Bay Area Rapid Transit

Far Rockaway-Mott Av is the 29th station to be enhanced with an upcoming refurbishment planned at Pelham Bay Park on the line.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, MARTA, SMART, VTA/BART, Miami-Dade County/Brightline

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes renovation at Far Rockaway-Mott Av subway station as part of New York City Transit’s (NYCT) Re-NEW-vation campaign. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) partners with Kia and Hyundai to prevent vehicle theft at rail stations; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) releases its proposed budget for public review; Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project prepares for early construction activities at Newhall Yard; and Miami-Dade County completes the Project Development phase of the New Starts program for its Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail service between downtown Miami and Aventura, according to Brightline.

Biemeret Appointed BART Inspector General

Claudette Biemeret, the current Assistant Inspector General of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), has been appointed to a four-year term as Inspector General, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced May 2.

No BART rider will wait more than 20 minutes for a scheduled train no matter what hour of the day or day of the week starting Sept. 11.

Transit Briefs: BART, DART, LACMTA, NYMTA, SEPTA

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will roll out a new service schedule this fall that reflects post-pandemic commute patterns. Also, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) upgrades its rail and bus seating; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) extends its free-fare pilot for K-14 students; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) receives a bailout package under a tentative New York State budget agreement, suspends Twitter use for service updates, and celebrates an internship program partnership; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Rapid Transit Authority (SEPTA) awards a design contract for ADA improvements on the Board Street Line.

CalSTA announced a $46 million state grant for VTA's East San Jose Light Rail Extension.

CalSTA: $690MM for Public Transportation Projects

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) on April 24 announced an award of more than $690 million to 28 new public transportation projects in disadvantaged communities to “close out the first wave of a historic infusion of state funding to expand transit and passenger rail service throughout the state, helping to cut planet-warming pollution.”

An 18-month pilot could launch in summer 2024 “with the intention of eventually making free and reduced transfers a permanent policy across the Bay Area,” according to a Bay City News Foundation report.

Transit Briefs: BART, LACMTA, Metra

San Francisco Bay Area public transit officials consider a “free transfer” pilot. Also, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) drug-free campaign on three light rail lines is showing promise; and Union Pacific (UP) is transferring its Chicago commuter rail services to Metra.

Train testing on LA Metro’s Regional Connector project has begun.

Transit Briefs: LA Metro, BART, Sound Transit, TransLink, NYMTA

Train testing on LA Metro’s Regional Connector project begins. Also, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) seek approval to bolster BART Inspector General funding; the University of Washington partners with Sound Transit to study fentanyl smoke movement in public transportation; TransLink commits to first real estate development project; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces another 13 stations to be refurbished as part of New York City Transit’s (NYCT) Re-NEW-vation Program.

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.

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FTA: $4.45B for Major Transit Projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on March 9 announced that 18 large transit projects in 11 states across the U.S. were recommended to receive $4.45 billion for construction by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Marymoor Village is one of two stations under construction as part of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension. (Sound Transit photo)

Transit Briefs: MARTA, CTA, BART, Sound Transit, MBTA

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police Department (MPD) accomplishes a significant reduction in violent crime in 2022; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) awards $75 million contract for Racine Blue Line Station improvements; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) unveils new campaigns to complement ridership recovery; Sound Transit releases fresh pics of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension project; and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) looks to hire additional dispatchers and train operators to enhance subway service.

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