ATP
ATP on Feb. 5 reported releasing a Request for Information (RFI) for industry feedback on the Austin Light Rail project’s largest procurement, which will seek partners to provide design and construction services for the project’s transitway, tracks, systems, stations, bridges, traffic signals, utilities, drainage structures and streetscape. The multibillion-dollar final design and construction contract is expected to be awarded next year and extend through the duration of design, construction (anticipated to begin in 2027) and service launch (planned for 2033).
“Austin Light Rail Phase 1 will transform how people move around Austin with all-electric trains running reliably every 5-10 minutes most of the day and connecting people to major job centers, education hubs, and iconic destinations,” ATP said. “Designed to expand as the city grows, the project includes 15 stations along a nearly 10-mile alignment, miles of new pedestrian and cycling paths, and a new bridge across Lady Bird Lake.”
ATP will build Austin Light Rail Phase 1 using a progressive design-build delivery model that it said “enables the organization to closely collaborate with industry partners through:
- “Innovation of design solutions that balance technical requirements with Austin’s unique needs.
- “Design with constructability at the forefront to keep Austin moving while the project is being built.
- “Integration of latest construction costs into design development to align with the project budget.”
The RFI seeks industry feedback on the draft solicitation and contract documents. The early engagement, ATP noted, “is designed to strengthen competition for the opportunity and provide potential partners with more information to assemble the best teams in their pursuit of the work.”
Businesses have until March 19 to provide feedback to the RFI. As part of this process, ATP said it will host a “Connect and Build: Partnerships for Austin Light Rail” event on Feb. 26, offering networking opportunities to connect small firms with prime contractors intending to pursue the upcoming final design and construction contract in June, when ATP releases a Request for Qualification.
“Today [Feb. 5] marks an important milestone for Austin Light Rail as we begin to transition to the final design and construction phase of the project,” ATP Executive Director Greg Canally said. “Working closely with ATP, the partners selected for this contract will help shape and deliver nearly every aspect of Austin’s first light rail system and play a critical role in the project’s success.”
MDOT
The first round of funding for MDOT’s new TOD Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund program (see above) will include $5 million to support local jurisdictions “seeking to build equitable and inclusive development near transit hubs,” MDOT reported Feb. 5. The aim is to boost transit ridership and expand housing opportunities, with the additional benefit of lowering greenhouse gas emissions on a per capital basis.
The TOD Fund was established by the Equitable Inclusive TOD Enhancement Act signed into law by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in 2023.
Through the TOD Fund, MDOT said it seeks to support projects that would lead to dense, mixed-use and mixed-income development. Eligible projects must have a direct connection or benefit to a site the state has designated for TOD. Local jurisdictions can apply for up to $1 million for planning, design or public infrastructure improvements. Nonprofit or private development partners are eligible to apply in partnership with a local jurisdiction for up to $1 million in gap funding for projects within a state-designated TOD. The Department will host webinars for interested applicants on Feb. 14 and March 4. Applications are due by April 8.
The funding program is the first of its kind at MDOT to support TOD construction. In October, the Department released the Penn Line TOD Strategy Plan, an effort to catalyze growth and further private investment along MARC’s busiest commuter rail line. That same month, MDOT and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development signed an agreement to prioritize the resources and capacities of the two departments “to accelerate the construction of development that catalyzes dense, mixed-use and mixed-income development within a half mile of transit stations,” said MDOT, which added that it is actively working on plans for development at the Odenton MARC Station in Anne Arundel County and at Baltimore’s Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station.
TTC
TTC on Feb. 5 reported awarding a contract to British Columbia-based Gatekeeper Systems Inc. to pilot automatic camera enforcement technology for motorists who pass open streetcar doors.
The partners will develop and test a new system that records the incident and license plate information. Passing open streetcar doors puts those boarding and exiting streetcars in danger and is illegal under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act (HTA), noted TTC, which added that between 2014 and 2024, 141 individuals have been contacted by vehicles while boarding or exiting streetcars.
A change to the HTA made in 2021 means that as of July 1, 2022, camera-based enforcement is allowed, according to TTC. “TTC has been advocating for use of cameras since 2015,” it said.
The current fine for passing open streetcar doors is up to $183.25 plus three demerit points.
The pilot will cost approximately $460,000 and includes development, installation of cameras on four streetcars, and nine months of testing starting later next year, TTC reported. No tickets will be issued as part of the pilot.
“Safety is our top concern, and every day, we hear about dozens of instances of cars passing open streetcar doors in mixed traffic with no regard for the safety of our customers,” TTC CEO Greg Percy said. “We are serious about putting an end to that through new industry-leading technological solutions. This is the first step in that process.”
“We are delighted to work with the TTC on this important initiative to improve passenger safety,” added Doug Dyment, Gatekeeper’s President and CEO. “Protecting people in transit is our corporate mission and we are very proud to add Canada’s largest public transit system to our growing list of transit customers.”
TTC said it is also developing an on-street streetcar safety campaign to roll out in the coming weeks, reminding all road users that they must stop behind open streetcar doors.
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail commuter rail served 4.4 million riders in calendar-year 2024, marking the first time since 2019 that ridership has exceeded 4 million in a single year, operator South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) reported Feb. 6. Between 2012 and 2019, Tri-Rail consistently surpassed 4 million annual rides with ridership growing by 1% year-over-year during that period, culminating in its highest ridership year in 2019, the Authority noted.
Tri-Rail’s full ridership recovery was reported last year in March 2024, with an average of 15,000 weekday rides and 8,000 weekend rides that month. By the end of 2024, the system maintained an average of 14,000 weekday and 7,000 weekend rides, including setting a new Saturday ridership record of 10,129 trips on Feb. 24, 2024, according to SFRTA.
Commuter rail services were expanded to serve downtown Miami in January 2024 with the addition of MiamiCentral Station. Tri-Rail’s schedule in July added weekday express service for MiamiCentral and a midnight train out of Miami Airport Station. The railroad also provided special service for notable events throughout 2024, including the Ultra Music Festival, Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, and the Miami New Year’s Ever celebration. Additionally, SFRTA reported that the system improved its on-time performance to 93.6% in December 2024—the first time in over a year to exceed 90%.
“We have set new goals to make sure we are doing all we can to provide a better customer experience and bring more people to use the train,” said Commissioner Marci Woodward, SFRTA Governing Board Chair. “Opening service in downtown Miami was a significant achievement, and we will keep working closely with our partners to provide safe, convenient, and efficient transportation that meets the needs of the region.”
Further Reading: WAGO, TransDev Partner on SFRTA OSSI Project
