Light Rail

All is not well in the world of transit in the United States today. The COVID-19 virus has changed the way many Americans work, among other large-scale social and economic changes, and they include the way riders use rail transit. Carrying commuters into the city core in the morning and back home at the end of the workday was the…

OC Transpo provides a progress update on all three O-Train extensions and an overview of efforts under way to improve the service reliability of O-Train Line 1. Also, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) plans to extend FrontRunner train service to Payson; the Detroit People Mover will receive new railcars from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC); and Caltrain runs eight trains…

Richard Andreski and Sally Librera join the Commuter Rail Coalition (CRC) Board. Also, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) appoints Patrick Preusser as Chief Operating Officer; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Desiree Patrice earns COMTO-Boston 2024 Women Making Transportation History Award.

At Seattle’s Sound Transit, testing is under way on the 8.5-mile Lynnwood Link Extension and a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released for the Operations and Maintenance Facility South project. Also, Santa Clara Vally Transportation Authority (VTA) breaks ground for the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project.

Noted railroad painter and illustrator J. Craig Thorpe will lead a three-day artists’ workshop at the Station Inn, Cresson, Pa., August 23-25. Thorpe , the event’s artist in residence, “will bring a career’s worth of experience painting for Amtrak, General Electric, museums, tourist railroads and private commissions,” the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society said. “Among his recent Pennsylvania-based paintings are…

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 avert a strike. Also, Southern California’s Metrolink approves a contract extension for CEO Darren Kettle; North County Transit District (NCTD) is launching first-mile/last-mile service for COASTER commuter rail riders; and Elavon will enable contactless fare payments for Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) riders.

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launches subway station manager office hours. Also, TriMet will begin testing its newest trains on the MAX Red Line this month; and Valley Metro’s new fare system launches this summer.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) on June 4 honored six public transportation providers from California, Georgia, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., with the 2024 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards.

Fare collection has long been one of the hottest topics in public transit. Opinions range about how much a ride costs or how much it should cost, who is paying and who is not paying. Often forgotten in all the talk about fares is the history behind Proof of Payment systems, or “POP.”

Savage announces CEO retirement and successor appointment. Also, STV promotes Marilisa Stigliano to lead financial planning and analysis; North County Transit District (NCTD) hires Joy Freeman as Chief People Officer; and RATP Dev USA announces key leadership changes.

Railway Age’s June 2024 issue is now available digitally. In addition to featuring the annual Equipment Leasing Guide, it includes Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono’s coverage of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City “Final Spike Steam Tour” and Genesee & Wyoming’s 125th anniversary.

Danielle Smith, Premier of Canada’s Alberta Province, discusses freight and passenger rail in the Province from economic, social and environmental standpoints with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are essential to Canada’s economy and the nation’s growing role as an exporter, as well as Alberta’s overall prosperity, Smith believes. A former columnist and media…

Hitachi Rail on May 31 completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business, expanding its global presence to 51 countries with the majority of its revenues now coming from “higher return signaling and systems.” Post-closing Fiscal Year 2023 combined annual revenues of $7.9 billion are projected. With addition of Thales technology, Hitachi Rail systems (which include…

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project's second train crossing;…

Siemens Mobility announced May 30 that it will “transform public transportation in Los Angeles” with the implementation of its Xcelerator Technology, which includes an Integrated Data and Communication System (IDCS), across LA Metro’s rail network.

Railway Association of Canada (RAC) appoints Janet Drysdale of CN as Board Chair, succeeding Jeffrey J. Ellis of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Also, HNTB’s Jeff Watson earns the WTS Man of the Year Award, and WTS Utah names HNTB the Employer of the Year.

Austin’s Project Connect enters the development phase. Also, debit card payments are now available on OC Transpo; Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project earns an Envision Platinum Sustainability Award; and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) receives regional funding to move transit-oriented development (TOD) projects forward.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 28 reported that eight transit systems in eight states will share $343 million to make their rail stations “more accessible and in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards” by installing elevators, renovating platforms for level boarding, improving signage, and improving visual and audio systems.

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveils under-the-track development plans as part of the Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) Phase One project. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) logs its 17th consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth in April; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority anticipates rolling out its contactless fare payment system this summer.

Metrolinx reaches a major vehicle testing milestone on the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. Also, LA Metro’s Board votes to approve certification of the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 project; Sound Transit introduces a new fare inspection process; Jacobs is selected to provide program management services for Broward County Transportation’s first…