Baltimore Penn Station Project Under Way
Amtrak and Penn Station Partners on Oct. 22 held a groundbreaking ceremony for redevelopment and expansion of the historic Baltimore Penn Station on the Northeast Corridor in Maryland.
Intercity
California Agencies Team on Intercity Rail Advocacy
An advocacy coalition has been formed by the three California agencies that manage the Amtrak-operated Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquins intercity rail services.
Brightline West Project Advancing in California
The planned $8 billion Brightline West high speed rail line is another step closer to connecting Las Vegas with Southern California.
Transit Briefs: LACMTA; NYMTA; SFRTA; STM; Metra
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has installed earthquake early warning systems at 26 rail and bus division facilities. In addition, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is forming a subsidiary to oversee the new East Side Access project terminal; South Florida Regional Transportation Authority’s (SFRTA) Tri-Rail is resuming full service; Thales has delivered interlocking systems for three Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) rapid transit stations; and Wabtec will provide doors, brakes, HVAC systems and event recorders for Metra’s new multilevels.
Brightline Sets Service Resumption Date
Brightline will restore service on its 67-mile line between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 8, offering new fare options and amenities, the private-sector passenger rail operator reported on Oct. 20.
Transit Briefs: DART; Denver RTD; MTA Metro-North; VIA Rail Canada
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has released a draft 2045 Transit System Plan. In addition, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District is surveying riders to assess communication needs; MTA Metro-North Railroad is piloting a bike storage program in New York City; and Via Rail Canada will begin the final phase of its gradual service resumption plan in December.
APTA to FTA: ‘Undertake a Zero-Based Review of All CIG Requirements’
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has responded to the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) call for Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program feedback, and has updated its dashboard of CIG projects in the pipeline.
Leaders, Recognized: 2021 Railway Age Women in Rail Award Honorees
Railway Age’s 2021 Women in Rail awards program is honoring 26 leaders for driving their businesses forward while helping to make a difference in the industry and in their communities.
Transit Briefs: UTA, TransLink, SEPTA, CTDOT
Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) FrontRunner commuter rail service may expand from Provo to Payson. In addition, metro Vancouver’s TransLink has released the first full draft of Transport 2050, the region’s 30-year transportation strategy; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has selected Huitt-Zollars, Inc. for an 18-month study to create a regional rail network plan; and Connecticut will evaluate Aira, a service providing public transit assistance to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
For Shift5, $20MM in Series A Funding
OT (Operational Technology) cybersecurity company Shift5 has raised $20 million in Series A funding that will be used “to provide enhanced cybersecurity and operational intelligence for commercial transportation fleet operators and military platforms—aircraft, railways, military vehicles.” 645