Light Rail

SEPTA FY2025 Proposed Budget: $2.6B

SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) has proposed a $2.6 billion Fiscal Year 2025 budget consisting of a $1.74 billion Operating Budget and $922.8 million Capital Budget. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed $283

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Gouveia Leads HDR Northeast Transit

HDR has promoted New England Transportation Manager Tony Gouveia, P.E., to a dual role as Northeast Transit Leader, adding to his current position. Gouveia will work with teams and clients to support

New Jersey Transit’s Board on April 10 unanimously approved a 15% fare hike starting July 1, with a 3% annual increase beginning July 1, 2025. (William C. Vantuono Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NC by Train, NJ Transit, TTC

Ridership for NC By Train—North Carolina-supported Amtrak service—marks a milestone. Also, the New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) Board approves a double-digit fare hike; and communications, electrical and signal workers at Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will begin strike action on April 22 if a collective agreement is not reached.

Rob Free, President of MTA Long Island Rail Road and Julie Green, New York Transit and Mobility Group Director at HNTB.

High Profile: LIRR, HNTB

MTA Long Island Rail Road sets Rob Free as President, following six-months of service as Acting President. Also, Julie Green joins HNTB as New York Transit and Mobility Group Director.

Austin, Tex.-based Atlas Technical Consultants Inc. reported being selected among a team of consultants to manage the geotechnical engineering and design of Brightline West. (Brightline West Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Brightline West, QLINE, Santa Clara VTA

Brightline West awards a geotechnical engineering and design contract for its high-speed rail project linking Las Vegas and Southern California. Also, QLINE Detroit streetcars will include new advertising as part of a loan repayment agreement; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) ridership rebounds in 2023.

Trinity Metro was joined by representatives of the Federal Transit Administration, Tarrant County Commissioners Court, Fort Worth City Council and other leaders and stakeholders across North Texas to open the Trinity Lakes Station for Trinity Railway Express. Trinity Metro President and CEO Richard Andreski (second from left) was in attendance. (Trinity Metro Photograph)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, MBTA, Metro Transit, SEPTA, Trinity Metro

The Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) is now available for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) planned 14.5-mile light rail line between Los Angeles and the city of Artesia, Calif. Also, the Massachusetts House budget is slated to include “record” funding for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA); Metro Transit of Minneapolis-St. Paul is upgrading its contactless fare system; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) officially opens the rebuilt and renamed Drexel Station at 30th Street and unveils new fare gate pilot program; and Trinity Metro hosts a grand-opening event for the new Trinity Railway Express station in Fort Worth, Tex.

During 2023, rail ridership grew by eight percentage points relative to 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, ending the year at 70%, while bus ridership grew by 12 percentage points to 81% of 2019 levels, according to the latest APTA report. (Chart Courtesy of APTA)

APTA Releases Ridership Trends Report

After falling to 20% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, public transit has recovered to 79% of pre-pandemic levels as of March 2024, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest ridership trends report.

Astell Joins WSP

Nigel Astell, well known in the global rail transit community and to Railway Age/Parsons Next-Generation Train Control Conference attendees through his role in organizing this annual event (slated for October 17-18 in