Amtrak OIG

Beginning May 5, RTD-PD will move to a 24/7 staffing model. (Denver RTD photo)

Transit Briefs: Metra, Denver RTD, Amtrak OIG

Metra schedules 47 safety blitzes in 2024. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) Transit Police will implement 24/7 patrols beginning May 5; and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies opportunities for Amtrak to better use its customer service data to improve the customer experience.

Amtrak OIG Provides Insights on Fraud Risks

Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on April 17 released a report providing insights for Amtrak on ways organizations can collect and analyze contract and procurement data to monitor for and detect fraud risks.

Amtrak OIG: New Acela Program Facing Additional Delays, Increased Costs (Updated with Alstom and OIG Responses)

More delays are anticipated for Amtrak’s new Acela trainsets, already three years behind schedule, due in part to defects and designs not yet meeting Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements, the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report has found. Alstom has taken exception to certain elements of the report. OIG stands by it.

Jim Blaze photo

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Skyline, Caltrain, NJ Transit

Amtrak makes progress in bringing stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Also, Honolulu’s Skyline sees an increase in ridership; Caltrain completes three major milestones toward Electrification Program; and NJ Transit’s Walter Rand Transportation Center (WRTC) Improvement Project continues to advance.

On Sept. 6, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) reported via social media platform X: “I was joined by @GovMurphy to announce that @USDOTFHWA and @FTA_DOT has granted New Jersey the flexibility to use $425 million in federal funding to upgrade transit infrastructure, including an additional $7.9 million for improvements to the Long Branch Train Station.”

Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, Amtrak OIG

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approves $425 million in additional federal fiscal year funding for New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit projects. Also, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports that America’s Railroad “is positioning itself to comply with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA] operations, policy and funding requirements.”

A new Amtrak OIG report finds that Amtrak “faces challenges with the systems and processes it uses to track and manage costs for capital projects, which hinder project teams from identifying emerging cost overruns.” (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak OIG, via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak OIG, FTA, NYMTA

“Amtrak is strengthening its project cost management, but can better organize costs and improve guidance,” according to the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report. Also, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cincinnati Connector Streetcar will receive funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty Program; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will increase subway fares and implement recommendations of the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report on Fare and Toll Evasion.

Amtrak Airo™ trainset with Coach/Cab Car. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

OIG Releases Audit Report on Amtrak Intercity Trainset Program

Amtrak experienced early challenges with stakeholder communications in its intercity trainset acquisition and maintenance facility modification work, leading to scope changes, cost increases and schedule delays, according to a new report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG).