Utah Transit Authority

For first-quarter 2023, Virginia Railway Express commuter rail ridership rose 113.90% from first-quarter 2022. (VRE Photograph via Twitter)

APTA Releases 1Q23 Public Transportation Ridership Report

The American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) first-quarter 2023 Public Transportation Ridership Report finds that the light rail/streetcar, commuter rail and heavy rail (rapid transit) categories were up by double-digits over the prior-year

The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations has recommended a state DOT study on the feasibility of passenger rail from Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta.

Transit Briefs: States of Calif., Tenn.; UTA; Phoenix Valley Metro

Tennessee pursues passenger rail service from Nashville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Also, California Gov. Gavin Newsom awards $352 million in grants for “transit-oriented, climate-friendly housing” in underserved communities; Utah Transit Authority (UTA) will use drones to monitor its network; and Valley Metro of Phoenix, Ariz., updates its app.

(NCTD Photograph)

NCTD Cutting Back Coaster Fleet

The Board of California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) on June 15 approved trimming the Coaster regional/commuter rail fleet by five legacy, Bombardier-built bi-levels and two just-delivered Siemens Chargers, and using the

HDR Fronts FrontRunner Double-Tracking

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has selected a team led by HDR and including WSP USA to provide program management services for its $966.2 million FrontRunner Strategic Double Track Project, which will add at least nine new segments of double track along the 82-mile, 16-station Ogden-Provo regional/commuter rail system and update signaling systems.

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Transit Briefs: BART/SFMTA, WMATA, UTA, HART

California’s state budget will include a $1.1 billion bailout for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and Bay Area transit agencies. Also, service improvements on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Red Line begins with more service and fare improvements coming this month; the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) announces Rider’s License for young passengers; and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) delivers Segment 1 of the Honolulu Rail Project to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS).

UTA is celebrating the 15th anniversary of FrontRunner.

Transit Briefs: APTA, UTA, CTA, Amtrak

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) releases six workforce development mini guides for public transportation leaders. Also, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) celebrates the 15th anniversary of FrontRunner; the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) expands its monthly scorecard data to include added workforce metrics; and Amtrak’s Berkshire Flyer seasonal train service between New York City and Pittsfield, Mass., will return this summer.