MBTA

Amtrak on Sept. 21 celebrated the $1.4 million renovation of its Missouri River Runner-served station in Jefferson City. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, MBTA, NYMTA, SMART

Amtrak completes $1.4 million station-accessibility upgrade project in Jefferson City, Mo. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) schedules fall service shutdowns for maintenance work; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reports post-pandemic subway ridership records and releases a Request for Information for subway platform cooling technologies; and Petaluma, Calif., receives $30.2 million for affordable housing at the future Petaluma North SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit) Station.

Crews replace windows broken by vandals on Sept. 12. (Marc Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, GO Transit, MBTA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) addresses extensive vandalism on subways. Also, Ontario upgrades two GO stations along Stouffville Line; and residents say the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is “unsafe and service isn’t great either,” according to a recent poll.

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.

VIA Rail has announced an investment of more than $80 million in the renovation of four of its 36 “heritage” stations: Winnipeg Union Station (pictured), Vancouver Pacific Station, Halifax Station and Gare du Palais in Québec City. (Photograph Courtesy of VIA Rail, via X, formerly known as Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Caltrain, MBTA, Metro-North, Sound Transit, TTC, VIA Rail

California’s Caltrain debuts new fare product promotions. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) announces its vision to improve safety, service, equity, sustainability and culture; commuter rail service on MTA Metro-North’s New Canaan, Conn., Branch will resume after three months of trackwork; Sound Transit announces the launch date for the Bellevue-to-Redmond, Wash., portion of the East Link light rail extension; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) confirms that service on Line 3 Scarborough RT (rapid transit) will not restart following a July 24 derailment; and VIA Rail Canada is investing more than C$80 million in four “heritage” stations.

Brightline now has schedule apps for the St. Lucie River Railroad Bridge and the New River Bridge in Fort Lauderdale to help mariners plan their trips.

Transit Briefs: Brightline, MBTA, St. Louis Metro Transit, NYMTA, CMAP

Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway launch St. Lucie River Railroad Bridge app. Also, municipalities face penalties for not following Massachusetts zoning laws intended to promote housing development near MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) stations; St. Louis, Mo., Metro Transit is seeking quotes for security gate and fence installation at light rail stations; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) latest fare increases are now in effect; and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is developing recommendations that could reshape transit in the region.

Pictured (left to right): Chad Raube, IntelliTrans; Ken Sherman, IntelliTrans; Kevin J. Hillesland, GATX; Geoffrey D. Phillips, GATX; John M. Sbragia, GATX; and Ron Ester, MBTA.
  • News

People News: GATX, IntelliTrans, MBTA

GATX Corporation elevates three senior executives. Also, a new President and CEO takes the throttle at IntelliTrans; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Chief Safety Officer resigns.

Metro-North’s locomotive No. 201 pays tribute to Conrail. (MTA photo)

Transit Briefs: Metro-North Railroad, BART, MBTA, OC Transpo, Metrolinx, NYMTA/LIRR

Metro-North Railroad celebrates its 40-year history of public service with a second rebranded locomotive; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) latest Quarterly Performance Report (QPR) shows major service reliability improvements with fewer delays; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Operations Control Center (OCC) policies meet Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements for safety of the public and workforce; service on OC Transpo’s Ottawa LRT network resumes; Metrolinx announces e-scooter pilot program with SCOOTY Mobility; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces preliminary findings of internal investigation following Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) derailment.

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.

The Mobility Wallet allows LA Metro passengers to pay for all of the above transportation services.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, Montreal REM, OC Transpo, LA Metro

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Ashland Station will receive $2.5 million in repairs and improvements. Also, Montreal’s Reseau express metropolitain (REM) shuts down on first official day of service; OC Transpo is still unclear as to when LRT will resume service; and LA Metro’s Mobility Wallet (MW) program provides a transportation solution for residents of South Los Angeles.

BART on July 26 released its annual Sustainability Report.

Transit Briefs: BART, MBTA

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) releases its 2022 Sustainability Report. Also, Massachusetts lawmakers propose transferring Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) safety oversight to a new independent agency.

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