Massachusetts Department of Transportation

Brightline has again delayed the start of its much-anticipated Miami-to-Orlando service. (Photograph by David C. Lester)

Transit Briefs: BART, Brightline, Caltrain, MBTA, OC Transpo, PRT

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) Police Department earns highest level of accreditation from expert law enforcement panel. Also, Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, again delays its Miami-to-Orlando line opening; Caltrain energizes its second traction power substation as part of the California commuter railroad’s Electrification Project; Massachusetts lawmakers seek year-round MBTA Commuter Rail service between Boston and Buzzards Bay; Ottawa’s OC Transpo will add more trains this fall to O-Train Line 1 if ridership increases; and Pittsburgh (Pa.) Regional Transit (PRT) is reversing its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees.

(CTA Photograph Courtesy of FTA)
  • News

People News: CTA, Illinois High-Speed Rail Commission, MassDOT, TieEnergy, AECOM

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) appoints its first Chief Equity and Engagement Officer. Also, a new Vice Chair has been elected for the Illinois High-Speed Rail Commission; the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary is stepping down; railroad tie recycling and repurposing company TiEnergy elevates a five-year sales veteran; and Infrastructure consulting firm AECOM hires a new Senior Program Management Director.

A consultant has been selected to perform the environmental review of New York MTA’s Interborough Express, a proposed 14-mile, 19-station light rail transit project. (Station Rendering Courtesy of NYMTA)

Transit Briefs: East-West Rail, MBTA, Metra, NYMTA, SEPTA

Funding for the east-west passenger rail project is left out of the Massachusetts budget. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Boston Carmen’s ATU Local 589 reach a tentative agreement; Chicago’s Metra is boosting its ME Blue Island commuter rail service; a consultant has been selected for environmental review of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Interborough Express project; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is expanding its institutional pass program.

Amtrak’s Adirondack train between New York and Montreal will now terminate at Albany-Rensselaer. The move comes just three months after the Adirondack restarted. It had been discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, East-West Rail, REM, SkyTrain

Service on Amtrak’s New York City-Montreal Adirondack train is suspended north of Albany, N.Y. Also, east-west passenger rail projects in Palmer and Pittsfield, Mass., will advance with the addition of $12 million in the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) newest capital investment plan; final pre-commissioning starts this month for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) between Brossard and Gare Centrale stations; and the launch of SkyTrain’s new Capstan Station in metro Vancouver has been delayed.

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.

West of Worcester Under Way

At one time there were many passenger trains on New York Central’s Boston & Albany line that sped across the Bay State, between its namesake cities. There were even a few on

Two additional Amtrak Northeast Regional trains will serve Springfield (Mass.) Union Station starting June 5. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, GO Transit, NNEPRA, VRE, WMATA

Amtrak is expanding Northeast Regional service. Also, GO Transit adds 12 roundtrips per week between Toronto’s Union Station and Niagara Falls, Ontario; Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), which oversees Amtrak Downeaster service, selects an advertising agency of record; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will offer fare-free Fridays this summer; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is seeking rider feedback on the look, layout and features of its new 8000 series rapid transit cars, to be built by Hitachi Rail.

Grafton & Upton Railroad Company in Upton, Mass., received one of MassDOT’s Industrial Rail Access Program grants in 2022. (Grafton & Upton Photograph)
  • M/W

MassDOT: Grant Applications Welcome for Industrial Rail Access Program

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has opened a new round of funding for its Industrial Rail Access Program. Up to $3 million is available for FY 2024 grants, which will allow businesses to expand or improve rail or freight infrastructure access. Applications are due June 1.

Patrick J. Lavin, incoming Chief Safety Officer, MassDOT

People News: MassDOT, NYMTA

Patrick J. Lavin has been named Chief Safety Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). H. Dale Hemmerdinger, Chairman of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from 2007-09, died April

UTA is celebrating the 15th anniversary of FrontRunner.

Transit Briefs: APTA, UTA, CTA, Amtrak

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) releases six workforce development mini guides for public transportation leaders. Also, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) celebrates the 15th anniversary of FrontRunner; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) expands its monthly scorecard data to include added workforce metrics; and Amtrak’s Berkshire Flyer seasonal train service between New York City and Pittsfield, Mass., will return this summer.

LOAD MORE