BART
The week of Sept. 3, BART will begin the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates on the concourse level of 24th Street/Mission Station. The first set of gates to be replaced will be those located next to the Station Agent Booth closest to 24th and Mission streets.
While work happens on installing the first set of Next Generation Fare Gates, the second array of old gates will remain open for riders. There will be signage to direct riders to the open gates. Once the installation of the first set of new gates is complete, work will begin on the second array.
A temporary barrier will be installed to provide a safe workspace for the installation team, as well as to protect riders from construction. Each new array is expected to take about two weeks to install. The latest work comes after BART successfully installed Next Generation Fare Gates at Civic Center, Fruitvale, and West Oakland stations.
All BART stations will have new fare gates by the end of 2025.
More information on BART’s Next Generation Fare Gate project is available here.
Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is providing BART $14.1 million to install Level 2 EV charging ports at all BART-managed parking facilities.
These charging stations, the agency says, will be available for BART riders, as well as community members who live nearby stations and have been hesitant to buy an electric vehicle because of a lack of convenient charging options.
“BART already strongly encourages riders to walk, bike or take other public transit to our stations,” said BART Sustainability Group Manager Monica Meagher. “This grant will allow us to jumpstart our efforts to expand the availability of EV chargers at all of our stations, which will provide our riders another environmentally friendly way to get to BART.”
BART is issuing a request for proposals to find a third-party partner to design, install, own, and operate the chargers. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025.
BART says it plans to prioritize EV deployment at stations in or near disadvantaged communities. “Expanding EV charging at BART will support robust electric vehicle adoption across a wide range of socioeconomic groups,” the agency noted. “Providing EV charging at stations is consistent with BART’s sustainability goals and commitment to improving the Bay Area environment,” the agency added. Every weekday, BART riders save nearly 31,000 gallons of gas and directly reduce CO2e emissions by more than 600,000 pounds.
The award to BART is part of nearly $150 million that USDOT is providing to five California projects to build zero-emission vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure. The funding comes through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program.
Keolis/MBTA
Keolis Commuter Services, the operating partner for the MBTA Commuter Rail, announced Aug. 29 that it has introduced a pilot to test NaviLens at North Station and Salem Station.
This technology allows passengers who are blind or have low vision to navigate the stations with a smartphone app, according to Keolis. When riders scan brightly colored QR-style codes posted in the stations, the NaviLens app will then help them “find the correct platform, provide real-time train information, and guide them to exits or other landmarks with audio navigation and haptic feedback.”
The NaviLens pilot will soon add four more stops on the Newburyport/Rockport Commuter Rail Line at Lynn, Chelsea, Swampscott, and Beverly. Keolis will gather feedback from riders and work with the MBTA’s System-wide Accessibility team to better understand all of the ways that the technology could be used and implemented in support of accessible wayfinding.
Riders will have the opportunity to learn about the new tool during several pop-up demonstrations at North Station in the coming weeks. They will be held on Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; Sept.17 from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m.; and on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“The MBTA welcomes and supports every opportunity to make our system easier to access, especially for riders who depend on it most,” said MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng. “I’m proud of the work by Keolis and our System-wide Accessibility team to provide the new NaviLens technology pilot for riders who are blind or with low vision. The ability to access our Commuter Rail stations with confidence further supports riders’ independence, and we look forward to the deployment of this innovative technology pilot in additional stations soon.”
“Ensuring that all passengers can safely access the Commuter Rail is a top priority for Keolis,” said Keolis Commuter Services GM and CEO Abdellah Chajai. “NaviLens has the potential to give riders who are blind or have low vision the confidence to independently navigate our stations. We’re looking forward to partnering with the MBTA to pilot NaviLens at several other stations in the system.”
Valley Metro
Valley Metro has selected Southwest Transit Partners (STP), a Sundt/Stacy and Witbeck joint venture, as the Construction Manager At Risk for the Capitol Light Rail Extension.
STP will collaborate with Valley Metro, city of Phoenix, project designers, Jacobs Engineering and PGH Wong Engineering, as well as the local community to construct the 0.8-mile light rail extension.
STP, the agency says, “brings valuable expertise to the project,” having previously constructed Valley Metro Rail’s 3.2-mile Northwest Extension Phase I in Phoenix and 1.9-mile Gilbert Road Extension in Mesa. Both firms were also involved in the construction of the original 20 miles of light rail that was completed in 2008.
The Valley Metro Rail Board also awarded nine artist contracts for the Capitol Extension, many of whom are local. They are responsible for creating engaging artwork that reflects the character of the surrounding community. The artists are:
- Christina Ramirez
- Cierra Romero
- Damien Davis
- Diana Calderon
- Edgar Fernandez/Samuel Gomez
- Joe Ray/Ray Benevides
- Laura Haddad/Tom Drugan/Jescelle Major
- Lauren Lee
- Rachel Slick/Timothy Shirack
More information on the project is available here.
IDOT
IDOT has been awarded the 2024 America’s Transportation Award for its significant upgrades to the Chicago-St. Louis passenger rail line, according to a WSIU Public Broadcasting report.
This major project, completed in 2023 under the leadership of Governor JB Pritzker, introduced 110 mph speeds to Illinois’ most popular rail route for the first time, “substantially cutting travel time between the two cities by approximately 30 minutes,” according to the report. The initiative, IDOT says, was designed to “improve not only the efficiency of rail travel but also the safety and overall quality of the ride.”
The $1.96 billion project, which saw substantial federal investment of $1.66 billion alongside $300 million in state and other funds, encompassed a range of improvements, according to the WSIU Public Broadcasting report. New and upgraded stations were established in Dwight, Lincoln, Pontiac, Normal, Carlinville, and Alton, while significant enhancements were made in Joliet and Springfield. Additionally, major safety upgrades were implemented across 212 grade crossings, including the installation of four-quadrant gates and loop detectors to prevent vehicle collisions, as well as new pedestrian gates and fencing. Thirty-nine crossings considered at-risk were permanently closed to enhance safety further.
Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman expressed pride in the project, highlighting its “positive impact on the quality of life for residents and travelers alike.” The project’s recognition in the Midwest division of the America’s Transportation Awards now positions it as a contender for the national project of the year. Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the awards celebrate state transportation departments’ “contributions to improving safety, mobility, and community development through critical infrastructure work.”
