The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announces that rider satisfaction is the highest it has been in 10 years. Also, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Yellow Line train service resumes; the Toronto Transit Commission’s 504A King streetcar resumes service; and Caltrain awards construction contract for Mountain View Transit Center Grade Separation and Access Project.
RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2023 ISSUE: Rail transit in Northern California is on the rise.
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.
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.
Caltrain on Dec. 23 reported that it would receive $43 million as part of the omnibus spending bill to “help fill the funding gap” for its 51-mile commuter rail electrification project in
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 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.
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 (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.
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.
