November/December 2023 - 6

Editor's Notebook
The big stories of 2023
A year-end look at the top stories of the year.
I
've been a transportation journalist for more than two decades and
one practice I enjoy doing at the end of each year is look back at all the
stories produced to see what themes or other common threads can be
spotted. The value of time and hindsight can help shape a clear picture
that may not have been obvious when these stories were first published.
The transit industry is one of connections - both geographic and
personal. It is no surprise that our 40 Under 40 content package
captures readers' attention year after year. The day we release the 40
Under 40 list, our web traffic and social media engagement spikes.
This consistent interest in the program tells us the industry is curious
about who the up and coming thought leaders are and what their ideas
could mean for the future of transit.
While personnel announcements rarely break into the top 100
articles of the year, the social media engagement these People on the
Move updates bring to Mass Transit's LinkedIn page is impressive.
This tells us we are also an industry of supporters and cheerleaders
and that should be celebrated.
Another theme that has continued in 2023 was the interest in rail
articles. Rail line openings, including Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority's Regional Connector, Honolulu's Skyline
and Brightline's extension to Orlando all landed in the top articles
of the year. Big rail car orders were also high on the list, which we
believe is linked to the Federal Transit Administration awarding the
first round of grants through its Rail Vehicle Replacement Program
in 2023. The program supports projects to replace aging vehicles on
subway systems, commuter rail and light-rail systems.
On the bus side of the industry, stories highlighting facility upgrades
were popular, such as Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority's groundbreaking for its new Bladensburg Garage and the
awarding of a contract by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
for the design of the Jamaica Bus Depot and parking lot in the New
York City borough of Queens. Additional bus related stories to pique
readers' attention include the growing interest in minibuses as supply
chain issues persist and Toronto Transit Commission and Amalgamated
Transit Union Local 113 working together to unveil their bus-ofthe-future
design concepts to improve security for bus operators.
Stories covering changes in businesses that support the transit industry
also became top news. Proterra's declaration of bankruptcy and
the subsequent selling of its three divisions, Transdev's acquisition
of First Transit and Nova Bus's planned exit from the U.S. market all
were among the top 100 stories.
As we prepare to move into 2024, thank you from the Mass Transit
team for allowing us into your inbox every day and your mailbox
periodically throughout the year. It is our pleasure to report on this
industry and we wish you continued success in the new year.
Mischa Wanek-Libman,
editor in chief
"
"
The transit
industry is one of
connections - both
geographic and
personal.
 mwanek@masstransitmag.com
 224-324-8532
 linkedin.com/in/
mischawaneklibman
6 Mass Transit | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mischawaneklibman
November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2023
