Photo Courtesy of LIRR via X (formerly Twitter)

Reports: LIRR Train Derails in Queens; 13 Injured

Thirteen passengers were injured after all eight cars of a Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train derailed Thursday morning near Jamaica Station in Queens, New York, according to multiple news reports.

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.

“Public transportation is the safest mode of surface transportation, but it can be even safer for both passengers and transit workers,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.

FTA: $102.3MM in Disaster Relief Funding for Transit Agencies

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on July 31 announced $102.3 million in funding to 17 transit agencies, cities and planning councils in eight states and territories to help recover from natural disasters.

A new Amtrak OIG report finds that Amtrak “faces challenges with the systems and processes it uses to track and manage costs for capital projects, which hinder project teams from identifying emerging cost overruns.” (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak OIG, via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak OIG, FTA, NYMTA

“Amtrak is strengthening its project cost management, but can better organize costs and improve guidance,” according to the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report. Also, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cincinnati Connector Streetcar will receive funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty Program; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will increase subway fares and implement recommendations of the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report on Fare and Toll Evasion.

The environmental review and permitting process for the planned Victor Valley-to-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. segment of Brightline West’s Las Vegas-to-Southern California high-speed rail project is complete, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported July 14.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Brightline West, Metrolinx, NYMTA

Idaho and Utah are seeking to revive Amtrak service between Salt Lake City and Boise. Also, Brightline West’s planned Las Vegas-to Southern California high-speed rail project advances; Metrolinx teams with Turo car-sharing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area; and subway and bus workers in TWU Local 100 ratify their contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and an MTA survey shows increased satisfaction for subway, bus and paratransit riders.

New York MTA and union officials are testing “no standing” zones at Harlem’s 125th Street and Lexington Avenue subway station to help prevent rider assaults on conductors. (Screen Grab From Spectrum News NY1 Video)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Sound Transit, VPRA, WMATA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is testing “no standing” zones on New York City Transit (NYCT) subway platforms to help eliminate rider assaults on conductors. Also, Seattle’s Sound Transit is beginning simulated service on the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension; Jacobs will deliver general engineering consulting services for passenger rail under the Transforming Rail in Virginia infrastructure program; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) mulls expansion options.

evo-rail, Nomad Digital and Alstom will deliver core rail-5G mmWave radio technology to Caltrain, which provides commuter rail service between San Francisco and San Jose, Calif. (Photograph Courtesy of Caltrain via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Caltrain, Metro-North, SJRRC, VIA Rail

evo-rail teams with Alstom and Nomad Digital to bring rail-5G mmWave radio technology to Caltrain. Also, MTA Metro-North Railroad train inspectors could strike this fall; San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) will receive $40 million from the California Transportation Commission (CTC) for a double-tracking project that has both freight and passenger rail benefits; and VIA Rail Canada is investing more than C$25 million on London, Ontario, station upgrades.

A new station at 106th Street (rendering above, courtesy of NYMTA) is part of the Phase 2 extension of the Second Avenue Subway in New York.

NYMTA Kicks Off Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Project

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on July 5 reported soliciting the first contract to construct Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, and unveiled draft station renderings for the long-awaited 1.5-mile

Amtrak on June 14 will hold hiring events in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pa., and online. More than 4,000 positions are available. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, BART, Maryland DOT, NYMTA, PANY/NJ

Amtrak is hosting in-person and virtual hiring events on June 14, and will temporarily suspend some Michigan-to-Chicago Wolverine service. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) approves a two-year budget, including a fare hike; Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is seeking public input to help shape its long-range transportation plan; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will introduce blue lighting inside select subway stations; and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) issues a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the AirTrain Newark replacement program.

Brightline on April 20 unveiled its Orlando International Airport Station. Tickets are now on sale for service starting this summer. (Brightline Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, MBTA, NYMTA

Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, launches ticket sales for its connection to Orlando. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) commuter rail ridership continues to grow; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) advances its station Re-NEW-Vation program.

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