Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, Amtrak/NJ Transit, SEPTA, WMATA

Amtrak Virginia

Offering an “improved, enhanced, and accessible experience,” the Newport News Transportation Center opened on Aug. 22 for customers traveling on Amtrak Virginia and the regional bus system. Amtrak, the city of Newport News, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), CSX, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) partnered on the multimodal project.

The center, located at 500-B Bland Blvd., will provide two daily Amtrak Virginia roundtrips between Newport News and Richmond, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., and cities in the Northeast. The center will also serve as a transfer point for Amtrak Thruway Bus Service, extending travel to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, and for Hampton Roads Transit, taxi service and shuttles to and from the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.

VPRA supports Amtrak Virginia service operating along four corridors from Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News, and Roanoke to Washington, D.C., and continuing to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The new transportation center, Amtrak says, “comes as the service is experiencing record ridership, making the Commonwealth one of the most popular travel destinations on the Amtrak national network.”

Customers will access a parking lot and bus area with fully illuminated and accessible pathways leading to the building. All entrances are equipped with automatic doors. Customers will enjoy a 3,450-square-foot waiting area, vending machines, restrooms and Amtrak employees who will offer assistance at the ticket counter.

Train status and boarding information will be available through the state-of-the-art Passenger Information Display System (PIDS). The PIDS communicates train status, origin and destination stations, and other information and features bright, new LCD displays that are easier to read and will synchronize audio and visual messaging in the station.

Customers will use accessible paths to the level-boarding platform, which are equipped with guardrails and signs. Along the platform’s edge is an accessible yellow tactile surface strip, which serves as a hazard warning to alert customers who are blind or have low vision.

A high-level platform aligns with the train and provides a safer and faster way for all customers to board and depart the train.

In addition to a new station and platform, the project also includes the construction of a maintenance facility where crews will service and clean trains in preparation for the next day’s departures.

“This opening is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve our service, trains, stations and amenities to provide customers an exceptional experience,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “We are grateful for the support from CSX and our city, state and federal partners for investing in this project and maximizing opportunities to help bring improvements to advance passenger rail growth in the Hampton Roads region.”

Amtrak/NJ Transit

In June 2024, Amtrak and NJ Transit met with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and announced a series of actions to address a variety of infrastructure and fleet systems, following a spike of service disruptions in New Jersey and New York Penn Station during May and June.

Amtrak and NJ Transit outlined immediate actions that both companies will take together to address this issue. “This includes issuing regular reports that will include details of our efforts and progress to date, as well as information regarding root causes as they are identified,” the companies said.

The first of these reports, summarizing the reporting period of July 6 through Aug. 9, 2024, can be found below.

SEPTA

SEPTA announced Aug. 21 that it is implementing an enhanced safety plan for the 2024-2025 school year, “continuing its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of students who rely on public transportation.”

“Tens of thousands of students depend on SEPTA for their daily commute to and from school, and we are fully committed to ensuring their safety,” said SEPTA CEO and General Manager Leslie S. Richards. “Safety is our top priority, and we are leveraging every available resource to provide a safe experience for all riders.”

The comprehensive safety plan includes the following key strategies:

• “Increased Officer Presence: Additional officers will be deployed on trains and buses, particularly during peak travel times when students are commuting.
• “Targeted Patrols: SEPTA Police will intensify patrols in areas where multiple schools converge, providing heightened security where it is needed most.
• “Virtual Patrol Units: SEPTA will utilize virtual patrol units to monitor activity in real-time and quickly dispatch officers to any potential issues.
• “Collaboration with the Philadelphia School District: SEPTA is working closely with the Philadelphia School District to enhance coordination and address specific safety needs.”

“SEPTA Police are collaborating closely with the Philadelphia Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to increase the visibility of uniformed officers across our system,” said SEPTA Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson. “Our strategy also includes the use of over 30,000 surveillance cameras across the system. These cameras are monitored by our virtual patrol unit, allowing us to extend our reach and respond quickly to areas without a physical police presence.”

The enhanced safety efforts, the agency says, build on the success SEPTA has already seen, with a 37% decrease in serious crimes on the system during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, including a 47% reduction in violent crimes.

To further support safety and reduce fare evasion, SEPTA says it “strongly encourages” students to use their designated fare cards for every trip. “This not only ensures fair usage but also helps SEPTA identify the most heavily used routes, allowing for more targeted system improvements,” the agency noted.

The SEPTA Transit Watch App provides an easy and discreet way for riders to report safety and security concerns directly to SEPTA Transit Police in less than 20 seconds. The app allows users to anonymously share incident details, including descriptions and locations, “helping to maintain a safe environment for all,” according to the agency.

WMATA

WMATA’s Board of Directors on Aug. 21 approved a new four-year contract with ATU Local 689, which represents more than 8,000 employees, including train and bus operators, station managers, maintenance workers, and other support positions. The agreement runs July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2028.

“The contract values our hard-working staff while also enhancing cost management, operational safety, recruitment and retention, and system efficiency,” WMATA noted.

The agreement (download below) includes no general wage increase or cost of living adjustment in the first year of the contract, in line with other WMATA non-represented staff. It includes a 3% general increase in 2025 and 2026, and a 3.5% increase in 2027. For years two through four, the contract includes cost of living adjustments, but caps total increases, including the general wage increase, at 5%. This, WMATA says, “will prevent the large spikes in wage increases that have occurred in the past. The wage structure provides frontline employees with increases that acknowledge their critical role in service to the region and provides predictability for the next four years.”

For the first time, the agreement includes fatigue management safety protocols that limit the hours of continuous work to make sure workers are rested. The new rule aligns with industry best practices and will close Corrective Actions in response to findings from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

“The Board appreciates the work of the General Manager and his team as well as ATU Local 689 leadership to finalize this agreement,” said WMATA Board Finance and Capital Committee Chair Matt Letourneau. “This new contract enhances system safety and improves cost efficiency and predictability for Metro and our regional funding partners while continuing to support our valued employees.”

“We are grateful for our labor partners at Local 689 and want to thank President Raymond Jackson for his collaboration throughout this negotiation process,” said WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Our employees are Metro’s greatest assets. This agency does not run without our hardworking teammates. But we are facing unprecedented financial challenges, and this agreement helps with short- and long-term cost controls.”

WMATA and the union also agreed to attendance management on employee records for unexcused absences to “increase accountability.”

Other provisions include WMATA’s ability to increase valuable maintenance time in the overnight hours for “more productivity and system efficiency.”

“The agreement demonstrates that safety is top of mind in every action we take and every service we deliver,” said WMATA Board Safety and Operations Committee Chair Don Drummer. “It will help make our system safer for both operators and customers.”