(Photograph Courtesy of BNSF)

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.

Siemens Mobility will replace Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s Red Line fleet with 24 S200 LRVs. (Rendering Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

Siemens Mobility Lands LRV Order from Greater Cleveland RTA

Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has selected Siemens Mobility to supply 24 S200 light rail vehicles (LRV) to replace its Red Line fleet, which runs from East Cleveland, Ohio, to Cleveland Hopkins

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FTA: More Than $700MM to Replace Aging Passenger Railcars in Six States

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 5 announced the selection of six projects in six states to replace aging passenger railcars, “improving reliability, safety, and accessibility on the nation’s rail transit systems.”

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.

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.

(Photograph Courtesy of GCRTA)

GCRTA Advancing Railcar Replacement, Civilian Oversight Programs

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is one step closer to fully funding its Railcar Replacement Program with an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) grant and to forming a civilian oversight committee.

APTA Honors Top Public Transportation Organizations and Leaders

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) honored on July 15 nine organizations and leaders with awards for “their vision, leadership and commitment to public transportation.” APTA also inducted four new members into

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.

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