TransLink

“As we continue to prioritize the enhancement of our transit system, I am thrilled to announce the purchase of nine additional new low floor light rail vehicles,” SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li said March 19. “By investing in these state-of-the-art trains, we are not only elevating the transit experience for our riders but also reinforcing our dedication to a sustainable future for the Sacramento region.” (Screen Grab from SacRT social media video post, courtesy of SacRT)

Transit Briefs: SacRT, TTC, Phoenix Valley Metro, Colorado General Assembly

Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California is exercising an option with Siemens Mobility for more LRVs (light rail vehicles). Also, Canada’s three biggest transit agencies, including the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), are urging the federal government to advance the next wave of transit funding; Valley Metro in Phoenix, Ariz., is installing new fare machines; and the Colorado General Assembly aims to leverage millions in federal infrastructure funding to bring passenger rail service to the state.

TriMet photo

Transit Briefs: TriMet, NCTCOG, PANYNJ, Oregon Senate, TransLink, GCRTA

TriMet expands Hop Fastpass® benefits to contactless bank cards and announces that construction of it’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability and Improvements Project is nearing the end. Also, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) hires McKinsey & Company and InfraStrategies LLC to lead the strategic assessment of transit in Dallas-Fort Worth; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) opens a new $47.2 million accessible station house at the PATH Harrison Station; the Oregon Senate passes a bill criminalizing the use of illicit drugs on public transportation; TransLink tests a new multi-modal smartphone app; and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is awarded $9.5 million for transit projects.

Rendering Courtesy of British Columbia, via Flickr.

Transit Briefs: TransLink, Calgary Transit, CDOT, PANYNJ, NYMTA

Eight new station names are announced for TransLink’s Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension. Also, a section of Calgary Transit’s LRT Red Line reopens following a nine-day closure; the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) explores the market for passenger train cars and locomotives; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) installs five new test turnstiles for a new fare payment system; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces the installation of wide-aisle fare gates and a new customer service center at Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Avenue-JFK Airport Station.

The $135 million East-West Rail project in Massachusetts may include Palmer as a stop on the line linking Pittsfield and Boston. Springfield and Worcester are already stops on the planned line. (MassDOT image)

Transit Briefs: East-West Rail, MBTA, NYMTA, SCVTA, TransLink

Will the city Palmer be included in the Massachusetts’ East-West Rail project? Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) completes an expedited track work project on the Red Line and removes nine speed restrictions; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) upgrades cellular connectivity for MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) riders and wraps up an subway station accessibility project in Brooklyn; Santa Clara Valley (Calif.) Transportation Authority (SCVTA) improves wayfinding for light rail riders; and metro Vancouver’s TransLink certifies 28 “transit-friendly” employers.

19 CUTA Members Earn Public Transit Awards

The Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) earlier this month presented 19 organizations and individuals with Public Transit Awards for demonstrating “the greatest impact within the communities they serve.”

More than 300 people rode Amtrak’s Gulf Coast Inspection Train (pictured) from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla., in February 2016, as part of an ongoing effort to restore passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, which was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and never resumed. (Marc Glucksman, Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NJ Transit, OC Transpo, TransLink

Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission (SRC) officials share updates on three passenger rail projects spanning Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) continues its school safety education programs; Ottawa’s OC Transpo launches a credit card fare payment system for all buses and O-Train Line 1 stations; and metro Vancouver’s TransLink is conducting a survey to measure regional travel patterns.

NYMTA photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Amtrak, Tri-Rail, NFTA, PRT

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) combats “subway stupidity.” Also, Amtrak resumes service on the Adirondack Line; Tri-Rail takes added safety measures as it heads to downtown Miami; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) launches a new MetGo app; and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) deploys mobile ticketing and validators across light rail powered by Masabi.

Alstom’s Mark V cars “will make SkyTrain better and more convenient for our customers, with added amenities for people using mobility devices, strollers, and bicycles,” reported Kevin Quinn, CEO of TransLink, which on Aug. 22 unveiled the new cars (above) that have entered the testing phase at a Kingston, Ontario, facility. (TransLink Photograph)

Transit Briefs: TransLink, Amtrak, Brightline, LACMTA, NJT, WMATA

TransLink offers a preview of its new Alstom-built Mark V cars for the SkyTrain automated rapid transit system in metro Vancouver. Also, Amtrak has approved a stop in De Soto, Mo., for its Texas Eagle line; Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, selects Comply365’s mobile app for crews; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is renaming its West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor project; New Jersey Transit (NJT) ranks on Forbes’ America’s Best-in-State Employers 2023 list; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reduces fare evasion by more than 70% with its new, higher faregates.

SkyTrain workers have reached a tentative agreement with BCRTC.

Transit Briefs: WMATA, MARTA, SkyTrain, SacRT

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) launches a new real-time rail service tracking tool. Also, the Maryland Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police’s Deputy Chief returns from executive training in Israel; SkyTrain workers reach a tentative agreement with the British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC); and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is awarded $35 million in funding for light rail improvements.

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