Transit Briefs: DART, NJT, NYMTA

DART riders will now be able to access real-time vehicle locations, arrival time predictions, and alerts such as detours and cancellations on Google Maps, the Transit app, and various other apps. (DART Photograph)

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) expands the use of real-time data so more riders can track vehicle locations, delays, and service changes. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) renews a supplier contract for fare collection system upgrades; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) seeks a “master tenant” to develop and manage retail at MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Grand Central Madison.

DART

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on April 2 reported that riders will now be able to access real-time vehicle locations, arrival time predictions, and alerts such as detours and cancellations on Google Maps, the Transit app, and various other apps. Until now, such information was only available on the GoPass app and DART.org, by texting 41411, or on kiosks and transit center digital dashboards.

“One of our strategic goals is for more people to use and rely on DART because its services are attractive and convenient,” DART Vice President and Chief Information Officer Julius Smith said. “To do that, we will continue to do all we can to deliver information directly to our riders in new and expanded ways. Our hope is for riders to be better able to plan their journeys, reducing uncertainty and minimizing wait times.”

“We’re grateful to have begun this relationship with DART, and we can’t wait for Dallas riders to benefit from this reliable data—which can be seen by the thousands of people already using Transit, as well as those who rely on other apps or websites,” said David Block-Schachter, Chief Business Officer at Transit.

In other DART news, the transit agency recently offered a sneak peek of its new LRV seats.

NJT

Conduent Transportation (Conduent) will continue implementation and upgrades of a contactless fare collection system under a five-year contract renewal with NJT, which provides more than 925,000 weekday trips on three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines, and 263 bus routes, and through Access Link paratransit service. Under the new contract, which builds on a relationship of more than 30 years with NJT, Conduent said it will also provide maintenance of various hardware and software systems, including ticket vending machines and on-board validators.

Last fall, under the previous contract, Conduent said it implemented a new “Tap & Ride” payment option for NJT, allowing light rail and bus riders to use contactless credit and debit cards. The system is currently usable with existing validators on buses and at light rail stations. Additional ticket types, including Google and Apple payment options, are being made available, according to Conduent.

“The convenience of digital, contactless payments is transforming how we purchase, pay and get paid in every aspect of our lives, and we’re excited to continue helping our clients extend these benefits to their riders,” said Adam Appleby, President, Transportation Solutions at Conduent, which recently implemented contactless payment options for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s buses, subways and trolleys.

Separately, NJT will use a $1.6 million federal grant to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered systems that it said would help improve safety by reducing accidents at light rail grade crossings and on rights-of-way.

NYMTA

MTA has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a developer to bring retail and dining to LIRR Grand Central Madison, a new terminal facility 14 stories beneath Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Launched Jan. 25, 2023, Grand Central Madison stretches from 45th to 48th Streets, with a mezzanine-level walkway that connects to Grand Central Terminal (GCT). There are eight stub-end tracks: four over four and numbered 201-204 and 301-304, a sort of continuation of the numbering in the original GCT, where upper-level tracks bear two-digit numbers and lower-level tracks are numbered in the 100s. Grand Central Madison connects LIRR, MTA Metro-North Railroad, and the subway (Shuttle, 4, 5, 6, and 7​ lines) all under one roof, with access to 10 bus routes just a few steps outside. On the busiest weekdays (Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday), the number of LIRR riders traveling through Grand Central Madison is as high as 66,000, according to MTA.

A survey the transit agency conducted last summer found that a majority of commuters are traveling five times per week; 71% of users who previously traveled through Penn Station frequented its retail; and almost half of commuters, 47%, responded they would consider skipping a train for retail.

With 32 retail units available across 25,000 square feet of space at Grand Central Madison, the master tenant would curate and manage a diverse collection of retailers, MTA reported April 2.

The RFP announcement was made as a panel of experts hosted by the MTA in Grand Central Madison discussed the current retail market and highlighted the history between retail and the transit environment, and its role in the economy and the public realm. Moderated by Hiten Samtani, Founder of Ten31 Media, panelists included MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, Grand Central Partnership President and CEO Alfred Cerullo, CBRE Retail Vice Chairman Andrew Goldberg, and BXP Senior Vice President of Development Rich Monopoli.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the right operator: 25,000 square feet of retail in a controlled environment in the very heart of the biggest business district in the country,” Janno Lieber said. “Part of the success of Grand Central Madison is the added convenience for 66,000 travelers headed to East Midtown. And we want to increase that convenience—and the excitement—with exciting and innovative shops, restaurants, and brands like we have upstairs.”

In other MTA news, the transit agency recently announced that it will pilot firearm detection technology.