MTA Construction and Development

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.

The Virginia CTB has approved new policies that change the way VRE is funded and reform from the governance and funding of WMATA.

Transit Briefs: TTC, NYMTA, VRE/WMATA, ATP, Brightline

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) proposes new investments in customer service, community safety and security initiatives. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Construction & Development (C&D) achieves insurance costs and risk assessment savings of nearly $400 million; Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) policies; Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) approves $190 million spending plan for fiscal year 2024; and Brightline announces Orlando transportation partners.

Starting in 2023, the MTA says it is working to implement operating efficiencies yielding $100 million in savings in 2023 and rising to $416 million in savings by 2026.

NYMTA Sets 2023 Budget, Major Projects

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced Dec. 21 that it has approved its 2023 budget and four-year financial plan; is taking action to reduce costs of capital projects, including Second Avenue Subway and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Third Track; and is awarding a $382 million contract for the Metro-North Park Avenue Viaduct rehabilitation project.

“I am excited to welcome such an experienced and committed group of public servants from diverse backgrounds to leadership roles across the MTA,” MTA Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said during the agency’s reorganization announcement on Oct. 19.
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People News: New York MTA, Patriot Rail

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has reorganized its leadership team. In addition, Patriot Rail has appointed a General Manager for its Lakeshore Railcar & Tanker Services company.

LIRR East End Gateway Opens

The new East End Gateway entrance to the Long Island Rail Road Concourse at Penn Station opened to the public at 12:00 pm Dec. 31. Described by New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Construction & Development as “visually remarkable” and “high-capacity,” the entrance, located at 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue gives Penn Station “a front door identity on Seventh Avenue for the first time” while providing direct access for customers headed from street level to the LIRR, as well as to NYC Transit’s 1-2-3 and A-C-E subway lines. Prior to the new entrance, customers had to wind their way through Penn Station’s Amtrak level to reach the LIRR Concourse.