For its 50th anniversary fiscal year (Oct. 2020-Sept. 2021), Amtrak provided 12.2 million passenger trips, representing a growth of 4 million over the 2020 rate and a 42% rise over its FY21 goal, the railroad reported on Dec. 13.
New Jersey Transit has awarded a $45.5 million contract for Perth Amboy commuter rail station renovations, and installed 558 new ticket vending machines. In addition, passengers can now ride the WAVE (Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric) shuttle to Metrolinx’s GO Train; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has provided an update on the recent cybersecurity attack that impacted a number of its internal and customer-facing functions.
Brightline has partnered with TransitScreen to provide real-time multi-modal transportation information in stations. In addition, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is honoring the Chicago Sky, its hometown 2021 WNBA Champions; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) is working with Moovit to help riders calculate the best routes for their trips; and New Jersey Transit is adding 22 weekday trains to align with rider demand and 14 weekend trains to improve service frequency.
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Oct. 25 helped mark the official start of Portal North Bridge construction in New Jersey.
New Jersey Transit is moving ahead on two major passenger facilities improvements, one at Hoboken Terminal, the other at the Walter Rand Transportation Center in Camden, N.J.
Gov. Phil Murphy has announced that the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors approved a $1.56 billion contract with Skanska/Traylor Bros Joint Venture for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge on the Northeast Corridor, crossing the Hackensack River in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
For many years, Albert L. Papp, a longtime transit advocate in New Jersey, has referred to the river that separates New York and New Jersey geographically as the “Hudson Ocean.” Today, a conflict between the transit providers in the two states (with Connecticut also playing a minor role) provides the latest example of a feud that bestows credibility upon the moniker that Papp conferred upon the river.
New Jersey Transit has been named to the Forbes “America’s Best Employers By State 2021” list. In addition, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) will offer free round-trip tickets for rider use from Sept. 22, Car Free Day, until Oct. 31.
Amtrak has finalized a deal with the master developer for the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station Redevelopment Project in Philadelphia.
New Jersey Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo has been selected as Chair of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transit Policing and Security Peer Advisory Group.
