Transit Briefs: DART, Denver RTD, Santa Clara VTA, SEPTA
DART
Silver Line commuter rail vehicle testing will begin during the week of April 27 between Downtown Carrollton Station and the University of Texas at Dallas Station in Richardson, according to DART. The transit agency has eight Stadler-built DMUs (diesel multiple units) for the 26-mile, 10-station service that is expected to traverse seven North Texas cities (Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, Plano) before the end of this year (see map below). Most of the alignment features double track that crosses three counties (Collin, Dallas, Tarrant).
Crews recently finished the installation and connection of more than 281,800 linear feet (53 miles) of new track. The Silver Line is now more than 90% complete, DART reported, with major construction slated to wrap up by the end of June. Later this summer, DART will begin running trains along the full route from Shiloh Road Station in Plano to DFW Airport Terminal B as all testing segments are integrated.
Last fall, track infrastructure, signal, operating system, and rail crossing testing began between Plano and Richardson. Earlier this year, testing expanded to include the segment from DFW Airport to the current end of the constructed track near I-35 in Carrollton.
“We’ve made substantial progress installing and preparing the track, signals, and crossings to ensure we can test our vehicles in this central segment safely and efficiently,” said Trey Walker, Vice President of Capital Design and Construction at DART. “This is a major milestone and continues us on our path to have the Silver Line carrying passengers from Plano to DFW Airport and everywhere in between before year’s end.”
Denver RTD
Denver RTD on April 25 reported a nearly 60% reduction in security-related calls and a three-year decrease in reports of criminal activities between 2022 and 2025 at Denver Union Station. In first-quarter 2022, the agency logged approximately 5,000 security-related calls for service at Union Station, compared with 2,127 in first-quarter 2025. Month-over-month comparisons reflect similar reductions going back to early 2022 when Denver RTD said it first “doubled down” on efforts to improve personal safety and security at the intermodal transit facility. Calls for service is a metric that includes customer reports of graffiti, drug activity, noise complaints, unattended bags, and other personal safety concerns.
Denver Union Station opened in 1881 as the Denver Union Depot, and the original building was replaced by today’s larger structure in 1914. Union Station was part of RTD’s 2004 voter-approved FasTracks plan to expand transit service across the Denver metro area. Following efforts to revitalize the historic landmark, the renovated building reopened in 2014. The region’s intermodal transit hub serves both light rail and commuter rail lines; Amtrak intercity passenger rail service; local, regional and intercity buses; taxis and ride share services; shuttles; and bicycle and pedestrian access. The hub includes an eight-track commuter rail station, two-track light rail platform, a 22-bay underground bus facility, and an above-ground bus stop for the Free MallRide shuttles.
Denver RTD in March 2022 announced a plan and timeline to “Reclaim Union Station,” which it called “a collaborative and multi-faceted strategy aimed at enhancing safety and security.” That strategy has focused on hiring more sworn police officers and establishing 24/7 patrols. In addition to deploying contracted security personnel on the rail platforms and in the underground bus concourse, the agency has a dedicated team of POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training)-certified officers to patrol Denver Union Station around the clock. In 2022, the agency had fewer than 20 full-time officers on its force; today there are approximately 100 POST-certified officers. Denver RTD is actively recruiting to achieve a goal of 150 officers by year-end.
Denver RTD has also made facility improvements to its underground bus concourse, rail platforms, and open spaces:
- All lighting in the underground bus concourse was upgraded and backlit panels were installed to better illuminate areas with low light and increase employee and customer visibility.
- TV monitors were added to display security camera feeds at the main entrances to the bus concourse.
- Commuter rail platform stairs were converted to an emergency exit only to limit unnecessary access.
- Smoke detectors were installed in the restrooms to deter smoking and drug use.
- Floor decals and signage were added to encourage movement and discourage loitering near doors
- Classical music was added to the underground bus concourse to deter aggressive behavior and promote a sense of order.
- “ENTER” and “EXIT” labels were affixed to the ground-level doors leading to the concourse to better facilitate customer flow and enhance directional signage.
- RTD’s Customer Code of Conduct https://www.rtd-denver.com/how-to-ride/respect-the-ride, known as “Respect the Ride,” was updated in 2023, and new signage was added at Denver Union Station to communicate prohibited behaviors.
- New digital screens were installed inside the concourse and on the light rail platforms to provide real-time information and communicate safety messages.
- Landscaping was redesigned near the light rail platform to deter loitering and improve visibility.
“Union Station is RTD’s primary intermodal transit hub,” Denver RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said. “For many people, it’s their first impression of the agency and the services provided. In 2022, RTD brought together staff and stakeholders to proactively address challenges that were impacting both employees and customers from having a seamless, comfortable, and convenient experience, be it working or using transit. Improved security at Denver Union Station reflects thousands of hours of work by a devoted team, and it exemplifies what can happen when you have a laser-like focus on solving a problem.”
“These improvements to personal safety and security at Union Station have been noticed and appreciated by RTD’s employees, customers, and the public,” Denver RTD Acting Chief of Police and Emergency Management Steve Martingano said. “Our officers are not only a regular and visible presence at the high-trafficked location in Denver, but they are consistently enforcing the Customer Code of Conduct, proactively addressing unwelcome behaviors, and partnering with Denver to tackle challenges that are happening around Union Station.”
An overview of Denver RTD’s security-related metrics is available at rtd-denver.com/yoursafety, and a full breakdown of the data is included in the agency’s March 2025 Customer and Community Engagement Report (see page 44).
Further Reading:
Santa Clara VTA
Service Employees International Union Local 521; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 1101; and Transportation Authority Engineers and Architects Local 21, which represent about 575 workers combined, reached agreements with VTA as of April 17. The VTA Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on the contracts May 1, with salary increases to take effect on the first pay period after tentative agreements on wages were signed.
“VTA remains committed to reaching an agreement with the only outstanding union without an amended contract,” the agency reported April 25. “Unfortunately, ATU [Local 265] has taken a markedly different course. After eight months of extended bargaining, mediation, service disruption [March 10-27], and litigation, there is still no agreement on a new ATU contract despite VTA’s concerted efforts to find a meaningful resolution.
“To date, 12 tentative agreements (9 ATU and 3 VTA) have been signed, covering key issues such as floating holidays, increased straight runs (fewer split shifts), workplace trauma leave, bidding procedures, day-off trades, arbitrability process, and an increased boot voucher. These demonstrate VTA’s good-faith efforts to reach an agreement.
“In terms of pay, VTA presented a competitive wage offer of 11% over three years (the additional 0.5% over previous salary offers was in exchange for excluding sick time from overtime calculations), which was rejected by the membership. Previous to that increased salary offer and due to the rejection of the offer of 11% due to possible concerns about overtime calculations, VTA put forth a proposal of 10.5% without the sick time provision, which remains on the table. This offer reflects VTA’s commitment to providing employees with a competitive wage and benefit package while balancing fiscal responsibilities and maintaining service levels.
“In contrast, ATU began negotiations on Aug. 15, 2024, with a request for a 24% wage increase over three years (8% annual increase) and held firm until Feb. 25, a week before initiating a strike. ATU has moved once to lower their wage proposal to 18% (6% annual increase over three years); however, these actions fail to take into account current economic realities or VTA’s commitment to serve the public.
“Now that the rest of VTA’s represented unions have agreed to their contracts, ATU claims VTA never proposed a 14.5% raise over four years. That is misleading. ATU leadership has stated its bylaws discourage agreements exceeding three years. ATU leadership, if they choose, may propose a longer contracted term. The ball is in their court.
“Misinformation around proposals, contract terms, and bargaining intentions only delays progress—and ultimately harms the 1,500 VTA employees ATU represents. Every day without a new agreement means lost wages for operators, maintenance staff, dispatchers, fare inspectors, and customer service representatives. VTA stands ready to work on reaching an agreement that is fair and financially responsible.”
For more on labor negotiations, click here.
SEPTA
SEPTA on April 28 celebrated the 40th birthday of the Airport Line, part of its Regional Rail commuter rail system in Philadelphia, Pa., that runs between the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) through Center City to Temple University station. The line operates every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and weekends and stops at all major airport terminals. The station platforms are high level making stops ADA accessible and easier to board and alight with luggage.
PHL is less than thirty minutes from Center City by train. And the Airport Line connects to every Regional Rail line, the L, the B, the T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and dozens of SEPTA bus routes.
According to the transit agency, the Airport Line is important for bringing employees to work—from Division of Aviation employees that live all over the city to flight crews and concessions staff. Nearly 18,000 total badged employees work within the airport across a variety of employers and functions including operations, security, concessions, and logistics, according to SEPTA, which noted that an estimated 1 in 4 nighttime air transportation workers (26%) relies on public transit to get to or from work.
Operations of PHL and Northeast Philadelphia Airport together generate an annual $16.5 billion in economic impact for Pennsylvania’s southeastern counties, SEPTA added. Additionally, PHL welcomed nearly 31 million passengers in 2024—a 10% increase over 2023—and handled more than 500,000 tons of freight and airmail.
