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.

California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) may resume light rail service as early as this week.

Transit Briefs: Miami-Dade Metrorail; SCVTA; Denver RTD

Miami-Dade County (Fla.) Metrorail has put into service the last two Hitachi railcars from a 136-car order that was awarded in 2012. In addition, California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) may resume light rail service as early as this week, and Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) is moving forward with a northwest commuter rail study.

Denver RTD’s new strategic plan, “Change, Challenge, and Connections,” covers four agency priorities: community value, customer excellence, employee ownership and financial success.

Transit Briefs: Denver RTD; Sound Transit; WMATA; WSP-USA

Denver Regional Transit District’s (RTD) Board of Directors has adopted a new five-year strategic plan. In addition, Sound Transit is teaming with the city of Seattle to address homelessness; Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) will redevelop the West Falls Church (Va.) Metro Station site; and WSP USA’s Tanya Adams and Ruben Landa have been elected to the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ (COMTO) National Board for the 2021-23 term.

A full build-out of Front Range passenger rail service “along dedicated double-track between Fort Collins and Pueblo” could cost $14 billion, according to The Denver Post. “There’s also been discussion about linking the line farther south to Trinidad, which is along Amtrak’s Southwest Chief line.” (Pictured: Southwest Chief near Fishers Peak, Colo.)

Report: Front Range Passenger Rail Moving Forward

Passenger rail along the Fort Collins-Pueblo Front Range will move ahead, thanks to Colorado Gov. Jarid Polis, who has signed a bill creating a new taxing district to coordinate it, according to The Denver Post.

Transit Briefs: Brightline, Denver RTD

Brightline has selected Orlando, Fla.-based Radixx, a Sabre company, for online retailing and marketing; and Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) is launching a new payment method on its Mobile Tickets app.

Now that the RTD Board has decided to go with the Level 2 option, a study will take place looking at costs and any construction challenges for extending commuter rail service to Boulder and Longmont, Colo. (RTD)

Denver RTD Advances Commuter Rail Extension Proposal

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has green-lighted a more detailed plan to provide “peak service” diesel-powered commuter rail transportation to Boulder and Longmont in Colorado.

Sustainability Roundup: Chicago, Denver, Vancouver

High-tech air purification, “Green Bonds” and locomotive overhauls figure into sustainability efforts at three North American transit agencies.

The RTD Board of Directors has approved a new “equitable” transit-oriented development (TOD) policy that the agency said “gives staff needed flexibility” when developers propose projects on surface parking lots.

Denver RTD Approves ‘Equitable’ TOD Policy

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) has a new tool to encourage development of affordable housing on district-owned property.

Lyft app users will soon be able to pay for Denver RTD tickets in addition to Lyft’s ride-sharing and car and scooter rental services.

Denver RTD, Lyft Partner on Mobile Fare Payment

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) will offer train and bus riders another mobile fare payment option: the Lyft app. Ticket prices will be the same. Rollout is expected in the coming weeks.

Under the Denver RTD 2021 budget, nearly 400 employees will be subject to layoffs and more than 300 vacant positions will be eliminated. Service will remain at about 60% of pre-pandemic levels.

Denver RTD 2021 Budget Drops $140MM

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors has adopted a $1.2 billion budget for 2021. The largest part is a $629 million operating plan, down 14% from this year.

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