MBTA on Sept. 9 reported that 69% of work on the 30-day m/w blitz along the Orange Line is complete and approximately 60 new railcars (10 six-car trainsets) are slated to be available when service resumes Sept. 19. (Photograph Courtesy of MBTA)

Transit Briefs: MDOT MTA, MBTA, NYMTA

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) is seeking public comment on preliminary transit alternatives for the North-South Corridor between Towson and downtown Baltimore. Also, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Orange Line maintenance-of-way blitz is 69% complete; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a newsletter to inform riders of major rail service changes planned for weekends.

Transit Briefs: MARTA, MBTA, Metra, Muni, NYMTA, TransLink, UTA

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) supports National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 20). Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) issues a Student Edition of its Rider’s Guide; Chicago’s Metra extends its $100 flat-rate monthly pass through year-end; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) remains “optimistic” about Muni’s Central Subway extension opening in 2022; New York MTA trains and buses are now “mask optional” for riders; Metro Vancouver’s TransLink launches “Back-to-School, Back-to-Transit” campaign; and Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides free transit passes to all K-12 students, faculty and staff in the Salt Lake City School District.

LIRR Third Main Track Second Section Opens

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Aug. 29 announced the opening of the 2.5-mile second section of the Long Island Rail Road’s new Main Line third track between the Merillon Avenue and Mineola stations.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) on June 25 reported on Twitter: “This morning I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Amtrak platform at the Homewood Station. Commuters in the [Chicago] South Suburbs deserve safe, accessible and well-maintained public transportation, and this project does just that.” (Photograph Courtesy of Rep. Kelly via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, LACMTA, Metrolinx, New York MTA, TransLink

Amtrak has officially completed a $15 million project to bring ADA-compliance to its Homewood, Ill., station. Also, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board has approved a new transit ambassador program; Metrolinx is advancing plans to bring GO Train service to Bowmanville, approximately 47 miles east of Toronto; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and accessibility advocates have reached a class action settlement agreement; New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment; and Vancouver’s TransLink is developing a transit-oriented development program.

As transgender issues and rights have moved to the forefront over the last few years, CTA has added the Transgender Flag—featuring blue, pink and white—to its train wrap celebrating “Pride Month” (June). (Photograph Courtesy of CTA)

Transit Briefs: CTA, LACMTA, MARTA, NYMTA

Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Pride Train returned to service this month. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has earned a Transportation Security Administration award; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is establishing a farm in DeKalb County, Ga.; and a new group of subway train operators completed training at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

(Photo Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

NY-Senate Confirmed: 9 MTA Board Members

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has welcomed six new members and three returning members to the Board following the group’s confirmation by the New York State Senate.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (center) is joined by MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and Metro-North President/LIRR interim President Catherine Rinaldi at Grand Central Terminal on May 31, 2022 to announce the branding of “Grand Central Madison.” The major capital construction project, previously known as “East Side Access,” brings LIRR service to Grand Central with a new concourse extending west toward Madison Avenue. (Photograph and Caption Courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.)

‘Grand Central Madison’ Nearing Completion

MTA Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) $11.1 billion project to bring commuter rail service to Manhattan’s East Side is on track to start later this year. Riders will travel to a new 700,000 square-foot LIRR terminal, which is nearing completion and now called Grand Central Madison, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials announced on May 31.

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.

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