BART
USDOT on Oct. 30 announced a $544.6 million load through the Build America Bureau to BART for 775 new passenger railcars, which are part of a $2.2 billion expansion and upgrade of the entire BART system that operates 48 million passenger trips annually.
By providing Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans and other financing, the Bureau says it helps communities “expedite infrastructure projects and reduce project costs.”
The new railcars feature many accessibility and safety improvements; LED screens to provide improved customer information; digital cameras to enhance security and crime prevention; and three doors for entry and exit versus the previous two. Due to a revised production schedule and accelerated monthly delivery rate of the new railcars, completed in September, the project is expected to save up to $394 million overall compared to original budget estimates, according to USDOT. Additionally, by financing the cost of the rail cars, BART is able to use other capital funds to invest in a new Police Department Headquarters.
The cars were assembled at the Alstom manufacturing plant in Plattsburgh, N.Y., supporting creation of hundreds of new jobs. U.S. companies supplied materials and parts used in the train cars, including the propulsion system, the brakes, raw aluminum used for the body, and electrical wiring. Locally in the San Francisco Bay Area, jobs were created to support the design, commissioning, warranty, and other activities associated with the project.
The BART cars feature lightweight aluminum exteriors that reduce energy usage, white roofs that deflect heat to lessen the load on the interior cooling system and improved regenerative braking that returns electricity to the power distribution system. Additionally, 100% of BART’s electric traction power comes from clean hydro and renewable sources.
“BART is thrilled to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau for the first time,” said BART Board President Bevan Dufty. “Our new ‘Fleet of the Future’ rail cars are an important component of BART’s Safe and Clean plan and crucial to our efforts to grow ridership post-pandemic.”
Amtrak
Amtrak has secured $9 million in federal funding through the CRISI grant program to begin construction on passenger rail service between Scranton, Pa., and New York City, according to a Times Leader report.
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-8) commemorated the announcement, which he called “a golden spike” moment by presenting golden spikes to officials at the news conference on Oct. 29 in the Scranton Trolley Museum.
According to the report, Pennsylvania Northeast Regional Railroad Authority CEO Larry Malski said the $9 million award will “kick off long-needed railway rehabilitation and track improvements to begin the process to restore service between the communities via the Lackawanna Cut-Off.” The funding, Times Leader reports, comes from the CRISI grant program, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Cartwright fought to pass.
The officials said that direct rail service between Scranton and New York “could generate as much as $84 million in economic activity every year,” according to an Amtrak study.
According to the report, rail service previously ran directly between Scranton and New York but was discontinued in 1970. “Without consistent use and upkeep, the track fell into disrepair.”
In July 2022, Cartwright secured an agreement from Gov. Tom Wolf to provide $3.7 million in matching funds for the purchase of 43,000 railroad ties to upgrade the tracks on the Pennsylvania side of the line, according to the Times Leader report.
Gov. Josh Shapiro agreed to provide $125 million in local-match funds, “to have the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) author the application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and to seek NJ Transit’s co-sponsorship of the application, according to the report.
Cartwright said the project now has received more than $20 million in federal and state funding for the restoration of passenger rail. This includes $3 million in RACP funding from Gov. Shapiro and PennDOT; another $3.65 million from the former Wolfe administration; $2 million from Sen. Casey and another $1.6 million through the Community Project Funding effort. Another $500,000 from Amtrak and $500,000 from the FRA.
According to Malski, the project, which is a “key part of Amtrak’s long-range plan to double passenger service, is now ready to move out of Phase 1 and into Phase 2 of the plan, Times Leader reported.
MBTA
The MBTA on Oct. 30 celebrated the arrival of a future Green Line Type 10 vehicle mockup at Boston City Hall Plaza, giving the public a chance to be inside and offer feedback to MBTA representatives.
The accessible interactive mockup offered a backdrop to Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng, and other officials and advocates who have for a long time advocated for upgraded equipment and vehicles. They hosted a press conference to “tout how this newer model will bring forth increased safety improvements, reliability, and comfort to the MBTA’s riders.”
Feedback from the public, MBTA says, will help the agency in its final design phase with contractor CAF USA Inc. The MBTA has a $810-million contract with CAF USA Inc for the design, construction, and delivery of new Green Line vehicles. The contract includes 102 cars with new safety technology and accessibility improvements.
Upgrades to the new Type 10 vehicle include but are not limited to the following:
- A 100% low floor design, making the vehicles more accessible.
- Additional bridgeplate request buttons and passenger intercoms to make it easier for riders to request assistance.
- A hearing loop available throughout the entire train.
- Four priority areas for wheeled mobility devices.
- The latest generation of crash-safety technology.
- Wider doors for streamlined boarding and alighting.
- Passenger information screens onboard that will show digital real time information and line maps.
The MBTA and CAF USA Inc will finalize the design and continue the procurement process. Pilot cars are expected to be delivered in 2026. The full Type 10 fleet delivery is expected to be completed in 2031.
“We are pleased that we could offer the opportunity for the public to come to Boston City Hall Plaza to see a full-scale mockup of the Green Line Type 10 vehicle,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Green Line Type 10 is going to modernize the Green Line, resulting in service, which is more accessible, more comfortable, and much safer for our customers.”
“We are committed to giving our riders the safe, reliable, and comfortable trip that they deserve. The Type 10 mockup vehicle is a peak into the future, allowing the public an opportunity to provide feedback, which is important to us as we finalize design of the vehicle,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “These cars will be state of the art with CCTV security, wider doors, and real time information screens. They are 100% low floor designed, which eliminates the need to traverse steps, making accessing the trolley simpler than ever.”
MDOT MTA
MDOT MTA on Ovt. 30 announced that riders can now purchase CharmPass fares directly through the Transit app on Light Rail, Subway, MARC Train, Commuter Bus and Local Bus.
Riders can now both plan their trip and seamlessly access their mobile tickets in one convenient location, according to MDOT MTA. This upgrade puts access to mobile ticketing front and center on the app riders use most often for transit trip planning, bus and train arrival information, and other service information. Each month 120,000 active users open the Transit app nearly 12 million times.
Transit app is a free smartphone application for viewing bus and rail vehicle locations in real time, predicted arrival times, step-by-step navigation, and alerts regarding service disruptions. CharmPass is the MTA’s mobile phone fare payment app that stores transit fare on the user’s phone, and with its CharmFlex option, even offers a discount off regular fares.
The CharmPass fare payment function on the Transit app is offered as a feature of the recent Transit Royale upgrade to the Transit app. The upgrade is available free to riders of MTA vehicles. For current users of CharmPass, tapping the fare payment “button” will link them directly to their account. For those who are not signed up for CharmPass, tapping the button will lead them to the CharmPass app download in either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
For both current users and non-users of CharmPass, the button is intended as a reminder that digital fare payment is always the preferred payment option for its always-at-hand convenience, for its ability to minimize dwell time—the amount of time a bus remains idle while boarding passengers—and for its security features assuring that even if the phone is lost or stolen, fare payment remains secure.
“Improving our customers’ transit experience is one of our key goals,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “The integration of CharmPass and Transit app makes purchasing your tickets and navigating the system easier than ever before.”
SCVTA
More than a dozen community-based organizations and local agencies throughout Santa Clara County received SCVTA funding through a cutting-edge program to enhance transit-oriented communities. The grants were announced at a press event Wednesday, Oct.30 at MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) in San Jose, Calif.
Projects funded in this one-of-a-kind transit agency funding program received $15,000 to $175,000 to advance the creation of vibrant, equitable, and sustainable public spaces, housing, and commercial development near public transit stations throughout the county. Recipients were divided into four program areas:
- Planning and Policy Implementation: This area supports local agencies in advancing long-term plans and policies that advance sustainable growth around transit. Grantees in this area will receive up to $175,000 each.
- City of San Jose – Consolidated Light Rail Urban Village and Station Area Planning Corridor
- City of Santa Clara – Santa Clara Station Area Form-Based Code
- Community Resilience: This category funds initiatives by community-based organizations aimed at enhancing the stability and resilience of communities surrounding transit. Grantees in this area will receive up to $100,000 each.
- Carry the Vision – Community Rising Coalition
- Prosperity Lab – Business 360°
- School of Arts and Culture – La Avenida/La Placita Development Planning
- Education and Engagement: Focused on elevating community leadership and engagement to shape their neighborhoods and advocate for equitable, transit-friendly policies. Grantees will receive up to $27,500 each.
- Palo Alto Forward – TOD Education, Engagement, & Advocacy
- Palo Alto Transportation Management Association – Mode shift for low-wage essential workers in Palo Alto
- Transform – Sustainable Transportation Education and Engagement
- Placemaking, Arts, and Activation: This area funds creative placemaking initiatives to enrich public spaces around transit stations through art, culture, and beautification. Grantees will receive up to $15,000 each.
- Arts Mountain View – Mountain View Transit Project
- Cinequest Inc. – Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival
- Friends of Levitt Pavilion – Levitt San Jose 2024 Fall and Spring 2025 Concert Series
- Gilroy Arts Alliance – Our Community Pillars Project
- MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana) – ¡WEPA! FEST
- San Martin Neighborhood Association – Spruce Up San Martin
“Through the TOC Grant Program, VTA is empowering communities to take an active role in shaping their future,” said SCVTA General Manager and CEO Carolyn Gonot. “These projects will not only enhance access to transit but also help create inclusive, sustainable neighborhoods where all our residents can thrive.”
