Charlotte Area Transit System

UITP President Renée Amilcar (left; courtesy of UITP, via Twitter); and former CATS General Manager of Rail Operations Deltrin Harris (right).
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People News: UITP, CATS

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) elects OC Transpo’s Renée Amilcar as President for 2023-2025. Also, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) fires General Manager of Rail Operations Deltrin Harris.

Over the next 12 months, Siemens will add a new bearings monitoring system to all light rail vehicle trucks in the CATS Blue Line fleet, according to WCNC, an NBC affiliate in Charlotte, N.C.

Transit Briefs: CATS, LACMTA, MTA Metro-North, SacRT, TriMet

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina will add a new bearing monitoring system to its LYNX Blue Line light rail fleet. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership is up 10%, setting a post-pandemic record; service cuts could be coming to MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven (Conn.) Line; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California extends its fare-free rides for youth program; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) adopts the coming year’s budget and announces a four-month disruption of the MAX Red Line.

A March 31-April 1 inspection of the CATS Operations Control Center by the North Carolina Department of Transportation found that “required staffing levels were not met—and the transit agency was ordered to ‘cease revenue service’ if not addressed the following day,” according to the Charlotte Business Journal. (CATS Photograph)

Transit Briefs: CATS, FRA Corridor ID, GCRTA, MBTA, WMATA

Charlotte Area (N.C.) Transit System (CATS) addresses its lack of required Operations Control Center staff. Also, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, and an Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga partnership submit proposals for intercity passenger rail service through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program; Greater Cleveland (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) selects Siemens Mobility as the likely supplier of its new light rail vehicle fleet; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) publishes a three-year safety improvement plan; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) readies for the spring reopening of its Yellow Line.

Amtrak’s Adirondack service between New York City and Montreal will resume April 3. It had been suspended for three years due to the pandemic.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CATS, MBTA, Metrolinx, NYCT, TransLink

Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and VIA Rail Canada are fully restoring Adirondack service. Also, a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) derailment report raises light rail vehicle safety concerns; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) lifts Green Line speed restrictions; Metrolinx, the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area transit authority, launches the #GOTransitReads by Legible Book Club; MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) logs more “Station Re-NEW-vation Program” work; and the government of British Columbia provides C$479 million in emergency funding for metro Vancouver’s TransLink.

A portion of the preferred station stop map and numbering approach for the Link system. (Credit: Sound Transit)

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, CATS, RTD, DART

Sound Transit will replace pictograms with a new station code system across its Link network. Also, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) moves into the next phase of building its new transportation system; the Regional Transportation District (RTD) seeks a corporate partner for A Line naming rights; and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) offers free cell service and phone to eligible riders.

MTA Photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, DART, MBTA, CATS

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) transition to “tap and go” payment system, One Metro New York (OMNY), may take until June 2025. Also, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will provide free transportation to polling locations on Nov. 8; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) expands Pay-Per-Use limited fare program to local employers; and the City of Charlotte approves $14.8 million to expand Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) rail yard.

John M. Lewis Jr., CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System (left); Jim Umpleby, Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar Inc. (center); and David A. Fink, former President of Guilford Transportation Industries, who died Oct. 11.
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People News

David “Dave” Andrew Fink, former President of Guilford Transportation Industries, died Oct. 11. He was 86. Also, John M. Lewis Jr. is stepping down as CEO of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), and Jim Umpleby will continue to lead Caterpillar Inc. following a waiver of the company’s retirement policy.

A new station is on the way for Charlotte Area Transit System’s LYNX Blue Line. (Photo by David Murphy, courtesy of HNTB)

Transit Briefs: CATS, Denver RTD, Metrolinx, NYCT

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina is adding a new LYNX Blue Line station. In addition, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) is seeking consultant support for a system-wide fare study and equity analysis; Toronto-area regional transit agency Metrolinx has reported that its pedestrian bridge set a world record, and released a “first look” at construction of Eglinton Crosstown stations; and MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) has completed a security camera installation project.

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