Transit Briefs: InnoTrans; N.M. Rail Runner; NYCT

Ridership on New Mexico's Rail Runner Express is said to have nearly doubled since April: from 800 round-trips per day to the current average of more than 1,500.

InnoTrans is offering North American attendees a discount to attend its biennial international event. Also, New Mexico’s Rail Runner Express regional/commuter rail service is extending its fare discount and adding service; and MTA New York City Transit has appointed four executives.

The North American representative office of InnoTrans 2022 continues to offer 60% off regular ticket prices to North American attendees. The international trade show for transport technology will be held Sept. 20-23, 2022, at the Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Berlin, Germany. With the theme “The Future of Mobility in Times of Climate Change,” InnoTrans 2022 will cover railway technology, railway infrastructure, public transport, interiors, tunnel construction, and supplementary mobility services. Also, it will feature a 1.16-million-square-foot exhibition space. The previous event, in 2018, combined 153,000 visitors with more than 3,000 exhibitors.

To receive the discounted ticket code, North Americans must email InnoTrans North American Representative Mary Jo Balve at [email protected].

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on July 13 reported that the 75% reduction in Rail Runner fares enacted in April would be extended until the end of the year. Ridership on the 100-mile, 15-station railroad between Belen and Santa Fe is said to have nearly doubled since the fare reduction: from 800 round-trips per day to the current average of more than 1,500. Rail Runner has been operating since March 8, 2021, when a yearlong, pandemic-related shutdown ended.

Also, two more trains will be added to both the weekday and Saturday schedules beginning Aug. 1.

“We commend the Governor for her actions to extend affordability for commuters and travelers, as gas prices across the country remain high,” said Dewey V. Cave, Executive Director of Rio Metro Regional Transit District, which operates Rail Runner trains as well as local buses in the region around Albuquerque. “Additionally, we believe the new train schedule with added service will accommodate the changing workday that many commuters are now experiencing, and also offer more options for shorter trips—which is something people have been wanting for years.”

NYCT President Richard Davey on July 13 announced four leadership appointments:

1. Frank Annicaro has been elevated to Senior Vice President of NYCT Buses, following service as Acting Head of Buses since August 2021. Previously, he was Chief Maintenance Officer for Buses.
2. Jacqueline Halldow is NYCT’s new Chief of Staff. She served most recently as Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit in Tampa, Fla., and from 2010-18, held the Chief of Staff position at New Jersey Transit.
3. Brittany Montgomery has joined NYCT as Senior Advisor for Special Projects & Initiatives. Previously, she supported public-sector clients in strategy and procurement at BCG. She has also served as an advisor to the Secretary of Mobility in Bogotá, Colombia.
4. Jake Luce on July 18 will take on the role of Senior Advisor for Special Projects & Initiatives at NYCT. Most recently, he was a Partner at BCG, where he served government agencies in the New York metropolitan area on issues ranging from infrastructure to economic development. Before that, Luce worked for the city of New York as Assistant Director at the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services, Chief of Staff for the Hurricane Sandy Housing Recovery Office, and Senior Advisor at the Office of Management and Budget.

“I am thrilled to add this strong and impressive group of professionals to the leadership of NYCT,” said Richard Davey. “Their diverse experiences, knowledge and skills will be instrumental in ensuring we deliver better, reliable, efficient service and put our customers first. I have confidence in their abilities to help bring back riders and drive New York’s economic recovery.”