Pictured (left to right): Bo Tao, Chief Technology Officer, FourKites; Manik Mair, Senior Vice President Corporate Growth, FourKites; and Lesley Kandaras, General Manager, Metro Transit.

People News: MBTA, Metro Transit, FourKites

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) appoints four transit veterans to oversee stations, infrastructure, engineering, capital program enhancement, operations, and safety. Also, Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council names Metro Transit’s new General Manager; and FourKites, a real-time supply chain visibility company, expands its executive leadership team.

CTA photo

Transit Briefs: CTA, MBTA, LA Metro, TTC

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) celebrates its Heritage Fleet railcars’ centennial. Also, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) approves release of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a $120 million renewable energy contract; LA Metro commits an additional $134 million for Purple Line Extension Project; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Line 3 Scarborough will remain closed for at least three weeks as derailment investigation continues.

Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, Metra, MBTA, LA Metro, SMART, OC Transpo

NJ Transit signs lease for new headquarters. Also, Metra launches survey for 2024 fare structure proposal; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) eliminates significant speed restriction in Orange Line Tunnel; LA Metro launches new fare capping policy on Cubic-powered TAP system and is honored with the 2023 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Agency of the Year Award; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) reduces price of 31-day pass in response to hybrid work week; and OC Transpo announces that it does not have a firm timeline for when service will resume on its LRT Confederation Line following a shut down due to a bearing issue.

The “Browse, Borrow, Board” program provides MBTA riders free access to digital news and e-book content during the nearly two-month-long closure of Boston’s Sumner Tunnel, which is being repaired. (MassDOT Photograph)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, REM, VRE

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) riders will have free digital access to newspapers, magazines, audiobooks and e-books during the closure of Boston’s Sumner Tunnel. Also, CDPQ Infra announces the launch date for Réseau express métropolitain’s (REM) South Shore branch service; and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) selects Hill International, Inc., to provide consulting services for its capital improvement program.

For first-quarter 2023, Virginia Railway Express commuter rail ridership rose 113.90% from first-quarter 2022. (VRE Photograph via Twitter)

APTA Releases 1Q23 Public Transportation Ridership Report

The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) first-quarter 2023 Public Transportation Ridership Report finds that the light rail/streetcar, commuter rail and heavy rail (rapid transit) categories were up by double-digits over the prior-year

NTSB photo

NTSB: Short Circuit Probable Cause of MBTA Passenger Fatality

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently determined that the probable cause of an April 10, 2022, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) passenger fatality was a short circuit in the passenger door

The LACMTA Board has approved pursuing an in-house transit police department. (LACMTA Photo, Via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, MARTA, MBTA, Metra, TransLink

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) eyes an in-house transit police department, and in May marked the six consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances the $230 million Streetcar East Extension project; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in July will temporarily close the Green Line’s B Branch for a track upgrade; Metra launches a $33.9 million, three-station rebuild project in Chicago; and Vancouver’s TransLink releases study results showing that developer-sponsored incentives boost transit ridership and revenues.

MBTA has issued a 29-page Service Delivery Report, with information on ridership, span of service, service coverage, accessibility, reliability, operated service, rider comfort and paratransit standards. (CRRC Image)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, NJ Transit, Rail Online, SEPTA

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) releases second-annual Service Delivery Report. Also, New Jersey Transit launches the “Know Your ABCs” travel planning campaign; a new online ticketing platform is offering travelers access to U.S., Canada, U.K. and European rail bookings; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) boosts Regional Rail capacity after the I-95 collapse in Philadelphia and debuts a new website for the Office of Inspector General.

Jeamy Molina, incoming Chief Communications Officer, DART (left); Douglas M. McGarrah, General Counsel, MassDOT, MBTA

People News: DART, MBTA/MassDOT

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) appoints Jeamy Molina as Chief Communications Officer. Douglas M. McGarrah joins the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) as General Counsel.

Photo Courtesy of STM, City of Montrea

Transit Briefs: STM, Tri-Rail, Keolis, NYMTA, TriMet

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM), along with the City of Montreal and the Montreal police (SPVM), launches campaign calling on witnesses to help prevent harassment in public spaces. Also, south Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter railroad’s estimated downtown Miami service start date gets pushed back; Massachusetts lawmakers urge Gov. Maura Healey to start preparations for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) next Commuter Rail operations contract; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes renovation at Kings Highway F Station; and a partnership between TriMet and Multnomah County breathes new life into an underused park & ride in Gresham, Oreg.

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