More and more APTA member transit systems have implemented programs to provide waterborne transit services to their constituencies. A census of waterborne operations in North America has many members who provide these types of services. The services they provide range from small water taxi services to large ferry boat transit services operating in cities from Boston to San Francisco.
Operators are especially interested in having access to other operators in dealing with issues of mutual interest such as safety, operations, regulation, standards and legislation among others.
APTA is working with the Passenger Vessels Association (PVA) which represents ferry boat operators including most of APTA’s members to coordinate the provision of services.
In November 2007, the APTA executive committee approved the creation of a permanent standing committee of waterborne transit services whose charter will be to develop action strategies to address needs and problems of this modal sector.
Among the initial workplan of the proposed committee are:
- Providing networking opportunities
- Sharing of best practices
- Building stronger lines of communications with federal regulatory agencies
- Developing standards and improving safety practices
- Collectively addressing ADA and clean air regulations
- Pursuing legislative issues of interest through the APTA legislative process
- Improving the visibility and presence of waterborne transit as a viable modal sector within the transit industry
For more information contact Lurae Stuart (lstuart@apta.com) or Tom Peacock (tpeacock@apta.com).