
A Varied, Growing Network
RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2023 ISSUE: Rail transit in Northern California is on the rise.
RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2023 ISSUE: Rail transit in Northern California is on the rise.
Alstom’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train will demonstrate green traction in Quebec. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) wins first place in the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) 2023 AdWheel Awards for communications and marketing; Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is offering bulk transit passes in pilot program; and the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) proposes $3 million for a pilot project for passenger rail service between Rockland and Brunswick.
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (Caltrain) are among the 14 California agencies that will share $2.515 billion in TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for rail-related projects.
Ahead of service to Orlando, train testing of up to 110 mph continues for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, New York MTA’s Metro-North Penn Station Access Project faces delays; Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Metrolink unveil track and station improvements in Anaheim, Calif.; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California begins station modifications to accommodate new LRVs from Siemens Mobility; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) offers limited-edition trading cards.
Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, partners with Uber. Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) awards a four-year property maintenance contract as part of its Red Line Extension project; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) selects Skanska to improve passenger circulation at Grand Central-42nd Street Station; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) seeks approval for Fiscal Year 2024 operating and capital budget; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) provides free Transit app upgrade to all riders.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board approves a new fare policy. Also, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) completes the first phase of construction for a new Amtrak station in Charlotte; Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) awards more than $140,000 in grants to eight transit agencies in six states; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) receives authority to pursue federal funding for up to 50% of the cost of Phase II of the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project.
Canada’s Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have awarded a fixed-price contract to Ontario Transit Group for the Ontario Line Southern Civil, Stations and Tunnel (South Civil) package. Also, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) in California is beginning work on two long-range transportation plans; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is eying a fare increase in January 2024.
An independent study has confirmed that the single bore tunnel method is feasible for the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Silicon Valley Phase II project, according to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA).
The Southern Rail Commission and Transportation for America on Nov. 3 hosted a stakeholder meeting to discuss potential I-20 corridor passenger rail service. Also, Florida’s Brightline on Nov. 2 offered a “sneak peak” of its Adventura station, slated to open this year; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has submitted a request to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to transition the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension project to the New Starts program.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approves Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) 2022 Recovery Plan. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) celebrates completion of Edgewood/Candler Park transit-oriented development; San Jose (Calif.) State University, the city of San Jose, and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) help launch a free transit-pass program; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reports Potomac Yard Station project delays.