Public address system and method for an urban transit vehicle

A public address system for an urban transit bus of the type including:

• a passenger receiving interior space;
• an operator's station located within the interior space;
• a steering column within the operator's station;
• and
• a cowl around at least a portion of the steering column;
• the improvement comprising:
• a noise-cancelling, directional microphone mounted on the cowl of the steering column for collecting audio signals and for converting the audio signals to electrical signals;
• an audio processor mounted in a secure housing non-accessibly and unobtrusively located out of the operator's station adn behind a panel for receiving electrical signals from the microphone, for processing the electrical signals to remove noise therefrom, for recording the electrical signals, and for playing back the electrical signals following the recordal thereof to prevent feedback;
• a foot switch located within the operator's station;
• the audio processor being responsive to activation of the foot switch to cause recording of signals received through the microphone;
• an amplifier for receiving electrical signals from said audio processor and for converting the electrical signals to amplified electrical signals;
• speakers for receiving amplified electrical signals from the amplifier, for converting the amplified electrical signals to audio signals and for broadcasting the audio signals at least within the passenger receiving interior of the urban transit vehicle.