Voters in two Massachusetts cities, New Bedford and Fall River, have voted to join the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in allowing the agency to move forward with its South Coast Rail project. Also, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA) opens new Muni metro station in the heart of Union Square and announces that it will switch over to a new, upgraded software system.
AECOM hires Major General James Trogdon as North Carolina Transportation Lead. Also, Keolis North America (Keolis) welcomes Stephan Oehler as Chief Financial Officer; and Cory Davis is named Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Multimodal Transportation and Innovation Director.
The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) announces its inaugural short story contest finalists. Also, Caltrain celebrates the first public viewing of its Stadler US-built KISS EMUs (electric multiple unit); Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is launching its commuter rail fare gate program; New Jersey Transit is advancing its New Brunswick Station improvement project; California’s Valley Link is seeking funding for design and construction of the proposed 42-mile, seven-station passenger rail project between the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and the North Lathrop Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) station, which could be powered by hydrogen; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is in the final stages of preparation for the Silver Line extension opening.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and its Commuter Rail operator Keolis have taken additional steps to improve safety at a Wilmington, Mass., highway/rail grade crossing, following a Jan. 21 accident.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Bay Area Transportation Authority (MBTA), Keolis and CIC Health have teamed on the Commuter Rail Vax Express to boost access to the COVID-19 vaccine; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will begin restoring cable car service by early September; Amazon is committing $100 million in below-market funding for affordable housing units on Sound Transit surplus properties; and Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) A-train commuter rail turns 10.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is restoring some service in and around Boston in the wake of strong criticism by members of Congress and rider advocates. There are improvements planned for local rail transit and some bus lines. Starting in April, some commuter rail riders will benefit from improved mid-day service, while others will have to keep waiting before they have weekend service.
MBTA Commuter Rail is moving toward a “regional rail” model with its new spring service schedule going into effect April 5. In addition, the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Governor is inviting Request for Responses (RFR) to conduct a “Study on the Post-Pandemic Future of Work and Life in the Commonwealth.”
RAILWAY AGE, FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE: CSX and MBTA’s commuter rail operation are improving locomotive performance and availability through precision monitoring and analysis of fuel and lube oil, respectively.
New York MTA’s Metro-North Railroad has promoted Justin Vonashek to Senior Vice President-Operations, succeeding John Kesich, who has held the position since 2013 and will retire in April. Nexsen Pruet, a North Carolina-based economic development group, has hired attorney Scott Saylor.
