The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) begins seeking contractor qualifications for Red Line Extension (RLE) project. Also, Sound Transit takes over ownership of Seattle tunnel; SamTrans and Caltrain receive federal funding; and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and Amtrak announce that the Valley Flyer passenger service pilot will become permanent.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Board has elected a President and Vice President for 2022-23. Also, Therese W. McMillan will step down as Executive Director of both the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in California.
![VIA Rail is adding “buffer cars at the front and back end of all trains with [older] stainless steel equipment to reduce the consequences in the unlikely event of a train-to-train collision,” Canada’s government-owned passenger railroad told The Globe and Mail. This safety measure will remain until older cars can be reinforced and new Siemens trainsets (pictured) enter service. (Photograph Courtesy of VIA Rail Canada)](https://www.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/VIA-Rail-Exterior-shot-5_Plan-Extérieur-5-1-315x168.jpg)
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) selects AECOM as owner’s engineer for the Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvements project. Also, VIA Rail Canada is adding “buffer” cars to some trains to improve safety; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) reports that next month the Silver Line extension will be operationally ready to open, but it’s unclear if more 7000-series railcars will be approved for release to support it; and San Francisco Bay Rapid Transit District (BART) and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) report a plastic Clipper® fare-card shortage.
Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Add Fare machines undergo major upgrades to improve customer experience. Also, Amtrak trains could be coming into the Miami Intermodal Center; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) breaks ground on new accessibility project at Tasker-Morris Station; the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transportation (HART) and Hitachi Rail run small-scale exercise drills in partnership with the city’s first responders; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopts a new Transit-Oriented Communities Policy to promote commercial development near transit stations; and NJ Transit rolls out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) launches Clipper BayPass with unlimited transit access. Also, heritage façade restoration is now complete at Metrolinx’s Mount Pleasant Station; the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Operations Committee on July 8 approved a $6 million contract with Applied Wayfinding Inc. to develop a single mapping and wayfinding system for use by all Bay
GO Transit commuter rail service is coming to London, Ontario. In addition, the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has released an audit of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) railcar maintenance and overhaul practices; and Caltrain has launched a Go Pass donation pilot program.
California’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) have issued a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Plan Bay Area 2050.
