UPDATE
All applicable transit agencies , states now have public transportation agency safety plans
More than 700 transit agencies around the United States have certified that they now have safety plans to help keep riders and employees safe on their transit systems . The safety plans were required to be completed by July 20th , following a Federal Transit Administration ( FTA ) rule issued in 2018 . Transit safety , and safety across all modes of transportation , is a critical priority for the Biden-Harris Administration , and for the U . S . Department of Transportation , home to the FTA . The Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan ( PTASP ) Final Rule requires all agencies that receive FTA ’ s Urbanized Area Formula Grants to set safety performance targets in a Safety Plan that is reviewed and certified every year . Any agency that failed to file a compliant Safety Plan by the deadline would have been ineligible for further grants from FTA . “ After helping keep America moving throughout the pandemic , transit agencies across the country are stepping up again by developing important plans to keep riders and workers safe in the months and years ahead ,” said U . S . Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg . The plans must include Safety Management System principles and practices . These practices allow management and labor to come together , addressing risk , analyzing data and providing a safer ride for passengers , while protecting workers and operators . Since no two transit systems are alike , no two plans are alike , resulting in more than 700 different plans across the country . “ Safety is our top priority , and we are pleased that transit agencies have met this important requirement to develop and implement safety plans to help ensure that public transportation systems are safe nationwide ,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez . FTA supported transit agencies and States by providing technical assistance and resources , including webinars , workshops , and voluntary reviews of draft Agency Safety Plans . To learn more , visit :
https :// www . transit . dot . gov / PTASP .
Space Coast Area Transit launches SPOT™ intelligent transit system by ETA Transit
ETA Transit announcedthat its SPOT ™ intelligent transit system ( ITS ) has moved into revenue service at Space Coast Area Transit in Cocoa , Florida . The SPOT ™ ITS will provide the Space Coast fleet with a suite of powerful transit management capabilities , including the ability to configure routes , head sign codes , onboard announcements , blocks and interlines , and more through a web browser — in minutes , not weeks . SPOT ™ also provides robust reporting both in real-time and historical formats . These capabilities translate into the critical information that will drive improvements to Space Coast ’ s operations . Riders will benefit from hyper-accurate arrival predictions and bus location via SPOT ’ s public-facing tracking websites and mobile applications that take the uncertainty out of travel and provide improved trip planning and passenger feedback capabilities . “ The SPOT ™ platform again shows its versatility for mid-sized transportation agencies ,” said ETA Transit CEO Nicole Castonguay . “ Over and over again , operations like Space Coast Area Transit are turning to our ecosystem of highly adaptable , cloud-hosted transit technology systems that free them from high-cost , low innovation legacy providers . SPOT ™ is the future of transit , and people are climbing on board .” ETA looks forward to working closely with Space Coast to maximize the performance of the SPOT ™ system and unleash the long-term potential found in its flexible , modular platform . The ease of expansion helps align SPOT ’ s performance with Space Coast ’ s business goals and enhances the passenger experience .
ECS Transportation Group expands services with new Van Hool coaches from ABC Companies
ABC Companies , a leading provider of motorcoach , transit and specialty passenger transport equipment in the USA and Canada , has delivered two model year 2021 Van Hool CX45 ’ s to ECS Transportation Group in Dallas , TX . The vehicles will be used to support the operator ’ s growing luxury transportation service , and as such , offer fit and finish details that are designed to align with ECS ’ s high touch customer service and passenger experience . A market leader in luxury ground transportation , the ECS fleet accommodates a wide range of executive , corporate and leisure travelers , as well as schools , universities , sports teams and church groups , and military movements . Headquartered in Dallas , ECS offers premium ground transportation to customers in over 600 cities worldwide . Its late model fleet includes Mercedes-Benz S Class sedans , Lincoln Continentals , and Chevy Suburban SUVs , Mercedes-Benz Sprinters , and minibuses – providing service from 1 up to 39 passengers . For larger groups , the operator rounds out the fleet with Van Hool CX45 56-passenger motorcoaches – all appointed with luxury features such as black leather passenger seats , REI Elite HDMI E-System with six 15.6-inch monitors , onboard Wi-Fi , 110V USB charging outlets , enclosed parcel racks , and ambient lighting , while chrome mirrors and Mercedes black exterior paint showcase the ECS brand . Most importantly , a staff of highlytrained chauffeur drivers deliver a unique passenger experience that has cemented the operator ’ s reputation as a world-class , premium transportation provider . “ Our drivers really enjoy operating the CX45 coach ,” said Simon Hazan , ECS CEO . “ The vehicle ’ s easy operation and smooth ride is enjoyed by both drivers and passengers . ABC has helped us specify
8 | BUSRIDE . COM | AUG / SEPT 2021