Intercity

The MBTA has launched a Speed Restrictions Dashboard that will provide riders with up-to-date information on speed restrictions across the agency's system. (Image Courtesy of MBTA)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, SEPTA, TTC, VIA Rail, NJ Transit, BART, PANYNJ

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) launches online Speed Restrictions Dashboard; awards contract for major track and signal upgrades at South Station; and invites public comment on the proposed Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2024-2028. Also, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) awards design contract for Broad Street Line ADA Improvement project and approves proposal to install new fare gates; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) formerly ends token sales; VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) improves diversity and inclusion policies; NJ Transit advances improvements at Mahwah Station; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) moves forward with purchase of fare gates to be installed systemwide; and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) advances plan to replace AirTrain Newark with selection of three firms as part of multi-phase procurement process.

Andy Byford during his two-year tenure as NYCT President.
  • News

Report: “Train Daddy” Andy Byford to Join Amtrak

Andy Byford, nicknamed “Train Daddy” when he was President of MTA New York City Transit, will begin his new role as Senior Vice President for Amtrak’s high-speed rail (HSR) program, effective April 10, according to multiple news reports.

  • M/W

BMWED, BRS Reach Tentative Agreement With Amtrak

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes (BMWED) and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) members have reached a tentative agreement, after negotiating as a coalition for 15 months, with Amtrak on a seven-year contract that calls for a 28.5% general wage increase retroactive to 2022.

Cordel Group PLC and D/Gauge Ltd. (part of the TÜV Rheinland Group) have landed a multi-year contract to provide Amtrak with a Rail Clearance Management system.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, BART, CapMetro, CTDOT, PATH, TTC, WMATA

Amtrak awards Rail Clearance Management system contract. Also, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) lowers its ridership estimate for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) extension through San José; CapMetro’s Project Connect in Austin, Tex., has five new light rail options; Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing a unified, statewide public transit information system for mobile devices; PATH introduces nine-car train service on the Newark (N.J.)-World Trade Center (N.Y.) line; the city of Toronto, Ontario, and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bolster transit system outreach efforts; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) tests new fare gates.

Amtrak’s Adirondack service between New York City and Montreal will resume April 3. It had been suspended for three years due to the pandemic.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CATS, MBTA, Metrolinx, NYCT, TransLink

Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and VIA Rail Canada are fully restoring Adirondack service. Also, a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) derailment report raises light rail vehicle safety concerns; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) lifts Green Line speed restrictions; Metrolinx, the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area transit authority, launches the #GOTransitReads by Legible Book Club; MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) logs more “Station Re-NEW-vation Program” work; and the government of British Columbia provides C$479 million in emergency funding for metro Vancouver’s TransLink.

New York City subways reached 3.94 million riders on a single day for the first time since March 2020.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, WMATA, APTA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subways reach 3.94 million riders on a single day for the first time since March 2020. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) gets a service boost systemwide amid ridership surge; and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) releases results from Phase 2 of its Transit Workforce Shortage Study and welcomes hundreds of industry professionals to Washington, D.C., for 2023 Legislative Conference.

Commentary

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Rail Force of One

Through two decades of writing about rail in publications of national scope, I have always concentrated on rail and transit news in the United States and Canada, leaving the international scene to

Brightline has expanded its first and last mile service, offering riders new bi-directional fixed-route shuttles between its passenger rail stations and Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Miami Beach. (Brightline Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, PANY/NJ

Brightline is now offering shuttle service to South Florida airports and Miami Beach. Also, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) will go forward with bus service, not rail, to link LaGuardia Airport with New York City subways and commuter railroads; has approved an AirTrain Newark (N.J.) access improvement project; and selects Alstom for an AirTrain Newark operations and maintenance services contract.

LOAD MORE