By Mike Whittaker Echo Transportation’s partnerships resonate throughout Texas – and beyond. When two Texan firms came together last September their shared vision of a diversified, full service transportation offering became a reality. The official merger of friends and business partners Echo Transportation and AFC Transportation resulted in one of the largest ground transportation companies […]

The service of fare collection By Tara Farnsworth Revenue management, ridership and reporting go hand in hand when it comes to running a transit operation.  In order for each agency to receive their operational funds from the Federal Transit Association (FTA), they have to be able to properly record ridership data.  Along with each rider […]

5 questions to ask when planning an E-Fare strategy By Stan Craft There are many reasons to implement an Electronic Fare Management (EFM) system. The riding public enjoys the benefits of convenient methods of purchasing tickets, faster boarding and the simplicity of switching between transport modes. Transit agencies benefit through increased ridership, operational efficiencies, reduced […]

Account-based systems pave the way for open payments Using bank cards, non-proprietary devices and the acceptance of mobile wallets are key to the future of fare collection By Floyd Diaz As more and better wireless technologies for public transit are developed and agencies’ competencies and commitment to integrating mobile data evolve, account-based systems for fare […]

What to look for in a revenue management solution By Andrea Hintz         Comprehensive fare collection systems make public transport more attractive for users and more cost-effective for operators. They provide seamless travel, shorter wait times and better environmental performance as well as reliable data collection for revenue protection and resource planning. […]

Ford Transit by Mobility Transportation Services Three rural community transit agencies have already given this specially upfitted Transit their hearty approval By David Hubbard Dave Brown was working as a fleet manager for a Chevrolet dealership in 1981 when he saw a new market developing for vans equipped to transport passengers with disabilities. By 1992, […]

At the start of this century, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) had a turbulent history. It was owned by the Mayflower Corporation which collapsed, but ADL was then rescued by Scottish investors. At that time, the company consisted of the Dennis chassis manufacturing facility in Guildford, about 30 miles from London’s Heathrow Airport, and the Alexander […]

“GROW YOUR OWN” State college system funds the need to create more public transit jobs A program to train much needed transit operations and maintenance workers is taking shape thanks to a $1 million dollar grant from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), Mission College of Santa Clara, […]

DAIMLER REVEALS E-MOBILITY Alternative fuels were recurring topics in the recent major Busworld exhibition in Kortrijk, Belgium. There is now an unprecedented situation where not only traditional bus manufacturers are offering options to their well-established diesel ranges, but there is a new challenge from specialist battery manufacturers who are developing buses to use their products. […]

Common carriers have their day in court Arizona rejects strictest standard of care for common carriers: Is this a trend? By Bill Poorten In 2011, I argued the case, Nunez v. PTMTI, to the Arizona Supreme Court which considered whether the law should hold common carriers to a heightened standard of care; something more than […]