Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Dec. 29 announced that construction work on the Hudson River rail tunnel project connecting Penn Station New York and New Jersey will commence “in the coming months on the Manhattan side,” according to the New York Daily News. (Amtrak Photo)

Transit Briefs: Gateway, LIRR, SMART

Construction on the Hudson River rail tunnels, part of the Gateway Program in New York and New Jersey, will advance with a $292 million Mega grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road’s Grand Central Madison will not open by the end of the year, as planned; and California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) will receive $1.8 million in Community Project Funding under the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Dec. 23.

UTA is developing a Five-Year Service Plan "to guide how transit services will improve."

Transit Briefs: UTA, Amtrak, SFMTA/Muni, RTD, CTA, SMART, Metrolink

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) seeks input on its Five-Year Service Plan. Also, Iowa City Council approves the purchase of properties for potential Chicago to Iowa City route; San Francisco Muni to upgrade city streets with 1,500 new digital signs and boost tunnel wi-fi; the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) reveals a sneak peek of the new Chinatown-Rose Pak Muni station; the Regional Transportation District (RTD) releases FY 2023 proposed budget; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) releases proposed 2023 operating budget; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) allots $14 million to build second Petaluma station; and Metrolink announces that weekend trains along the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines will resume service starting Oct. 29.

Amtrak, in conjunction with the Washington State DOT, Oregon DOT, VIA Rail Canada and other federal agencies, will restart service to Vancouver via Cascades on Sept. 26. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CTA, Gateway, LACMTA, SFMTA/Muni, SMART, VIA Rail

Amtrak Cascades service to Vancouver, B.C., is resuming this month. Also, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) for Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension Project; the Gateway rail tunnel project price tag has risen to $16.1 billion, with a new construction start-date of 2024; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has expanded its student fareless pass program; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has launched the MuniSafe campaign; Northern California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) marked its fifth anniversary last month; and VIA Rail Canada has released its second-quarter 2022 report.

Icomera has been selected to provide digital system upgrade to SunRail in Central Florida.

Transit Briefs: SunRail, NY MTA, MTS, NJ Transit, SMART

SunRail selects Icomera to provide digital system upgrade in Central Florida. Also, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launches one-stop rail app combining Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad trip planning

Brightline's newest trainsets will carry passengers between Orlando and South Florida. (Courtesy of Brightline via Twitter)

Passenger Rail Briefs: Brightline, CTA, SMART

Federal and state officials tour Brightline’s new Orlando station. Also, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) partners with Butcher Boy Cooking Oils to release retro-themed railcars and launches new Building Small Businesses (BSB)

The Sacramento region has secured nearly $50 million in CalSTA TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants for Sacramento Valley Station and transit improvement projects. (Rendering Courtesy of Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority)

CalSTA Allocates $378.9MM for Rail Transit Projects

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) are among the eight California agencies that will share $378.9 million in TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for rail-related projects.

People News: Pioneer Lines, SMART

Pioneer Lines has named Matthew Service Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. In addition, California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has appointed Eddy Cumins General Manager, succeeding Farhad Mansourian.

SMART Adds Freight to its Service Mix

Northern California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) has assumed freight operations and common carrier duties from Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company in Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties, after acquiring right-of-way from the North Coast Railroad Authority.

CTC Allocates $6.45MM for Short Line Improvement Projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) will distribute $6.45 million to seven short line railroad infrastructure projects.

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.

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