Member News Library

The following items are excerpted from news releases issued by California Transit Association members. If you are a member of the Association and would like to submit an item to be considered for inclusion in the Member News Library, please email your press releases to Managing Editor Stephanie Jordan (sjordan@freelancecomm.com). Photos and cutline information with your news release submissions, when possible, are encouraged.

---

INDUSTRY NEWS

BART Releases Sustainability Report

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) recently released its annual Sustainability Report, detailing progress BART has made toward its sustainability goals despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

"BART’s commitment to sustainability is unwavering, and we are both literally and figuratively on the right track," said BART General Manager Bob Powers in his introductory statement for the 2020 Sustainability Report.

The biggest change in 2020 to advance BART and the Bay Area toward a greener future was the opening of the Milpitas and Berryessa/North San Jose stations in June 2020. The two new stations help connect BART to San Jose, the most populous city in the Bay Area, and work as transit hubs to local bus service to help shorten travel times, reduce local congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions from cars.

The stations also are energy-efficient by design. Tire-derived aggregate, which is a 100 percent recycled material, was used underneath the trackway to reduce vibration and saved the equivalent of 300,800 tires from being sent to waste. Bioretention facilities and low-flow pumps were installed at both stations to help mitigate flooding during large rain events. The station escalators also use motion sensors to conserve energy when there is no foot traffic.

In 2020, more Fleet of the Future trains were added into service, with now 280 cars in operation. The new cars are built to be at least 7 percent more energy efficient than legacy vehicles with features such as LED lighting, improved regenerative braking, and lightweight exteriors.

BART is advancing sustainability goals not only as a transit service, but also as a member of the 5-county Bay Area community to build housing and create greener, transit-oriented neighborhoods in its owned station lands. In 2020, two apartment buildings at Pleasant Hill and MacArthur were completed in 2020, adding 602 new residential units, of which 56 are affordable. At the MacArthur Transit Village, the new developments and residential buildings were coupled with access improvements, such as a new bike station, improved lighting and wayfinding, and additional seating for riders.

BART is also making it easier for the public to know where its energy sources are coming from. In 2020, BART published its first annual Power Content Label (PCL) under the California Energy Commission’s Power Source Disclosure (PSD) program, which profiles the supply sources comprising BART’s 2019 wholesale electric portfolio. Upwards of 92 percent of BART’s 2019 power supply was sourced from greenhouse gas-free (GHG-free) energy sources. In 2020, 100 percent of BART’s contracted electricity supply was GHG-free. BART has plans to bring in solar and wind energy to serve approximately 50 percent of BART's annual electricity requirements starting in calendar year 2022.

In 2020, the Bay Area was heavily impacted by COVID-19, and BART responded with a variety of changes to ensure riders and employees were kept safe. BART outlined its changes in the Welcome Back Plan, which included revamping daily cleaning procedures across the system, running long trains to ensure riders can socially distance, making facemasks available for free at agent booths at stations, and collaborating with local partners to open COVID testing sites on BART station property. Many of these changes exemplify BART’s efforts to build awareness of transit’s relationship to public health, which is an action outlined in BART’s Sustainability Action Plan.

Some sustainability practices are more entertaining than others. To mitigate future wildfire risks, BART uses goats to graze and cut firebreaks on about 45 acres of BART’s properties. BART Communications followed along with a herd of 700 Spanish-Boer cross goats grazing near Fremont Station in July, and the videos went viral with CBS News nicknaming them "BART Goats."


 

AC Transit Publishes the Groundbreaking Zero-Emission Transit Bus Technology Analysis (ZETBTA)

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is proud to unveil the first iteration of the industry’s first Zero-Emission Transit Bus Technology Analysis (ZETBTA) study. The ZETBTA is an evolving open-source study evaluated by Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy: creating a scholarly reinforced roadmap to aid transit agencies in planning, procurement, training, and most importantly, a guide to curtailing costly missteps toward zero-emission conversions.

Although the coronavirus pandemic disrupted transportation networks globally, most public transit systems were deemed essential. AC Transit specifically was regarded as critical to the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay infrastructure. As a result, the agency used the extraordinary months of the pandemic to launch this first-of-its-kind analysis of transit bus propulsion systems. 

“Our Board of Directors began exploring zero-emission technologies two decades ago. But we wanted much more than to report assumptions about metrics and formulas,” said Chris Peeples, AC Transit Board Director. “To successfully implement a zero-tailpipe emissions fleet, I felt it was critical to validate our findings. Stanford’s independent analysis offers transparency and accuracy for a roadmap the transit industry can now rely on.”

The ZETBTA is a robust side-by-side evaluation of the predominant engine technologies in use at transit agencies worldwide: fuel-cell electric bus (FCEB), battery electric bus (BEB), diesel hybrid, and conventional diesel bus propulsion systems. 

“AC Transit currently operates all five propulsion technologies and is uniquely positioned to support this rigorous study,” says General Manager Michael Hursh. “For Long Range Planners, this is an unrivaled collection of years of research, transit planning, and design; made stronger because the propulsion metrics are not cobbled from several sources, but instead one agency, with roadway testing on the same routes, and in the same service environment.” 

The study launched in July 2020 and integrated lessons learned and best practices gleaned from extensive experience deploying ZEB technologies, including the development of innovative workforce training programs, data integration and management, and transit deployment viability.

This initial iteration of the ZETBTA will help transit agency leaders understand step-by-step the capital cost, performance, and operating cost between ZEB types when comparing performance to conventional diesel bus technologies. The study is also a collection of energy data to develop metrics for costs, mileage, reliability, and availability.

Admittedly, ZETBTA, even as an acronym, is a tongue twister. So, the incredible team of technicians nicknamed it “The 5-by-5 (5X5) Study” because of its control group: five conventional diesel, five diesel hybrid, five electric FCEB, five BEB, and five legacy FCEB, totaling 25 buses.

Initial Study Summary

From July 2020 – December 2020, the FCEB had the highest fleet mileage (112,233), conversely, the BEB had the lowest mileage (64,648). The BEB had the lowest cost per mile (CPM) when applying warranty and low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) credits ($0.78). However, the legacy FCEBs had the highest CPM ($2.82), as they were outside the warranty period. The diesel fleet was the most reliable (15,226 MBCRC) and available (94 percent). However, the diesel fleet produced the most carbon emissions (275 CO²). The legacy FCEB fleet was the least reliable (3,024 MBCRC), and the BEB was the least available (57 percent).

In-Use Availability 

Despite AC Transit’s decades of zero-emission experience, the ZETBTA study documents that unanticipated conditions can and in most environments will arise during the deployment of advanced technology. 

For instance, the hybrid fleet experienced reduced mileage during the study’s first three months, due to decreased availability. Low availability of the BEB fleet resulted in drastically reduced miles compared to the other fleets in the analysis. The legacy FCEB fleet remained consistent in the number of miles, but below the expected total miles. The diesel and FCEB fleet remained constant during the testing period. Additionally, mileage on zero-emission and diesel-hybrid buses can decrease in months when there are operator sign-ups.

The BEB fleet experienced periods of out-of-service due to high-voltage battery issues resulting in the vehicles' 57 percent availability on the planned workdays. The hybrid and legacy FCEB fleets achieved an average availability of 85 percent due to defects that occurred throughout the test period. The diesel and FCEB fleets both averaged over 90 percent availability.

As a result, it is important to note that some of the results of this initial iteration do not reflect what will become a standard performance matrix.

What’s Next for ZETBTA (5X5 Phase II)

AC Transit’s collection of real-time performance data and its analysis by Stanford University are ongoing. A second review period with an identical control fleet was conducted January 2021 – July 2021. The second iteration of “the 5x5” study promises more robust data sets as initial study deployment challenges are addressed, and riders return following the lifting of pandemic restrictions by the State of California. Study results are anticipated in winter 2021.


 

MTS Board Approves Contract for Inter-Con Security; Extends Fare Evasion Diversion Program 

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board of Directors approved a new 5-year, $66 million contract with Inter-Con Security to provide security services on Trolleys, buses, and on MTS properties. The contract is for three base years with an option to extend for an additional two years and will go into effect on January 1, 2022. At the same meeting, the MTS Board also extended its Fare Evasion Diversion Program for another year.

“This is an important day for the future of MTS passenger safety and security,” said Monica Montgomery Steppe, MTS Boardmember and chair of the agency’s Public Security Committee. “We look forward to Inter-Con joining our efforts to reshape the way MTS manages passenger security.”

MTS Chief Executive Officer Sharon Cooney added, “MTS engaged in a national search to find the right firm to continue our mission to improve our approach to security and enforcement. Inter-Con has 48 years in the business, working with both federal and state governments, and presented an impressive work plan backed by the use of technology to track training and certifications. We look forward to bringing them on board.”

Inter-Con employs a highly diverse workforce of over 30,000 employees across North and South America, Africa, and Europe, with sustained operational growth. Inter-Con provides tailored security services to Fortune 500 companies; public utilities; high net worth individuals; non-profit organizations; as well as federal, state, and local governments around the world.

At MTS, Inter-Con will provide support by employing 190 public safety officers to patrol the system. The MTS service area covers 570 square miles, 62 stations, and 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Officers are responsible for conducting fare inspections, acting as system ambassadors, supporting bus and rail operations and other employees in need, helping with lost and found, and much more.

In addition to hiring a new security contractor, the MTS Board also extended the Fare Evasion Diversion Program to August 31, 2022. This pilot program reduces fines, offers a community service option in lieu of payment, and a new appeal window for fare violators.  The purpose is to provide more flexibility for passengers who receive citations for not having a valid fare while riding buses and Trolleys.

MTS is extending the pilot to get a better understanding about success factors. The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to fully realize the success of the Diversion Program thus far. An extension allows additional time to evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program and identify if any changes are necessary.

In addition to the Fare Evasion Diversion Program pilot and hiring a new security contractor, MTS has also implemented other changes to its security policies and procedures, including:

• Hiring a new security director
• Establishing a Security and Passenger Safety Community Advisory Group
• Adopting many of the principles in the “8 Can’t Wait” campaign and as a guideline for its use-of-force policy
• Banning carotid restraints and choke holds, including the prohibition of using knee pressure on the neck, throat or head
• Adopting a “duty to intervene” if MTS security officers witness excessive force by another employee
• Conducting a third-party peer review of its security policies and procedures, which includes a community-based steering committee to assist with recommendations

MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines across 10 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego county. Frequencies and spans have been restored to near-pre-COVID-19 levels. 


 

SamTrans Board Approves Changes to Way2Go Pass and Clipper START Programs

The SamTrans Board of Directors approved both changes to the agency’s Way2Go Pass and an extension of SamTrans’ participation in the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Clipper START pilot program.

The Way2Go Pass Program, established in 2007, allows residential complexes and businesses to purchase annual unlimited-ride bus passes for all eligible residents or employees. SamTrans launched a study of the program in September 2020, to determine what improvements may be necessary to increase participation in the program. The study ultimately recommended lowering the price per pass, reducing the contract minimum, and allowing educational institutions to participate.

Under the new guidelines, educational institutions are able to participate at $35 per semester per pass, and the price per pass for residential complexes and employers is reduced from $125 per annual pass to $40 and $75, respectively. The minimum cost of a contract will be $2,500, down from $12,500. SamTrans staff will monitor the effects of these changes and provide a report to the board next year.

SamTrans will continue to participate in Clipper START, the MTC’s means-based fares pilot program. The SamTrans Board unanimously approved participation in the program. The Clipper START pilot program allows qualifying adult, lower-income SamTrans riders to receive a 50 percent fare discount off the adult single ride fare. Clipper START participants will pay $1 for a one-way ride and receive free transfers to other SamTrans routes within two hours of their initial trip. 

Clipper START uses the Clipper transit fare payment system to discount the cost of one-way rides for adults (ages 19-64) whose household incomes are no more than twice the federal poverty level (for example, $52,400 for a family of four). Clipper START participants receive discounted fares on participating transit services around the Bay Area, including Caltrain and BART.

For most Bay Area households, transportation is the third-biggest monthly expense — trailing only the cost of housing and food. Clipper START could be a critical program for many families, particularly in the current economic climate.


 

LA Metro Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station Improvement Project Now Officially Completed

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced this month the completion of the recently renovated Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station, which has been transformed into a state-of-the-art transit hub that offers a variety of improvements for riders and surrounding neighborhoods. These upgrades serve some of the most underserved communities of Los Angeles. The Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station connects customers from the A Line (Blue) and the C Line (Green), and several bus lines, including: Metro Bus lines 55, 120, 202 and the 205; Metro Micro on-demand service; GTrans 5; the LINK A and B King Medical Campus Shuttle, and; the Lynwood Breeze D Line.

“The Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station completes its renovation at a time when Metro is driving an equitable relentless recovery from the pandemic,” said L.A. County Supervisor and Board Chair and Metro Board Chair Hilda Solis. “Implementing the NextGen program and all its elements and now the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks, Metro supports its transit riders with a renovated, secure and reliable system to come back to transit.”

The $129-million renovation and modernization includes:

• An extended A Line platform.
• A new at-grade pedestrian crossing.
• An expanded transfer mezzanine between the A and C Line.
• Electronic signs with real-time arrival times and wayfinding and signage upgrades.
• Custom LED lighting throughout the station and upgraded stairs and elevators.
• A new public plaza containing the Rosa Parks Customer Center.
• New offices for Transit Security and Transit Court.
• A full service Mobility Hub with safe bike parking.
• A pick-up and drop-off zone and nine regional and local bus bays.
• A modernized park-and-ride lot with new electrical charging stations.
• A pedestrian promenade connecting Wilmington Avenue to the station.

Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station is located at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Wilmington Avenue and is adjacent to the 105 freeway.

Since the completion of the Metro A Line (Blue) in 1990 and the Metro C Line (Green) in 1995, the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station has evolved from a neighborhood station into the fourth busiest station in the Metro system. The station now provides Metro patrons access to local amenities such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Medical Campus, the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and the adjacent Kenneth Hahn Plaza Shopping Center. The station renovation is part of the New Blue Improvements Project State of Good Repair Program that included the $350-million overhaul of the entire A Line (Blue). The federal government provided a $10-million TIGER grant to help fund the project. 

“Metro brings equity to this underserved community with improved Metro services such as the Rosa Parks Customer Center, Transit Court, and a Mobility Hub that will provide Willowbrook residents with access to all Metro services without traveling to downtown Los Angeles,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Navigating this station has never been so convenient and easy. Everything is here to make a seamless journey for our customers and to enhance the customer experience for residents of Willowbrook and surrounding areas.”

New Artworks

As part of the improvements for the renovated station, two new site-specific artworks have been installed; the artists were selected through a competitive, community-based process. One of the two photo collage murals by artist George Evans is installed above the customer center windows. Evans developed layered photo compositions that celebrate South Los Angeles’ distinct neighborhoods, personalities, landscapes, music and oral storytelling traditions. In line with his 30-plus years of cultivating the next generation of young artists and teaching students the skills needed to work in creative fields, the artwork is aptly titled Gifts of Freedom and Knowledge.

Second Line is a series of sculptural parasols by the artists Jamex and Einar de la Torre flanking the plaza and offering shade for transit customers. The grouping of sculptural artworks in the form of parasols explores the legacy of Rosa Parks and pays homage by including Parks’ iconic image and symbols from the civil rights movement in each parasol canopy. The design also reflects the folk art traditions of PAPEL PICADO and at-home lacemaking in the form of doilies, as well as the second line of spectators who join walking parades in New Orleans. To learn more about the artwork fabrication process, see this The Source post.


 

Contactless Payment Options Introduced on Two Santa Barbara County Public Transit Systems

Contactless payment options were introduced last month on Clean Air Express buses and on a selection of Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) buses. The innovative fare payment system is being made available as part of a six-month demonstration with the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), an initiative of the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to simplify travel by increasing access to public transit—including easier, faster payments via contactless credit/debit/prepaid cards and mobile wallets on smart devices.

The contactless payment system for Santa Barbara MTD and Clean Air Express is the first to be introduced among public transit providers in the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo tri-county region and one of the first three systems to be deployed statewide. The tap-to-ride system uses cutting-edge fare payment technology provided by specialist partners Littlepay, Kuba, Cybersource, and Elavon. 

“Older fare collection systems create unnecessary barriers for people to ride and choose transit,” said Marjie Kirn, executive director of SBCAG, which operates the Clean Air Express. “With the new contactless payment system, customers can now pay their fare the same way they can buy a coffee or groceries by simply tapping a credit, debit card, or using a mobile wallet on a smart phone or watch with no registration or account setup needed.”

In addition to Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards with tap-to-pay capabilities, mobile payments options include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Fitbit Pay. While registration or account setup will not be required to use the system, an online portal will be available to all customers paying with a card who need a receipt or would like to check their recent rides and fare payments.

“We are excited to introduce this convenient payment option for our riders,” said Jerry Estrada, general manager of Santa Barbara MTD. “We’re piloting this technology on ten of our buses, serving Lines 12x and 24x. This means you’ll be able to get to UCSB, Downtown Santa Barbara, Camino Real Marketplace, and Old Town Goleta with a simple tap of a card or device.”

Clean Air Express and Santa Barbara MTD customers will see contactless payment readers installed at the front of the designated buses. If a customer’s debit or credit card is valid and has the contactless symbol on it or if they use a mobile payment option, they can tap it on the payment reader, look for a green checkmark on the payment reader’s screen, and take a seat to ride.

“Much of our goal is a more modern and consistent transportation experience throughout California,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “Allowing riders to pay for transit with the same methods they use elsewhere not only increases efficiency and mobility, but also reduces barriers to using public transportation.”

Automatic fare capping enables both transit providers to offer riders the ability to pay-as-they-go to receive multi-ride discounts when riders tap to pay with the same contactless payment card or device throughout the day or within a 30-day period.

Santa Barbara MTD customers pay the standard adult fare of $1.75 simply by tapping their card or device. Riders using the same payment card or device with the new system will automatically not be charged more than $6 a day or $52 in a 30-day period, which is equivalent to purchasing a one-day or 30-day pass. As an example, if a rider takes four or more trips in one day using a same card or device, the new system will only charge the rider $6 total for the day. Santa Barbara MTD buses with the contactless payment capability will have a special decal next to the front door of the bus, labeled with “Tap to Pay” and the contactless indicator symbol.

Clean Air Express customers using the contactless payment system will be charged $6, a $1 discount from the standard $7 one-way cash fare. Existing Clean Air Express multi-ride fare discounts are honored with the new system, with riders automatically not being charged more than $10 per day—or $150 over 30 days—when using the same payment card or device.

Clean Air Express and Santa Barbara MTD continue to accept physical passes and cash payments. The contactless payment option is just one more way to pay a fare—and to do so in a quick, secure way on both transit providers.


 

TRANSIT PEOPLE AND HAPPENINGS 

Darren Kettle Named Metrolink Chief Executive Officer 

In July the Board of Directors of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority named Darren Kettle chief executive officer (CEO) of Metrolink. Kettle is currently the executive director of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), one of the five regional transportation agencies that comprise the joint powers authority that governs Metrolink.

Said Metrolink Board Chair and Glendale Councilmember Ara Najarian: “Darren’s breadth of leadership experience includes executive roles in three of our five member counties. From the inland areas to the coastal communities of Ventura County, Darren’s transformative vision and passion for public transportation will well serve Metrolink as the agency continues to meet the needs of and provide more opportunities to Southern Californians.”

At VCTC, Kettle was responsible for working with cities within Ventura County and the county government to plan, fund and manage a wide array of activities designed to give residents access to jobs, schools, shopping centers and essential services. Kettle has been the executive director of VCTC since 2007.

“I am excited to join Metrolink as the new CEO and want to thank the Board for their vote of confidence and partnership,” said Kettle. “Over the years I’ve had the chance to work with Metrolink as a regional partner. Now, I look forward to leading the executive team and the entire staff to continue its customer-first approach and rebuild ridership lost during the pandemic. We will showcase the agency’s value and essential role in connecting people seven days a week to their places of work and recreation. Metrolink is an integral part to the lives of Southern Californians. I am also enthusiastic to be part of Metrolink as we prepare to welcome local and global fans to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.”

Prior to joining VCTC, Kettle was employed by the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG - now known as the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority) beginning November 2000 and served as the director of freeway construction from July 2003 through October 2007. Before becoming the director of freeway construction, Kettle was the director of intergovernmental and legislative affairs for both SANBAG and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) where he managed a collaborative government affairs program for the two counties. His professional career spans 32 years working for local and regional government agencies. 

At Metrolink, Kettle will lead a 283 employee-strong regional passenger railroad that services 62 stations in six southern California counties across a 538-mile network. Kettle’s expected start date is early September.


 

SacRT Receives the 2021 Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year Award

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) honored Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in July as the 2021 Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year. This award is given to only one agency in each category of small, medium, and large systems. SacRT received the award for the category of public transit agencies with more than 4 million, but less than 20 million trips. In 2019, APTA honored SacRT’s General Manager/CEO Henry Li with the equally prestigious Outstanding Public Transportation Manager of the Year award.

The APTA Awards recognize organizations and leaders in the public transportation industry in North America who have demonstrated significant leadership, are outstanding role models of excellence, and whose accomplishments and innovations have greatly advanced public transportation. To put the honor in perspective, winning the national Outstanding Transportation System of the Year award in the transit industry, is the equivalent of receiving the Oscar for best picture.

SacRT was recognized for a number of initiatives that launched between 2018 and 2020 in 12 different areas, including safety, operations, finance, marketing, customer relations, sustainability, diversity and equity. Many, of which took place for the first time in the agency’s 48-year history, including:

• Lowering fares
• Expanding and improving service
• Achieved double-digit ridership growth
• Introducing one of the nation’s biggest and most successful microtransit services, SmaRT Ride
• Regaining the trust of city jurisdictions and reannexing transit services back into the SacRT district
• Implementing the nation’s first fare-free rides for student program of its magnitude, RydeFreeRT
• Generated $12.8 million in operating surplus, staving off layoffs, furloughs, and salary cuts, while maintaining service levels close to 100 percent while increasing operating and capital reserves by 500 percent in five years ($30 million+), despite a 60 percent drop in ridership and farebox revenue during the peak of the pandemic
• After more than 30 years of contracting, SacRT transitioned the operation of its ADA paratransit and non-ADA demand response service back in-house, called SacRT GO
• Proactive and immediate best practices to combat COVID-19
• Maintaining essential travel and providing social services to the community such as free rides to vaccination and voting centers
• In partnership with the California State Transportation Agency and the City of Sacramento, launched the WiFi Bus to turn buses into free wireless super-hotspots in communities with limited high-speed internet to close digital divide
• Launched SacRT’s first Airport Express bus service connecting downtown Sacramento to the Sacramento International Airport
• Launched the first and the largest public-private partnership for a new high-speed electric vehicle charging hub at Power Inn Station
• Received over $366 million in grants for light rail modernization the last two years. Ordered 20 new modern low-floor light rail vehicles from local business, Siemens Mobility
• Launched a new public intercity express bus service, Causeway Connection, connecting the cities of Davis and Sacramento using zero emission electric vehicles in partnership with Yolobus and Electrify America (EA)
• Partnered with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Visa, Littlepay, and SC Soft to add a contactless method for payment onboard light rail trains – a first in the state
• Installed new smart fare vending machines, which offer several convenient ways to pay, including cash or credit/debit card, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and the ability to add tickets and passes to the ZipPass fare app and Connect Card

SacRT will receive the award during APTA’s Transform Conference and Expo in November 2021. In addition this November, SacRT is the agency host of the California Transit Association’s 56^th Annual Fall Conference & Expo, presented by Proterra. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in two local tours provided by the agency.


 

County Connection’s Ramacier Stepping Down By Year’s End 

County Connection General Manager Rick Ramacier has announced his intent to step down by the end of December following 32 years with the agency, 24 of which he served as GM. Bill Churchill, identified early on as a strong leader for the agency, will be promoted to GM upon Ramacier’s retirement as part of the agency’s succession planning and leadership training. Churchill is currently serving as Assistant GM of Administration and has more than 23 years with County Connection.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Rick for his years of outstanding service and significant contributions,” said Keith L. Haydon, Jr., City of Clayton and County Connection Board Chair. “His unwavering dedication to County Connection, along with his ability to build a strong leadership team, will leave County Connection resilient and well positioned for the future.”

“I have been honored to lead County Connection and proud to be a part of the many ways in which our services improve people’s lives, and most recently positively impacting more than 2,200 essential service riders every day,” said Rick Ramacier, County Connection General Manager. “Having worked closely with Bill for many years, I am highly confident that under his leadership, the team at County Connection will continue to innovate and provide a variety of mobility choices for our customers. His appointment demonstrates the strength of our succession planning and talent pipeline, and I look forward to working with him during the transition.”

Ramacier will remain as GM until his departure date in December.