GCRTA

(Photograph Courtesy of BNSF)
  • News

People News: Alstom, ARH, ARRC, GCRTA, Phoenix Valley Metro, RailState, Uber Freight

Alstom appoints a new Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Americas. Also, two Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH) executives complete post-graduate degree programs; Alaska Railroad (ARRC) names a Director of External Affairs; Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) renews the contract of its CEO/General Manager; Valley Metro of Phoenix, Ariz., welcomes a new Chief Maintenance Officer; real-time network visibility provider RailState hires a Solutions Architect; and logistics firm Uber Freight appoints a former Norfolk Southern executive as Head of Intermodal.

The new Siemens Model 200 railcars, approved by GCRTA, are modeled after a fleet currently used by Calgary Transit (pictured).

Transit Briefs: GCRTA, LIRR

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Board Members approve request to purchase 24 Siemens Model S200 railcars. Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) surpasses one million customers at Grand Central Madison.

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.

Map of the proposed Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago intercity passenger rail service. This project would add an additional daily round-trip passenger train to the existing Amtrak Empire Builder corridor between the Twin Cities and Chicago. (Caption and Map Courtesy of MnDOT)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CATS, GCRTA, NYMTA, SEPTA, STM

The Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Project (TCMC) is now in the final design phase. Also, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina introduces fare capping; Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) in Ohio is launching a pilot project to address “last-mile” gaps; a $57.9 million design and engineering base contract has been approved for the New York Penn Station project; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has released design concepts for new trolley stations; and starting next month, Société de transport de Montréal (STM) métro riders can bring their pet dogs on board.

The New York Transit Museum's Parade of Trains "offers a chance for everyone to experience New York City transportation history firsthand," MTA says. (Photo: Max Diamond, Courtesy of MTA)

Transit Briefs: NY MTA, TransLink, TECO Line Streetcar, GCRTA

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces that visitors of the New York Transit Museum can ride vintage trains at Brighton Beach Station. Also, the PayByPhone app comes to TransLink Park and Ride lots; the TECO Line Streetcar celebrates one million rides; and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) launches Transit Ambassador Program.

Réseau express métropolitain (REM) has revised its network commissioning schedule due to continued challenges with work on the century-old Mount Royal Tunnel in Montreal. (Photograph Courtesy of REM)

Transit Briefs: GCRTA, Metra/CTA/Pace, REM, STM

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) has joined the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Racial Equity Commitment Pilot Program. Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace Suburban Bus have approved a new Regional Connect Pass for area riders; Réseau express métropolitain (REM) has revised its network commissioning schedule due to continued challenges with work on the century-old Mount Royal Tunnel in Montreal; and STM’s (Société de transport de Montréal) C$492.3 million Côte-Vertu underground train storage facility has officially opened.

Pictured: Dottie Watkins, incoming interim CEO of Capital Metro (Houston, Tex.), and Daniel Comorre, Senior Project Manager of Urban Engineers (Los Angeles, Calif.).

People News: CapMetro, GCRTA, Urban Engineers

Capital Metro (CapMetro) of Austin, Tex., named Dottie Watkins interim CEO. Also, Greater Cleveland (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) elevated Janet Burney to Deputy General Manager, Legal Affairs/General Counsel, and consultancy Urban Engineers appointed Daniel Comorre as Senior Project Manager.

This summer, WMATA will close the New Carrollton, Landover, Cheverly, Deanwood and Minnesota Avenue stations on the Orange Line, as part of the final phase of its four-year Platform Improvement Project.

Transit Briefs: GCRTA, Metra, WMATA

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) will receive an initial $20.3 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Also, Chicago’s Metra has scheduled 51 safety blitzes for 2022; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will start the final phase of its Platform Improvement Project on May 28.

(Shutterstock/ Rawpixel.com)

WOMEN IN RAIL 2021

RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2021 ISSUE: Railway Age’s Women in Rail awards recognize leaders for driving their businesses forward while making a difference in the industry and in their communities.