Transit Briefs: Caltrans, NJ Transit, Metro-North, UTA, MDOT MTA

Caltrans

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded Caltrans an $18.7 million grant for a project that will improve passenger rail service and freight movement at Amtrak San Joaquins stations in the Central Valley, Caltrans reported earlier this month. The San Joaquins Corridor 2nd Platform project will build a second set of passenger platforms and install additional tracks at the San Joaquins intercity passenger rail stations in Modesto and Turlock-Denair.

Caltrans said it is matching nearly half of the grant amount through the Interregional Transportation Improvement Program “to ensure project success.”

The new platforms will improve service reliability and efficiency for passenger and freight movement along the BNSF-owned corridor by allowing two trains to operate through the stations at the same time, Caltrans explained. The project will also improve pedestrian safety with upgrades, such as new sidewalks, crossing gates, and signage improvements where the railroad intersects with Parker Road near the Modesto station and Zeering Road and Main Street near the Turlock-Denair station.

The FRA grant is administered through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which directly awarded nearly $280 million to 12 recipients in California and $2.4 billion nationwide. CRISI provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.

Additionally, Caltrans partnered with Amtrak on another project that received grant funding. Caltrans will install a device on its fleet that will “improve safety and reliability by ensuring that grade crossing gates and flashers are activated in a timely manner while reducing the need for trains to slow down through some grade crossings.”

Several of the CRISI grant recipients received all or most of their matching funding from the California State Transportation Agency through its Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, according to Caltrans. They are:

• The Orange County Transportation Authority received $100 million toward its project to stabilize the tracks along the LOSSAN (San Luis Obispo-Los Angeles-San Diego) Corridor, protecting the corridor from the effects of sea-level rise and beach erosion while preserving critical Amtrak Pacific Surfliner intercity rail, Metrolink commuter rail, and BNSF freight service.
• The Transbay Joint Powers Authority received nearly $25 million toward its project to support the Downtown Rail Extension to accommodate California high-speed rail and Caltrain commuter rail into the newly built, multimodal Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco.
• The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission and Sacramento City College Rail Academy received $2 million in matching funds to continue funding the Academy’s rail workforce development mission.

NJ Transit

NJ Transit on Nov. 26 reported being named to the inaugural Forbes 2025 America’s Dream Employers list. The list measures companies from across the nation to identify those with strong leadership, high employee satisfaction, and the reputation as “a desirable destination for those in the workforce,” according to the transit agency, which has also been named on Forbes’ America’s Best Employers of 2024 list and as an Outstanding Public Transportation System in 2023 by the American Public Transportation Association. 

Forbes created the 2025 America’s Dream Employers list by partnering with market research firm Statista to independently survey more than 10,000 college students and 140,000-plus employees working over the past three years for companies and institutions in the United States employing at least 1,000 people. More than 266,000 data points were gathered. A company’s final ranking is based on how frequently it was named a “dream employer” relative to the size of the sample, and the willingness of employees to recommend the organization as an employer.

NJ Transit was ranked No. 434 out of a total of 500 companies on the list. It was part of the Transportation and Logistics category, along with Delta Air Lines (No. 76); Matson (No. 287); Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (No. 301); DSV (No. 314); Averitt Express (No. 360); Caltrans (No. 374); Estes Express Line (No. 418); FedEx (No. 449); and Americold (No. 455).

“NJ Transit’s recognition as a ‘dream employer’ underscores the strides we’ve made over the past six years to build a workplace where employees feel valued and supported,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett said. “Through our focus on inclusivity, professional development, and respect, I am proud to see NJ Transit recognized nationally as an employer of choice by both current and prospective employees.”

MTA Metro-North

MTA Metro-North Railroad’s new Holiday Lights Train will debut on all three lines starting Nov. 29 and operate through New Year’s. The train will be festooned with colorful exterior lights, and special holiday-themed safety messages will play at selected stations. The lights have been applied to a Kawasaki-built M8 EMU* and will operate on the Hudson Line between Grand Central Terminal (GCT) and Croton-Harmon, on the Harlem Line between GCT and Southeast, and on the New Haven Line between GCT and New Haven (see map below). The Holiday Lights Train will operate on a random rotation of regularly scheduled trains on all three lines at all times of day and night, according to Metro-North. 

“I’m thrilled that Metro-North can bring the joy, beauty, and lights of the season to all of our riders on their way to work, school or to see family and friends during the holidays, and to those who see it roll through their towns,”Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi said.

“We wanted to create something special for our community and bring back the sense of wonder, especially for children, and for children of all ages,” added Metro-North Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Justin Vonashek. “It’s a way for us to connect with our passengers and create lasting memories during this festive time of year when days are short and darkness is long. We hope these colorful lights spark excitement and a sense of holiday cheer for all who come aboard and who see the train pass by.” 

* Railway industrial designer Cesar Vergara, Principal of Vergarastudio, worked on the M8 design. He recently discussed the car interiors in Railway Age: “Some of the mainstream innovations in these vehicles, such as armrests shaped smooth with no cavities or sharp edges, are not only more comfortable and ergonomic, but also afford the cleaning crew ease in wiping on all sides,” he wrote. “The gently curved center ceiling panel, baggage rack and coves are also easier for the maintenance crew to wipe clean. These innovations, intended for ease of cleaning, result in a more ample interior volume for passengers and crew. These features are surprisingly appropriate for a more thorough cleaning during the pandemic. … In the M8, I designed the vestibules, clearly marked by their yellow color flooring, to closely match the tactile yellow of the platform edge. This was not a requirement, but rather a design done in the spirit of the ADA for the visually impaired. The result was a clearer definition of the vestibule as well, and a very well-received aesthetic.”

UTA

On Dec. 4, UTA will celebrate 25 years of TRAX operations (see map above). The light rail system launched in 1999 as a single line (Blue Line) connecting downtown Salt Lake City and the southern suburbs. Over the years, TRAX has expanded both in service areas and ridership. In 2023, UTA moved more than 10.6 million Utahns on TRAX.

What’s next? According to UTA:

• The South Jordan Downtown Station will open in April 2025, delivering riders to the new home stadium of the Salt Lake Bees. This station will connect the southernmost parts of the TRAX network to the heart of South Jordan, UTA said.
• By 2032, the Red Line is expected to be realigned to include new service through the Granary District to Ballpark Station.
• By 2032, the Orange Line is expected to be completed, UTA said. It will link Salt Lake City International Airport directly to the University of Utah and boost service through downtown, along North Temple and 400 S.
• UTA Board of Trustees in October approved a contract with Utah-based Stadler to build up to 80 new light rail cars, which will feature low-floor, all-accessible boarding.
• UTA is improving the efficiency of traffic signal priority (TSP) technology, it said. TSP allows TRAX trains to communicate with traffic signals, giving trains priority at intersections. By reducing wait times at traffic lights, TSP technology will improve efficiency, especially during peak travel times, resulting in faster, more reliable service, according to UTA.

“As the Salt Lake Valley continues to grow, UTA remains committed to providing sustainable, efficient transportation options that meet the needs of our community,” UTA said. “The upcoming expansions and upgrades will ensure TRAX continues to be a key component in shaping the region’s transportation. We’re proud of how far TRAX has come over the last 25 years, and we’re even more excited about what’s to come. Whether you’ve been riding since day one or are new to public transit, we invite you to celebrate with us as we look toward a bright future. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey!”

MDOT MTA

MDOT MTA on Nov. 26 announced the launch an online merchandise store featuring a variety of MTA-branded products, such as shirts, socks, sweatshirts, drinkware, and more. MTA joins other transit agencies across the country—including San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Muni—in offering riders and transit enthusiasts official merchandise.  

“Now it’s easier than ever for Maryland transit fans to celebrate our system,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said. “Our new merchandise store offers our riders a chance to show off their pride in our city and our region.”

Merchandise will be updated regularly with new products and seasonal items. The agency also has partnered with “Made in Baltimore” vendors to highlight and support local businesses.

MTA noted that while the online store website “has been designed for ease of navigation, payment and fulfillment,” the agency will also host pop-up shops for in-person shopping.