Virginia Railway Express has officially opened its new Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade (LOU) Facility in Spotsylvania County, Va. (VRE Photograph)

VRE Opens Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade Facility

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) can now perform expanded commuter railcar and locomotive maintenance onsite at its new Lifecycle Overhaul and Upgrade (LOU) facility in Spotsylvania County, Va.

than $20 million through the 1-395/95 Commuter Choice program. (VDOT photo)

Transit Briefs: Northern Lights Express, VRE, Houston Metro, TTC

Legislature dedicates $195 million for Northern Lights Express (NLX). Also, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will receive more than $20 million for two projects; the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston, Tex., Metro) partners with on-demand childcare platform TOOTRis; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS) resumes data collection activities.

Chart from Northern Virginia Transportation Commission’s study on the Value of Northern Virginia Transit to the Commonwealth.

What Is Northern Virginia Transit’s Value to the Commonwealth?

Without transit in Northern Virginia, income and sales tax revenue in the commonwealth would drop by approximately $1.5 billion in 2025, representing a 5% decrease in general fund revenue, according to a new study released by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC).

Two additional Amtrak Northeast Regional trains will serve Springfield (Mass.) Union Station starting June 5. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, GO Transit, NNEPRA, VRE, WMATA

Amtrak is expanding Northeast Regional service. Also, GO Transit adds 12 roundtrips per week between Toronto’s Union Station and Niagara Falls, Ontario; Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), which oversees Amtrak Downeaster service, selects an advertising agency of record; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) will offer fare-free Fridays this summer; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is seeking rider feedback on the look, layout and features of its new 8000 series rapid transit cars, to be built by Hitachi Rail.

MTA photo

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, LA Metro, Amtrak/CSX/VRE

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes renovation of the J/Z line section of the Sutphin Avenue JFK Airport subway station, as part of New York City Transit’s (NYCT) Re-NEW-vation campaign. Also, LA Metro launches Equity Information Hub; and the State of Virginia partners with Amtrak, CSX and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) on the Long Bridge project.

(Maryland DOT Photograph)

MARC Eyes Two-State Expansion Project

The Maryland Department of Transportation – Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) on April 13 signed framework agreements with Delaware Transit Corp. and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for the potential future expansion of MARC (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) Train service to Newark, Del., and Alexandria, Va.

Brightline is teaming with Uber to help get passenger rail riders to and from all five of its South Florida stations (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach).

Transit Briefs: Brightline, CTA, NYMTA, VRE, VTA

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.

Map of the “Transforming Rail in Virginia” initiative

CSX Selects Michael Baker to Lead ‘Transforming Rail in Virginia’ Initiative

Engineering, planning and consulting services firm Michael Baker International announced Nov. 17 that it has been selected by CSX, which operates more than 2,000 miles of track throughout the state of Virginia, to lead program and construction management for significant rail enhancement projects as part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative.

Virginia Issues Draft 2022 Statewide Rail Plan

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released a draft rail plan for public comment.

Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority Interim Director Thomas Frawley (Photo Courtesy of SRPRA).

People News: SRPRA, CMC

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) has hired Thomas Frawley as Interim Director. Also, Mark R. Rosekind, Ph.D., has joined the California Mobility Center (CMC) as CEO.

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