Regional Transportation District (RTD) debuts new N Line artwork. Also, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) releases its proposed 2023 operating budget; and the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA) proposes $850 million light rail system to connect Florida’s Wellington to Downtown West Palm Beach.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced it will help fund a new commuter line between Fort Lauderdale and Aventura.
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.
As Rail Safety Week (RSW) (Sept. 19-25), a collaborative effort among Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), state OLI programs and rail safety partners across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, continues to be observed, North American carriers and organizations are mobilizing to raise awareness about rail safety and to help stop track tragedies during this annual week-long event. Here is a roundup of the week’s initiatives.
Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad that is building a line from West Palm Beach to Orlando International Airport (MCO), continuing west to Walt Disney World and Tampa, has been spared from missing a July 31 deadline imposed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The project will still take longer to complete than originally projected, but is proceeding.
HDR has promoted Santanu Roy to Global Transportation Planning Director. In addition, Quandel Consultants has named Randy Grauberger Senior Rail Consultant.
Brightline is under renewed pressure to complete negotiations with several Florida entities by July 31 before it can secure approval for a proposed expansion to Tampa.
Florida’s Brightline announced it has entered into an agreement with Walt Disney World Resort to build a train station at Disney Springs, near Orlando.
A railroad battle is shaping up in Miami. Two competitors want to serve potential commuters into Brightline’s new Miami Central downtown hub. It may not be as dramatic as the Chile War, when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe and the Denver & Rio Grande Western literally fought armed skirmishes to determine who could build new rail lines in the New Mexico Territory in the early 1880s, but it nevertheless is a battle.
SunRail inaugurated service on its southern expansion Monday, with four new stations added to the timetable on the commuter line running in the Orlando area.
