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Transportation Leadership Panel Discussion

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During the Transportation Leadership Panel Discussions held on the afternoon of October 13th, Mr. Craig R. Lentzsch stated that innovation is coming to the public passenger transportation industry and that disruptive change will result. Mr. Lentzsch is one of the most experienced passenger transportation leaders in the U.S. Currently, he holds a number of positions including advisor, director, and operating partner for a variety of firms. Mr. Lentzsch also serves as the Executive Chairman of All Aboard America! (AAA). AAA was formed in 1936 by Henry Page to transport potash miners to and from their jobsites in New Mexico. The company carries on the vision to make AAA a major player in the motor coach industry. (All Aboard America! 2015) Mr. …show more content…

“Our generation grew up knowing all about the effects on the environment that cars can have, so we’ve grown up with an attitude of wanting to do our part for the earth – something that we can easily do with public transit and not with cars.” (Millennials and Mobility. p34) The role of public transportation from being a social service provided to persons who have limited transportation options to being the transportation mode of choice. With this come high expectation that public transportation will transform to meet the lifestyle needs of the riding public including access to information and options. “We are well-connected when it comes to searching and finding information we need to plan our transportation ahead of time.” (Millennials and Mobility. …show more content…

In 2014 Uber announced that it would supplement Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services in New York City. The ADA requires complimentary transportations services are provided to persons with disabilities how are unable to use fixed route transit. This service, as well as other that service a similar passenger group under different rules, is often referred to collectively as paratransit. In addition, recent studies such as the one completed by Parsons Brinkerhoff for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) in Atlanta identified using innovative service partners as a major finding to improve service. (Comprehensive Operations Analysis 2014). Recently, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority introduced the use of Bridj as a way of meeting first and last mile service demands. Transit agencies are regularly asking service providers to provide alternate transportation solutions that include the use of new technology and non-traditional service providers. These requests come through language in Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) that look to private sector management firms to offer comprehensive technology solutions to improve service quality, increase access, enhance options, and reduce

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