Metro Magazine, June 2020

TRANSIT NEWS As part of its continuing efforts to support the communities it serves Transdev North America has partnered with its client Baltimore MTA Maryland Transportation Association to help essential Greater Baltimore Medical Center Transdev identified schools churches and government buildings that would act like pseudo park n rides for shuttle pick ups Transdev is transporting local essential hospital workers from these designated pickup locations to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Lucas County Ohio voters approved the renewal of a 10 year one mill property tax set to fund the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority The renewal funding which starts in 2021 allows the continuance of critical public transit service and access including Fixed Route Service TARPS Paratransit Call A Ride and Express Service San Diego MTS CEO Jablonski passes away The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System MTS announced that MTS CEO Paul Jablonski passed away suddenly in May at the age of 67 His career in transit spanned more than 40 years with the last 16 being at MTS He is survived by his wife four children and grandchildren The agency announced that Deputy CEO Sharon Cooney will now serve as CEO The California State Transportation Agency the City of Sacramento and the Sacramento Regional Transit District teamed up to turn buses into free wireless super hotspots in communities with limited high speed internet access during the COVID 19 pandemic The 10 repurposed Wi Fi Buses are outfitted with combinations of equipment provided free of charge by its proof of concept partners to offer high speed connectivity with a range of up to 1800 feet Mich s TheRide announced that as part of a plan to preserve financial sustainability while ensuring public health and helping to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus it will permanently layoff 44 positions or 15 of its workforce The staff reductions include union and non union employees In addition executive staff have voluntarily reduced their salaries Due to the pandemic TheRide has temporarily reduced fixed route services by 70 and ridership has dropped The loss of all fare revenue is a major financial hit representing about 15 of TheRides budget and 600000 per month 4 METRO MAGAZINE COM JUNE 2020 UNITS BY SIZE 2018 2019 30 feet and under 219 160 35 40 feet 4931 5025 45 feet 395 364 60 feet 692 771 Total 6237 6320 PROPULSION CATALOG 2018 2019 Diesel 3190 3223 Hybrids 1033 1067 NGV 1619 1511 Electric 284 432 Trolley 111 87 Total 6237 6320 Compared to last year there was modest growth in bus sales in 2019 of 83 total vehicles Overall growth continued in battery electric buses with a jump of more than 148 vehicles Source METRO Magazine NORTH AMERICAN BUS DELIVERIES Transit buses sold in the public sector