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Even transit leaders don’t rely on their own buses

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Even transit leaders don’t rely on their own buses

"While politicians hold the purse strings, it's those on the transit agencies' boards who dictate how the systems operate."

"Board members for the two counties' agencies — Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority — are a mix of elected officials and community members."

"None of them rely on the bus for work, errands or their personal life."

"This isn't unique to Tampa Bay, or transit. Many boards are composed of people who don't use the service they help provide. But in a region roiled by transportation problems, it's worth knowing who sits on these boards and what philosophies they bring to the conversation."

The White Elephant of Tel Aviv

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The White Elephant of Tel Aviv

"Though construction began in the 1960s, the building would not be inaugurated until decades later. The station was initially designed by Ram Karmi in 1967 but eventually completed in 1993 by architects Yael Rothshild and Moti Bodek. The project became something of a white elephant, a nickname recognized rather overtly during the opening ceremony when a white elephant balloon dropped in on the festivities."

The Secret Life of a Bus Garage (Go-Ahead Stockwell)

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"Each morning hundreds of the capital's buses roll out from Stockwell Bus Garage, a place that helps to keep London's life-blood flowing. But it's the people who work here that make the bus garage truly extraordinary. Made up of hundreds of people from more than 80 nationalities it is the UK's most diverse workforce."

Map: Green Mountain National Forest North

The future of public transportation

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The Divide: The future of public transportation

"The recent passing of Lucile Brewer, the founder and chair of the local advocacy group Citizens for Public Transportation, got me thinking about the future of public transportation, both here in the Capital Region and in the rest of the country. Before getting into what I see as current and future challenges facing public transportation services, I just want to say a few words about Lucile."

"I first met Lucile while working at my family’s restaurant, Calsolaro’s, in the early 1970s. Lucile was a regular patron, and sometimes I would have time to sit with her and talk about current events. Then, in the early 2000s, after being elected to the Albany Common Council, I re-connected with Lucile as she led the fight for a more effective and responsive public transportation system. Lucile recruited me to be a member of Citizens for Public Transportation and I experienced first-hand Lucile’s tireless efforts to advocate for people with disabilities, even as her own physical condition deteriorated. Lucile was an inspiration for me and her legacy will continue as we work to support and improve public transportation services. Lucile was, as headlined by the Times Union (Feb. 24, 2017), a “champion” for public transit."