North County Transit District

Starting July 29, Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express will extend north to serve Middlebury, Vergennes and Burlington, Vt. (Amtrak/Steve Ostrowski)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Stantec/HART, Metrolink, New York MTA, San Diego MTS/NCTD

The Vermont Agency of Transportation (AOT) has reported that Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express will begin service to Burlington, Vt., next month. Also, Stantec has landed a contract extension for work on Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) light rail project; Southern California’s Metrolink is rolling out the next phase of its Earthquake Early Warning System; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched an online trip planner for riders considering new Grand Central Madison commutes; and a new San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) program will offer free transit passes for young adults transitioning out of foster care.

NCTD is partnering with Lyft, Uber and TripShot on a pilot to provide discounted first and last mile connections for riders using the Sorrento Valley and Carlsbad Poinsettia COASTER stations.

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, NCTD, TTC

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) now includes canceled rail and bus trips on its transit app. Also, California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) is launching a first-mile, last-mile pilot program for COASTER regional/commuter rail riders; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) at the end of 2021 fired 354 workers who did not comply with its mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Transit Briefs: WMATA, San Diego MTS/NCTD, PennDOT

The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) has audited Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s fitness for duty practices, finding 11 areas where improvement is needed. In addition, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) have officially launched the region’s new PRONTO fare collection system, and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is calling on students to participate in its fifth-annual Innovations Challenge.

  • News

CTC Approves 11 Rail-Related Infrastructure Projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated more than $1.4 billion for state projects to improve transportation infrastructure. Of that total, $67.78 million is for 11 rail-related efforts.

Transit Briefs: NCTD, Sound Transit

California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) will boost COASTER regional/commuter rail service between Oceanside and downtown San Diego this October. Also, Sound Transit, the city of Shoreline and King Conservation District have partnered to “re-green” the Lynnwood Link light rail corridor under construction in Shoreline, Wash.

  • M/W

CTC Awards $392.4MM for 10 Freight, Passenger Rail Projects (Updated)

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) will distribute $392.4 million to 10 freight and passenger rail projects as part of its recent approval of $2 billion for 56 state projects that will reduce traffic, improve goods movement and increase transit service, among other measures.

Blueprint Released for Passenger, Freight Service Growth in Southern California

California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) has announced the release of the San Diego Pathing Study, outlining how to phase expansion of passenger and freight rail services along the 351-mile Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor. The corridor is the second busiest in the nation, moving about $1 billion in freight and more than 8 million Amtrak and regional/commuter rail (NCTD COASTER and Metrolink) riders in a typical year.