OCTA

According to OCTA, rail service could possibly resume prior to February, when the rail stabilization is expected to be completed.

Transit Briefs: OCTA, PRT, Amtrak/CHIP

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and its contractor have begun work on the track stabilization project in south Orange County. Also, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) announces that light-rail vehicles and bus have resumed regular operations through the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel; and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joins 56 regional mayors to support an $850 million investment in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP), formerly known as Chicago Access.

The Chicago City Council has approved a transit-oriented development measure that will make more South and West side neighborhoods “places where people are more likely to hop a train to get to work or meet up with friends than jump in a car,” according to WTTW/Chicago PBS.

Transit Briefs: CTA/Metra, Metrolink, OCTA

The Chicago City Council has passed a measure allowing transit-oriented development within one-half mile of any Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) or Metra rail station. Also, Metra is seeking rider input to guide future commuter rail schedule changes; Southern California’s Metrolink has rolled out the first of 50 rehabbed railcars on its 538-route-mile commuter network; and Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA) has awarded a ticket vending machine contract for its streetcar system.

This artist rendering shows the concept for the OC Streetcar LRVs that will run through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, Calif. (Photo Courtesy OCTA)

OC Streetcar Reaches Construction Milestone

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is one step closer to taking delivery of the Siemens light rail vehicles that will run through Santa Ana and Garden Grove, Calif., when the 4.15-mile OC Streetcar system debuts in 2024.

MBTA will receive $859.6 million in ARP grants for COVID-19 response from the FTA.

MBTA, OCTA: $1B in ARP Grants for COVID-19 Response

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 grants for COVID-19 response to Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, $859.6 million) and Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA, $163.9 million).

The Chicago Transit Authority will use a $13.96 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant “to protect critical surface transportation and the traveling public from acts of terrorism and to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure.”

Transit Briefs: CTA, OCTA

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is receiving $13.96 million for emergency preparedness as part of a U.S. Department Homeland Security (DHS) grant to the state of Illinois. Also, the Orange County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (OCTA) will begin work this month on a $29.86 million Metrolink station improvement project at Anaheim Canyon.

Siemens selected for OC Streetcar

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has awarded a $51.5 million contract to Siemens Industry for eight S70 low-floor light rail vehicles for the OC Streetcar project, construction of which is expected to begin later this year.