitation Projects Could Prevent Limitations Identified with SafeTrack
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) planning of SafeTrack did not fully align with leading project management practices. While WMATA generally followed leading practices to coordinate with stakeholders, it did not comprehensively collect and use data on the condition of its assets, analyze project alternatives, and develop a project management plan before starting work. WMATA did not follow these practices because it believed it needed to start work immediately to addres...
North Carolina by Train Partners with Local Transit Systems to Connect the Last Mile
RALEIGH – Rail passengers will now be able to reach their local destination through public transportation after getting off the train by using a transit pass, made possible through a partnership between the N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Division and 11 local transit systems along the Raleigh-to-Charlotte rail corridor. “This new transfer pass will help our NC By Train riders complete their journey using the existing and available transit options offered by our local partners,” said P...
King County Metro Signs Urban Solar on for Rare 10 Year Contract
SEATTLE, WA - In an unprecedented move, King County Metro (Metro) granted Urban Solar a decade-long contract to provide solar LED lighting solutions for its transit shelters and stops. The relationship began in 2011 when Metro signed Urban Solar on for a five-year contract for its PV-Shelter solar systems. Urban Solar was able to transform Metro’s flat shelter roof solar lighting systems and implement a solar lighting system to custom fit Metro’s new barrel roof architecture. King County Metr...
Urban Solar Gains Tenured Transit Expert Dick Ruddell
BEAVERTON, OR - Urban Solar is pleased to announce Dick Ruddell has joined its team of experts as the new Vice President of Business Development to help lead its transit division. Urban Solar specializes in transit passenger amenities, with a focus on transit stop and bus shelter solar lighting solutions. The commercial solar lighting company is growing its transit division to keep up with increasing demand. Ruddell’s wealth of experience in the transit industry will further set Urban Solar a...
U.S.-China Race to Zero Emissions Challenge Official Guidelines Released
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) today announced the official guidelines for the U.S.-China Race to Zero Emissions (R2ZE) Challenge. The guidelines provide details on how the race will be conducted and how transit agencies can join the race. “Our two nations have an opportunity to make a huge impact on reducing world greenhouse gas emissions,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx. “I look forward to this friendly competi...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
