Caltrain

Arup/WSP JV are providing planning and engineering services for Link21’s planned Transbay Rail Crossing, connecting Oakland and San Francisco. (Photo credit: Link21 Program)

Report: Link21 Scaling Back?

The $29 billion Link21 initiative led by San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), with the aim of connecting BART with the region’s intercity, commuter and high speed passenger rail systems, like Amtrak and Caltrain, while also “connecting people sustainably to employment opportunities and affordable housing throughout the 21-county Northern California Megaregion,” may be scaled back.

CalSTA awarded Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) $375 million for the six-mile, four-station BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project that will bring BART service to downtown San Jose and Santa Clara. Project completion is scheduled for 2033.

CalSTA Awards $2.5B for Rail Transit Projects

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) are among the 14 California agencies that will share $2.515 billion in TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for rail-related projects.

Transit Briefs: LIRR, Caltrain

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) announces Grand Central Direct service to Grand Central Madison. Also, Caltrain awards contracts for on-board Wi-Fi.

Michelle Bouchard, Executive Director, Caltrain
  • News

People News: Caltrain, OmniTRAX, WMATA

Michelle Bouchard has been named Executive Director of Caltrain, following more than a year of service in an acting capacity. Also, OmniTRAX’s Ean Johnson and Justin Strickland have been awarded International Economic Development Council recertification; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) Board has formally appointed Rene Febles to Inspector General for a three-year term.

Conceptual rendering of the RLE area redevelopment near 103rd Street station. (CTA)

Transit Briefs: CTA, Sound Transit, SamTrans/Caltrain, MassDOT/Amtrak

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) begins seeking contractor qualifications for Red Line Extension (RLE) project. Also, Sound Transit takes over ownership of Seattle tunnel; SamTrans and Caltrain receive federal funding; and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Amtrak announce that the Valley Flyer passenger service pilot will become permanent.

Kristiana Evers of Kansas City Southern (left); April Chan of SamTrans.
  • News

People News: KCS, SamTrans

Kristiana Evers of Kansas City Southern (KCS) was selected to join the Emerging Leaders Class of 2023 for the Central Exchange in Kansas City, Mo. Also, the San Mateo County (Calif.) Transit District Board appointed April Chan as General Manager/CEO of SamTrans; she will also be responsible for services provided by the district to both the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which owns and operates Caltrain, and the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Agency.

BART Add Fare Machines inside stations, which also serve as parking payment machines, now accept credit and debit cards.

Transit Briefs: BART, Amtrak, SEPTA, HART, MTC, NJ Transit

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Add Fare machines undergo major upgrades to improve customer experience. Also, Amtrak trains could be coming into the Miami Intermodal Center; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) breaks ground on new accessibility project at Tasker-Morris Station; the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transportation (HART) and Hitachi Rail run small-scale exercise drills in partnership with the city’s first responders; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopts a new Transit-Oriented Communities Policy to promote commercial development near transit stations; and NJ Transit rolls out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program.

Caltrain representatives were joined by federal, state, regional and local officials and community members on Sept. 24 to celebrate the first public viewing of the Northern California transit agency’s Stadler-built KISS EMUs. (Photograph Courtesy of Caltrain)

Transit Briefs: BART, Caltrain, MBTA, NJ Transit, Valley Link, WMATA

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) announces its inaugural short story contest finalists. Also, Caltrain celebrates the first public viewing of its Stadler US-built KISS EMUs (electric multiple unit); Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is launching its commuter rail fare gate program; New Jersey Transit is advancing its New Brunswick Station improvement project; California’s Valley Link is seeking funding for design and construction of the proposed 42-mile, seven-station passenger rail project between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and the North Lathrop Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) station, which could be powered by hydrogen; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is in the final stages of preparation for the Silver Line extension opening.

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