Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
Issue link: https://metromag.epubxp.com/i/320361
Let Everyone Enjoy The Ride Improve passenger safety, eliminate tip-overs and reduce operator involvement by deploying Quantum — the world's frst automatic wheelchair securement system. Thinking Beyond Safety STEP 2 Quantum's arms move to secure the wheelchair in place, and continually adjust their grip as needed throughout the journey. STEP 1 With the vehicle safely stopped, the Quantum unit is ready for the wheelchair passenger. Once the passenger's wheelchair is centered against the backrest, the press of a button engages the automatic locking sequence. STEP 3 Only when the bus stops at the destination can the Quantum release sequence be engaged so the passenger can disembark. 11 JUNE 2014 m ETRO m AGAZINE > metro news briefs CHINA MULLING HIGH-SPEED TRAIN TO U.S. China is considering plans to build a high-speed railway line to the U.S., The Guardian reported. The proposed line would begin in northeast China and run up through Siberia, pass through a tunnel underneath the Pacifc Ocean, then cut through Alaska and Canada to reach the continental U.S. The line would run for 8,000 miles, with the entire trip taking two days at an average of 220 mph. SEPTA BREAKS GROUND ON $1.4M BUS LOOP RECONSTRUCTION Philadelphia's Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority broke ground on the reconstruction of the 23rd and Venango Bus Loop in the Allegheny West section of North Philadelphia, resulting in a full renovation of a key, but aging, facility for city bus operations. The $1.4 million to be used for the project will come from savings from funds secured with the assistance of Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) for a separate bus loop project that came in well under budget. SAN FRANCISCO MUNI CRIME DOWN 30% Crime on San Francisco's Municipal Railway (Muni) has fallen by 30% and cell phone thefts have decreased by 77% since May 2013, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). The reduction of crime onboard Muni follows the partnership announced by Mayor Edwin M. Lee, the SFMTA and the San Francisco Police Department in November 2013 to deploy more ofcers on the system to increase security. GREYHOUND CELEBRATING 100 YEARS Greyhound is commemorating its 100th anniversary. To celebrate, the company will host a series of events scheduled throughout the year — showcasing its growth from one vehicle operating out of Hibbing, Minn., to its current standing as one of the world's most iconic brands and an integral part of America's transportation infrastructure. In 2007, Greyhound became a division of FirstGroup. TRANSIT INVESTMENT INCREASES U.S. GROWTH POTENTIAL Public transportation investment powers signifcant productivity gains, a new study reported. Investment will lead to 50,700 jobs per $1 billion invested, with 28,900 jobs per $1 billion attributed to the productivity gains enjoyed by households and businesses, according to the study conducted for APTA by the Economic Development Research Group Inc. Sharon Hahn Darlin - Flickr N.Y. 'BAR CARS' MAKE FINAL RUN New York commuter bar cars on trains between Manhattan and Connecticut made their fnal run in early May. The cars, which date back at least 50 years, are being retired because they cannot be coupled to a new feet of train cars on the New Haven line, the AP reported. The Metro-North Rail Road cars are believed to be the last of their kind in the U.S. MTA – Patrick Cashin