UPDATE
DART’s mask and hand sanitizer dispensers are in addition to the its aggressive
agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols in response to the coronavirus.
DART installing mask and sanitizer
dispensers on-board vehicles
The Engineering Department at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
has begun installing face mask and hand sanitizer dispensers on all
buses, light rail vehicles and streetcars.
DART plans to have dispensers available to assist customers on
each of their more than 600 buses, 160 light rail vehicles and four
Dallas streetcars by the end of August/early September.
The mask and hand sanitizer dispensers are in addition to DART’s
aggressive agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols in response to
the coronavirus, including removing vehicles from service that have
been exposed to biohazard situations from passengers.
If an unhygienic surface needs attention, passengers can contact
DART Customer Service at (214) 749-3333, or use the “DART Say
Something” app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or
Google Play for free.
Find more information about how DART is working to keep
passengers safe at www.dart.org/health.
Caltrans approves $146M for 166
public transportation projects
Caltrans has approved $146 million in Low Carbon Transit
Operations Program (LCTOP) funding for 166 local public
transportation projects that will improve the sustainability of
California’s transportation system. These projects will expand services
and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The vast majority of
the funding, approximately $140 million for 158 projects, will benefit
disadvantaged communities most affected by climate change.
The LCTOP was created in 2014 to provide assistance for transit
agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve mobility,
with a priority on serving disadvantaged communities. The projects
support new and expanded bus, rail and intermodal transit facilities
and include equipment acquisition, fueling and maintenance projects.
With this year’s funding process taking place during the COVID-19
pandemic, some projects were revised to fit emerging health and
safety priorities. For example, some agencies expanded fare-free and
dial-a-ride services to increase access and protection for their riders
and operators.
The range of projects that will benefit from LCTOP funding include:
55 projects offering free or reduced fares to encourage lifelong transit
users; 37 projects providing new and expanded transit service for
better access to jobs and educational sites; 26 projects purchasing
replacement zero-emission vehicles; and 14 projects purchasing,
constructing, or installing passenger amenities at transit stops/
stations to encourage increased ridership.
Southern California beneficiaries include:
• City of Los Angeles: $1.37 million for the second operating
year of free fares on Los Angeles Department of Transportation
Downtown Area Short Hop (LADOT DASH) services for Los
Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) students K-12 and Los
Angeles Community College students
• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit
District: $8.42 million for continued projects to procure zeroemission
buses.
• Mountain Area Regional Transit Authority, San Bernardino
County: $102,167 to improve bus stops by including ADA
compliant access, and providing weather protection and seating
accommodations for disabled and senior riders
• Ventura County Transportation Commission: $550,000 for
continuation of the new Cross County Transit Service connecting
communities in eastern and western Ventura County. These
routes serve low-income populations and connect disadvantaged
communities
• City of Arvin, Kern County: $41,362 to complete its fourth year
of roll-over funding to replace diesel buses with zero-emission
versions and install charging stations
ABA Foundation: Motorcoach
sales down 83 percent in 2020
The American Bus Association Foundation – the largest nonprofit
organization in the group travel industry, with an emphasis
on research and scholarships – released its second quarter
2020 Motorcoach Builder Survey. Based on surveys of the major
motorcoach manufacturers that sell vehicles in the United States
and Canada, motorcoach sales from the participating manufacturers
saw a massive decrease in sales from the second quarter in 2019:
falling from 766 units in 2019 to 129 units (59 new coaches and 70
pre-owned coaches) in 2020.
There was an overall 83 percent decrease in sales year over year.
However, new sales of coaches 40-<45 feet saw an increase of 75
percent over last year’s sales.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated every corner of the
motorcoach industry,” said Peter Pantuso, president of the ABA
Foundation. “When the industry’s 3,000 motorcoach businesses are
shuttered because no one is traveling or allowed to travel, businesses
can’t buy buses. The pandemic is having a ripple effect for the entire
industry: if buses are sitting idle the suppliers in the industry are going
to feel the brunt with companies not buying new buses which means
upholstery, parts, tires, etc are all going to be hurting.”
14 | BUSRIDE.COM | AUG / SEPT 2020