Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
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Distributed by ABC Companies in the Private and Paratransit Markets for New Flyer. ©2014 ABC Companies. All rights reserved. * Special lease rates available to qualified customers. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. Actual bus may vary from photo. ABC makes no warranties expressed or implied. Prices subject to change. Specifications can change without prior notice. For more information, call 800-222-2871 ext: 77442 email abc-specialtyvehicles@abc-companies.com or visit www.abc-companies.com NEW FLYER Xcelsior ® Leases start at only $4,995/month* Available in 35', 40' and 60' lengths NEW FLYER MiDi ® Leases start at only $3,995/month* Available in 30' and 35' lengths ABC Companies now distributes the industry-leading New Flyer Buses with inventory available for immediate delivery. 83 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 m ETRO m AGAZINE > HOW IS FTA IMPLEMENTING THE NEW REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR TRANSIT SAFETY AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY? We are working closely with industry stakeholders while we build a 21st-centu- ry regulatory safety program over a peri- od of several years. We are moving safety management in the transit industry — at the agency, state and federal oversight lev- els —to a formal safety management sys- tems (SMS)-based approach. SMS is a well-established collaborative approach that will build on the industry's existing safety foundation to control risk better, detect and correct safety problems earlier, share and analyze safety data more efec- tively, and measure safety performance more accurately. Developing a shared "safety vocabulary" and understanding of transit industry risks will enable the in- dustry to improve safety as we identify, as- sess, mitigate and manage hazards in our industry. It will allow FTA to better com- municate safety information and to more efectively use limited resources to tackle the highest priority safety risks. WHAT ARE SOME 'GAME-CHANGING' PROJECTS YOU HAVE VISITED IN THE U.S.? It's an exciting time to be at the FTA. We're working with state and local part- ners all over the country that are address- ing transportation needs in innovative and forward-thinking ways. One proj- ect that stands out is the Regional Con- nector light rail line that will better link downtown Los Angeles with the rest of L.A. County. Te Regional Connector is one of several projects that FTA has in- vested in to help transform L.A. from an area synonymous with gridlock to a place where trains, buses, cycling and walking are all convenient modes of transporta- tion. Tis is a huge achievement for such a car-dependent area. Elsewhere, I re- cently celebrated the grand opening of the first bus rapid transit line in Michi- gan, in Grand Rapids. It's a terrifc addi- tion to local transportation choices that will ofer faster, more convenient access to major downtown employers along one of the city's busiest commercial cor- ridors. Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg. From El Paso to the Choctaw Nation, from Cleveland to Miami, I am proud of the diference we help to make in the quality of life for residents in hun- dreds of urban and rural communities around the nation. IS IT IMPORTANT FOR SOMEONE IN YOUR POSITION TO BE A MENTOR? Absolutely. I would not be where I am today without the support of many men- tors throughout my career — many with whom I remain in touch. I have been a mentor through teaching and participat- ing for many years in organizations like the Women's Transportation Seminar. You can mentor just by helping col - leagues day to day — a philosophy I gen- uinely believe in, and try to live by.