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agency to charge a Proterra bus with a
New Flyer bus charger and vice versa.
CapMetro accomplished this milestone
by working closely with manufacturers
and after months of testing, measuring,
reprogramming and validation. Traditionally, transit agencies have only been able
to charge electric buses from their designated manufacturer. However, to achieve
the full potential of electric buses in the
industry, bus yards must be equipped to
demonstrate interoperability. By accomplishing this feat, CapMetro has met yet
another major milestone in its quest to
have an all-electric fleet.
MassTransitmag.com/21160691

Gov. Eric Holcomb/Twitter

STATE AND local officials break ground on the West Lake Corridor Project.

NICTD breaks ground, finalizes
FFGA for West Lake Corridor
The largest public transit investment project in Indiana history began construction and signed a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the
Federal Transit Administration Oct. 28. The virtual groundbreaking and
FFGA signing event was called " a historic day for this railroad 30 years
in the making " by Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District
President Michael Noland. The West Lake Corridor Project will extend
the South Shore rail line 7.8 miles from Hammond to Dyer and add four
stations. When completed, the service will provide a 45-minute direct rail
connection between Lake County and downtown Chicago. Noland noted
at the event that a car trip between the two locations could not meet the
same travel time.
MassTransitmag.com/21160477

FRA awards more than $291
million in Partnership Program
passenger rail grants
â¶ The Federal Railroad Administration
awarded 11 intercity passenger rail projects in nine states more than $291 million through the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program
(Partnership Program). The Partnership
Program is intended to improve intercity
passenger rail performance by funding
capital projects to repair, replace or
rehabilitate publicly owned or controlled
railroad assets, thereby bringing them
into a state of good repair.
" These investments have proven vital
during this challenging year and kept

10 |

essential supplies moving throughout
our nation, and these State of Good
Repair grants will continue those improvements and enhance passenger rail
service to ready the nation for the forthcoming recovery, " said FRA Administrator
Ronald L. Batory.
MassTransitmag.com/21160487

CapMetro demonstrates
interoperability with
its electric fleet
â¶ The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) is the first
transit agency to demonstrate interoperability across Proterra and New Flyer
electric buses and chargers, allowing the

Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | NOVEMBER 2020

Credit
Capital Metro

A NEW Flyer bus being charged with a
Proterra charger.

HART launches SMART AV pilot
for Marion Street Transitway
â¶ The

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit
(HART) and partner Beep launched the
Tampa Bay region's first fully electric automated vehicle program on Oct. 12. The
one-year pilot program, which is funded
by the Florida Department of Transportation, will see a self-driving shuttle
traversing the Marion Street transitway in
downtown Tampa. The program, known
as Smart Mobility Alongside Regional
Transit AV, will provide a first mile, last
mile connection between the TECO Line
Streetcar and the Marion Transit Center.
HART notes the driverless shuttle is 100
percent electric and costs less than $30
per month to charge. The HART Board of
Directors approved the pilot program for
at least one year of operation with an option to continue the program for a second year. The shuttle uses eight sensors
on the outside of the vehicle, providing a
360-degree view of the environment. An
on-board shuttle attendant serves as an
ambassador for the riders to learn more
about the technology and oversee the
passenger experience.
MassTransitmag.com/21157941

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