New York MTA

Suspect in NYC Subway Shooting Apprehended (UPDATED)

Frank R. James, the suspect initially considered a “person of interest” in connection with the April 12 Brooklyn, N.Y. subway shooting that sent 23 people to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries (10 were shot and 13 were injured in the rush to get out of the 36 Street N Line station in Sunset Park or suffered from smoke inhalation or panic attacks) has been captured.

MTA is advancing Penn Station reconstruction with the removal of seven low-hanging beams, dubbed “Head Knockers.” The beams, weighing in at 10 tons apiece, are part of the original Penn Station structure and have limited passageway heights to 6 feet, 8 inches.

Transit Briefs: Metrolink, NYMTA, TransLink

Riders of Metrolink, southern California’s regional/commuter rail system, can now use the Transit app for trip planning. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is moving forward on Penn Station reconstruction; and Vancouver’s TransLink is starting a C$8.1 million upgrade project at the Brentwood Town Center SkyTrain Station.

New York MTA late last year launched a Track Trespassing Task Force to study ways to reduce track intrusions, which increased by 20% between 2019 and 2021 across its subway and commuter rail systems, resulting in 68 fatalities in 2021.

New York MTA Tackling Track Intrusion

Platform screen doors and track intrusion detection technology will be pilot tested on New York City subways as part of a multi-pronged safety initiative that was announced at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Feb. 24 Board meeting.

  • C&S

Mitsubishi Electric Lands NYCT CBTC Contract

Mitsubishi Electric Corp., which in 2020 joined Thales and Siemens as the New York MTA’s third CBTC (communications-based train control)-certified supplier after completing a testing program launched in 2015, has been awarded a $62.65 million contract to provide wayside equipment for the MTA New York City Transit QBL-E (Queens Boulevard Line East) resignaling project.

Amtrak told The Mercury in Pennsylvania that it is “starting a planning process with local and state officials, including PennDOT, to study the possibilities of bringing Amtrak passenger trains to Reading, Phoenixville and Pottstown.” (Amtrak/Emily Moser)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NYCT

Amtrak is eying express bus service to connect Reading and Pottstown with Philadelphia, Pa., as a precursor to reestablishing passenger rail service. Also, earlier this month, MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subway ridership surpassed the 3 million mark for three consecutive days, the first time since the Omicron variant was reported in the city on Dec. 17, 2021.

“Bringing riders back to mass transit depends on three variables—reliability, safety and price,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “We’ve made it a priority to get creative on fares. Transit affordability is also an equity issue, and we are committed to providing a wide range of new discounts, while ensuring the MTA maintains a solid bottom line.”

New York MTA ‘Getting Creative’ on Fares

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) later this month will launch a four-month pilot fare program to encourage riders to use the city’s subways, buses and trains; it includes fare-capping.

Transit Tech Providers Sought for COVID-19, Environmental Sustainability Challenges

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Transit Innovation Partnership have launched “COVID-19 Recovery” and “Environmental Sustainability” challenges for early- to growth-stage technology companies; applications are due March 25 for a chance to pilot products at MTA, New Jersey Transit, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and New York City Department of Transportation.

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