Transit Systems News

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $220 Million to Modernize Ferry Service and Better Connect Rural CommunitiesThe U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Friday announced the availability of $220 million from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support or modernize passenger ferry service in rural and urban communities across the country. Across the country, there are approximately three million ferry riders each month.

With travel and tourism nearing pre-2020 levels, and transit systems benefiting from a return to work, passenger vessels have seen renewed activity. In its year-end review, John Groundwater, Executive Director of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA), which advocates for the sector in Washington, D.C. wrote: “As we are nearing the end of the calendar year, we are delighted to report that our industry, and our members, are reporting far and wide that they have experienced very…

Maine ferry operator Casco Bay Lines has committed to an integrated hybrid-electric power and propulsion solution for its new vessel, in a technology step change along one of the longest-established ferry routes in the United States.The new 50-meter ferry will feature ABB Marine & Ports’ hybrid power, propulsion and a shore charging system, supporting diesel-electric and zero-emissions battery-powered modes, as well as a combination of both. With the ferry operating in zero-emission mode, the passengers will benefit from a smoother, quieter and cleaner ride.

As we take a breath and collectively step into 2021, I’m choosing to be optimistic and focus on the opportunities ahead. Trust me, that’s not easy to say. Even as we are still experiencing a global pandemic which has devastated both the health and financial safety of our families, friends, employees, businesses, and communities. We may be down, but I say don’t lose hope.Stronger togetherAs President of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) and President of my family’s business…

President-elect Joe Biden touted the diversity of his incoming administration as he introduced former rival Pete Buttigieg on Wednesday as his choice for U.S. transportation secretary.Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would be the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate if he is approved.Appearing with Buttigieg in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden said the 38-year-old would confront the task of upgrading America’s aging infrastructure and restoring what he called “our crumbling roads…

Port and terminal operator PSA International and ground handler and in-flight caterer  SATS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in seamlessly connecting their sea and air transport services, with the goal of improving supply chain efficiency and boosting Singapore’s status as a multimodal transport hub.Under the MoU, PSA and SATS will work together on initiatives such as “yard-to-port” data linkages, network extensions between both companies, and enhanced track-and-trace capabilities. These are aimed at improving data transparency and ease of shipment movement within different free-trade zones.Enterprise Singapore…

Industry Minister James Moore told CTV’s Question Period, yesterday, that Canadians will soon be seeing “very large-scale [infrastructure] announcements in every part of the country.”  Moore went on to say that these investments will benefit Canadians and increase productivity. Responsible for moving more than 55 million people, 19 million vehicles and millions of tons of goods annually, Canada’s ferries are a pivotal component of the nation’s infrastructure system, the Canadian Ferry Operators Association (CFOA) said, adding that further investments in ferry infrastructure would benefit productivity and Canadians. Remote Communities. For some isolated regions, ferries are the only means for transporting goods and people and accessing emergency medical services. Public Transit.

The White House issued a statement from President Barack Obama on the unanimous confirmation by the Senate of Anthony Foxx as the next Secretary of Transportation. “I am pleased that the Senate today voted unanimously to confirm Anthony Foxx as the next Secretary of Transportation. Anthony knows firsthand that investing in our roads, bridges and transit systems is vital to creating good jobs and ensuring American businesses can grow and compete in a 21st century global economy. I welcome Anthony to my team, and I look forward to working with him as we aim to modernize the infrastructure that powers our economy.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces That He Will Not Serve for a Second Term. Secretary Ray LaHood has announced to the employees of the U.S. Department of Transportation that after serving for four years in President Obama’s Cabinet, he would not be staying on for the second term. “I have let President Obama know that I will not serve a second term as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the Department, and I am grateful to President Obama for giving me such an extraordinary opportunity.

“As we celebrate the 79th National Maritime Day in the U.S., we express our gratitude to the nation’s skilled maritime and longshore workers who endure hardships and make sacrifices to keep cargo and people moving and the economy thriving. “A strong maritime industry is critical to our multi-modal transportation system and economy, and it plays a critical role in protecting national security. But because our ships and navigation channels are not as visible as congested highways…

Transportation, Energy Ministers from Asia-Pacific Nations Pledge Cooperation on Cleaner, More Energy-Efficient Transportation. Transportation and energy ministers from 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region today agreed to continue progress on initiatives to make transportation in the region cleaner and more energy-efficient, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today. The announcement came during the first-ever joint Transportation and Energy Ministerial Conference held by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)…

AAPA Concerned Federal Budget Cuts May Impact Port Security Progress. Port and industry leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere will pause on Sunday, Sept. 11, as part of the 100th Annual Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in Seattle (Sept. 11-15), to remember those tragically lost in the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil 10 years ago. Among those lost were 84 industry colleagues from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who perished at the World Trade Center. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, America’s seaports and the federal government have joined forces to make major gains in fortifying and hardening port facilities against intruder attack.

Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) announced that General Manager Stuart Pascoe won the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Leaders of Innovation 2010 award. Selected for his individual ability to enable innovation and create commercial value, Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced Stuart as winner of the award for the product innovation category. In 2009 Aluminium Boats Australia delivered the first of its Eco Jet waterbus catamarans to Transit Systems for operation around the south Moreton Bay islands. Eco Jet concept that ABA is now building its fifth vessel for the customer.

Senator Wyden (D-OR) introduced a bill (S. 238) to provide $50b in new transportation infrastructure funding through bonding to empower States and local governments to complete significant infrastructure projects across all modes of transportation, including roads, bridges, rail and transit systems, ports, and inland waterways, and for other purposes. (1/14/09). (Source: Holland & Knight)

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge announced $179,025,900 million dollars in Port Security Grants on December 10. The Port Security Grant Program provides resources for security planning and projects to improve dockside and perimeter security. This grant program represents one layer of the Department of Homeland Security’s system of defenses for ports that includes monitoring the people, cargo and vessels entering our ports from the time they leave a foreign port to the time they arrive in the United States. Secretary Ridge. The Transportation Security Administration, the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration evaluated the Port Security Grant Applications and selected the grant award recipients.

As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) commitment to enhancing security at our nation's key ports and facilities, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has announced $179,025,900 million dollars in Port Security Grants. The Port Security Grant Program provides resources for security planning and projects to improve dockside and perimeter security which is vital to securing our critical national seaports. These new awards will contribute to important security upgrades like new patrol boats in the harbor, surveillance equipment and the construction of new command and control facilities. This grant program represents one layer of the Department of Homeland Security's system of defenses for our nation's ports that includes monitoring the people…

Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Joe Lieberman, D-Conn. terrorist threats that face the nation. proposal. security the focused leadership and resources it demands,” Lieberman said. · $500 million to secure air cargo, as well as trains and mass transit systems. president made in port security, bio-terror preparedness, and first responder programs. equipment, training, and other preparedness activities. than $1.8 billion since FY 2002. obtain interoperable communications equipment. reduction in tax cuts for those earning more than $1 million a year. homeland,” Lieberman said. Durbin, D-Ill., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Bob Graham, D-Fla.

New York area commuters will soon benefit from direct ferry service between Elizabeth, NJ, and lower Manhattan thanks to a $9.5 million federal grant awarded to County of Union, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said. The Elizabeth ferry project will contribute to the expansion and improvement of transportation services to Lower Manhattan by providing a much needed link for Manhattan residents who work in the rapidly growing Elizabeth area. “The President has made a priority of rebuilding New York’s transit systems affected by the terrorist attacks," said Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. Elizabeth Ferry operations are expected to begin by June 2006…

New York area commuters will soon benefit from direct ferry service between Elizabeth, NJ, and lower Manhattan thanks to a $9.5 million federal grant awarded to County of Union, Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said. The Elizabeth ferry project will contribute to the expansion and improvement of transportation services to Lower Manhattan by providing a much needed link for Manhattan residents who work in the rapidly growing Elizabeth area. "The President has made a priority of rebuilding New York's transit systems affected by the terrorist attacks," said Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. "Today we again deliver on that promise by connecting workers to jobs…

As part of the Bush Administration’s ongoing commitment to strengthen security throughout the nation’s transportation system, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced $148 million in new transportation security grants. Secretary Mineta said the $148 million, made available by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will include $105 million in Port Security Grants, $15 million in Intercity Bus Security Grants, and $28 million for Operation Safe Commerce’s pilot program for port security. “The Bush Administration is committed to further securing our nation’s highways, mass transit systems, railways, waterways and pipelines, each of which is critical to ensuring the freedom of mobility and economic growth,” said Secretary Mineta.

The fresh fruits and vegetables on your family table may be from the farms of Portugal, having made the six-day trip across the ocean in refrigerated containerships from Lisbon to the States. And nearly 2,000 passengers recently steamed into Venice aboard the Grand Princess, which, running the length of two and a half football fields, is the largest cruise ship in the world. About 90 percent of its passengers that day, as is the case every day on most cruise ships, were Americans. In Pennsylvania, hundreds of our products - among them Cannondale bikes, Cove shoes, JLG lifts, Freedom Forge Wheels, Letterkenny ammunition, and Empire chickens - travel by rail or truck to our ocean ports for shipment across the oceans of the world.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) has released a report titled, Ferry Transit Systems for the Twenty First Century, which is a survey of the social, economic and environmental effects of ferry systems. With the all-time high level of vehicle traffic congestion, many municipalities and regional transit authorities are debating new ferry systems. According to SNAME, waterborne transit by ferry has proven a success in motivating commuters and other inner-city travelers to leave their vehicles behind. The Society's report is modeled to facilitate these discussions by defining and clarifying relevant issues.