December 2008

Solar panels make Akron’s transit center a leader in Ohio

December 31, 2008

The METRO Regional Transit Authority in Akron (OH) opens its new downtown transit center on January 18. In addition to new passenger amenities (including free wifi),  the facility incorporates green technology. Lining the roof are 432 solar panels, the largest single array in Ohio, which will provide about 33 percent of the facility’s annual needs. A [...]

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UTA “tapping” into high-tech fare collection

December 31, 2008

Starting on January 1, the Utah Transit Authority introduces a contactless fare collection system.  New card readers can deduct fares from credit cards and validate prepaid media, including electronic farecards and student identification cards. In the initial roll-out, the system will deduct single-trip adult cash fares only. Fares for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income [...]

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Need a ride? Check your iPhone

December 30, 2008

The New York Times reported on two iPhone applications that support ridesharing.   Avego, a demonstration program based in Ireland,  will let drivers and prospective passengers share rides.  Passengers will pay 30 cents per mile, which will be shared by the driver and the company. Billing itself as an “experiment in social transportation,” Carticipate is a [...]

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New Singapore smart card lets users do more

December 30, 2008

Singapore’s new e-z link card can be used for train and bus fares, electronic road pricing fees, convenience stores, and fast food restaurants.  Users can store up to $350 (US) on the smart cards.  Link to story in ContactlessNews.

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Internet access turns school buses into rolling classrooms

December 29, 2008

A pilot program in rural Arkansas enables students to access the Internet while riding the bus. The project, known as the Aspirnaut Initiative, gives some high-performing students laptops or video iPods and sets them up with online courses and educational videos during their long bus rides to and from school — a round trip that [...]

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Los Angeles Metrolink plans live video cameras to monitor train engineers

December 25, 2008

“A cutting-edge proposal to focus live video cameras on engineers at the controls of Metrolink trains is drawing fire from employee groups and skepticism from California’s senior U.S. senator. In response to the Chatsworth disaster in September, which occurred just after the commuter rail service’s engineer illicitly sent and received cellphone text messages, Metrolink officials [...]

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Morris County tries biodiesel fuel pilot project

December 24, 2008

Morris County (NJ) will test biodiesel fuel in selected county vehicles, including public works trucks and a paratransit bus.  The biodiesel fuel will contain a mix of a soybean-based product and regular diesel fuel.   The pilot project is expected to last at least six months, and county officials will track gas mileage, emissions, and maintenance [...]

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MIT trio to help make MBTA cards more secure

December 23, 2008

Three students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have agreed to help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority make its payment cards more secure.  This agreement comes two months after the MBTA dropped a lawsuit against the students, who found a way to hack into the MBTA’s CharlieCard. Link to story in the Boston Globe. Link [...]

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Metro SmarTrip cards to hit drugstores

December 23, 2008

As of December 23, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will start selling Metro SmarTrip farecards at 190 CVS Pharmacy stores throughout Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.   The WMATA-CVS partnership will triple the number of locations for purchasing the rechargeable cards.  Each SmarTrip card costs $10, which includes $5 in fare value.  Link [...]

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WiFi Internet on Boston’s commuter rail

December 19, 2008

Free public wireless internet on Boston’s Commuter Rail will be made possible from WAAV’s AirBox X2, to commuters on the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail (MBCR). Offering such state-of-the-art quality connectivity can help transit agencies potentially increase ridership. With increased bandwidth capabilities, the MBCR’s 18,000 daily passengers can easily connect to the wireless Internet connection through their [...]

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