Transit Briefs: DART, LA Metro, BART, SCVTA, KC Streetcar, TTC
DART
DART on Aug. 25 began a second run of vehicle testing on the Silver Line Regional Rail alignment.
The testing, which will occur between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Aug. 28 on Silver Line tracks, are exclusive to Segment C of the project, falling between Waterview Parkway and the Shiloh Road Station.
Flaggers will be present at each of the rail crossings, where required by Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) guidelines, to help drivers and pedestrians navigate traffic safely and accurately. Engineers and rail crews will be testing the timing and duration of gates, lights, and warning signals at each crossing to “ensure safe transitions for both freight and commuter rail that will share operations in the corridor once the Silver Line is in revenue service,” DART noted.
“Safety for the public, our operators and employees are the top priority as we undergo this testing period,” said DART Vice President of Capital Design and Construction Trey Walker. “We will be checking everything from top to bottom and reviewing, adjusting and re-testing to make sure that we can travel through the corridor safely. We want to make sure that anyone near the rail alignment knows we’re active in this area and coming through.”
Drivers and pedestrians can expect to see both Silver Line vehicles and CPKC freight rail trains running on the tracks during testing as crews will test a rail cutover between City Line Drive and Waterview Parkway. Freight rail service will still only operate during its normally scheduled times (between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.) once testing is complete.
Silver Line vehicle testing will include operating its simulated route with stops at the 12th Street, CityLine/Bush and UT Dallas stations with no passenger pick-up or drop-off points. All stations are still active construction sites, so onlookers are not allowed on platforms or nearby walkways. Quiet zones, which allow trains to use their horns only when there is a potential hazard on or near the tracks, will not be in effect during testing.
LA Metro
LA Metro had 25,466,384 boardings in July on its rail and bus services, reaching 81.84% of its July 2019 pre-COVID ridership level and marking the 20th consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth, according to the agency.
The agency saw 19,873,436 boardings on weekdays, reaching 78.8% of its pre-pandemic July 2019 level. On weekends in July there were 5,592,948 boardings, reaching 95.3% of pre-pandemic weekend ridership from July 2019.
In July, rail boardings were 5,789,887, reflecting a gain of 3.23% over July 2023 ridership and a 78.4% recovery of July 2019 rail ridership, according to LA Metro. Weekday rail boardings were 4,417,710 trips taken, reflecting 73.4% of weekday rail boardings in July 2019. July marks the first full month of year-over-year comparison on the A and E lines, and ridership grew 16.76% over July 2023. Individually, the A Line grew 19.46% when compared to ridership in July 2023 and the E Line grew 13.17% year-over-year. The busiest rail line in July was the B Line with 1,898,643 boardings. The A Line saw 1,871,941 trips taken.
BART
BART on Aug. 22 began the installation of a third set of Next Generation Fare Gates on the concourse level of Civic Center Station. The work is occurring at the fare gate entrance nearest 8th Street on the concourse level of Civic Center Station (Array 3 in the map below).
A temporary barrier has been installed to provide a safe workspace for the installation team, as well as to protect riders from construction. Installing this new array is expected to take about two weeks to complete, according to BART. The station’s other two fare gate arrays will remain open during the installation work. There will be signage to direct riders to the open fare gates.
The latest work comes after BART successfully installed two arrays of Next Generation Fare Gates at Civic Center Station (Array 1 and Array 2 in the map above). Also, in April, crews successfully installed a Next Generation Fare Gate at the elevator entrance on the Civic Center platform. Once work on this set of gates is complete, Civic Center will be fully outfitted with Next Generation Fare Gates.
All BART stations will have new fare gates by the end of 2025. More information is available here.
SCVTA
SCVTA on Aug. 22 announced the launch of a special microsite dedicated to the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project. This innovative microsite, the agency says, “is seamlessly integrated within VTA.org and serves as a gateway to the future of transit in Silicon Valley, offering the community an immersive and informative experience with this transformative project.”
The easy to navigate microsite, SCVTA say, “is designed to deepen the connection between the community and this once-in-a-generation project that will transform commutes and reshape the region’s transportation landscape for decades to come.” Designed with the community in mind, the microsite is packed with features that bring the Phase II Project to life. From real-time construction updates once major construction commences, via an interactive map, to detailed insights into the project’s benefits, the microsite ensures “you’re never out of the Phase II Project loop,” the agency noted.
One of the standout features of the microsite is the Thriving Business Program, an initiative focused on supporting local businesses through the major construction phases, “ensuring that our communities continue to thrive as we build for the future,” SCVTA said.
The microsite also emphasizes SCVTA’s “commitment to transparency to the community.” Visitors can easily access key project reports and documentation including environmental impact reports, review financial updates, and explore the project’s timeline—all in one accessible, user-friendly space. Plus, with translation and ADA accessibility features, this valuable information is available to everyone in the agency’s diverse community.
The six-mile, four-station extension from Berryessa Station to Santa Clara will connect downtown San Jose to the broader Bay Area, ringing the bay with clean, efficient rail transit. This project, SCVTA says, is a critical piece of Silicon Valley’s transportation future, “promising reduced traffic, cleaner air, and faster commutes for Santa Clara County residents.”
KC Streetcar
The week of Aug. 19 marked a historic moment for Kansas City as several streetcars traveled south of Pershing Road on Main Street for approximately 400 feet for the first rail testing since construction started on the Main Street Extension.
The KC Streetcar team, along with the City of Kansas City, Missouri, the KC Streetcar Constructors, and project partners, are conducting tests on the new southbound rail connection and crossover at Pershing Road & Main Street, along with streetcar operations into the new Union Station Northbound stop.
“Testing the new southbound tracks and crossover marks a significant milestone in our Main Street Extension project and is a testament to great work by the entire team,” said KC Streetcar Authority Executive Director Tom Gerend. “This is the first time streetcars have passed south of Pershing Road since 1957, making us one step closer to reconnecting Kansas City for the next generation.”
Over the coming weeks, comprehensive testing of vehicles, tracks, and systems will take place at the Pershing Road and Main Street intersection, alongside operator and supervisor training on these new movements. These efforts, the Authority says, are critical for the operational changes planned for the downtown route later this fall and the anticipated launch of the new route in 2025. Motorists and pedestrians are urged to exercise caution during this testing period. Pedestrians should use designated crosswalks, and motorists are advised to stay alert for changes in traffic control around the area.
Beginning Monday, Sept. 30, the downtown streetcar service will be temporarily suspended for approximately three weeks. The temporary streetcar service suspension is necessary in order to connect the existing downtown streetcar system to the northbound Main Street Extension tracks. Other work taking place during the service shut down include:
- Removal of the existing crossover located north of Pershing Road.
- Replacing expansion joints on the Main Street Viaduct.
- Constructing track near the existing crossover north of Pershing Road.
TTC
Starting Sept. 3, the TTC will begin modernizing the streetcar power network on Queens Quay and Fleet Street. Spanning almost three kilometers (1.86 miles) between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Strachan Avenue, the project will involve the replacement and reconfiguration of overhead wires, as well as upgrades to the underground power systems along the corridor.
The approximately four-month project will be completed in stages, involving changes to streetcar service and the use of bus replacements. As part of the plan, harbourfront streetcars will be restored for Taylor Swift concert dates in November, with increased service on multiple routes to accommodate an influx of visitors to Toronto.
When complete early next year, streetcars along Queens Quay and Fleet Street will use an optimized and improved pantograph overhead contact system that is fully compatible with the TTC’s modern and growing fleet, “enhancing the reliability of service along the waterfront.” This work is part of a larger power upgrade program that included work on Spadina and St. Clair avenues this year.
The first stage of the work, between the Harbourfront Tunnel and Spadina Avenue will start on Tuesday, Sep. 3 until early October. During this time buses will replace 509 Harbourfront streetcars between Union Station and Exhibition Place. Eastbound buses will operate within the Queens Quay streetcar right-of-way from Spadina Ave. to York Street, while westbound buses will serve curbside stops. At Union Station, customers will take the 509 Harbourfront replacement buses at street stops located on Bay Street at Front Street.
The second stage of work will commence in early October. This stage will focus on completing the upgrades between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street. During this period, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will be restored between Union Station and Spadina Avenue. A modified branch of 510 Spadina replacement buses will be extended west and serve stops between Spadina Avenue and Exhibition Place.
Beginning in November through early 2025, a third stage of work will complete overhead work west of Bathurst Street along Fleet Street. During this phase of work, 509 Harbourfront streetcar service will continue to operate between Union Station and Spadina Avenue, and 511 Bathurst streetcars will be extended to run along Queens Quay to Union Station.
“While there will be some short-term adjustments for riders who use the Queens Quay streetcar, the modernization work is essential for ensuring a more reliable and efficient service,” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “As we expand the TTC’s fleet of new, low-floor streetcars to meet the needs of a growing ridership, these upgrades are crucial for maintaining a high level of service along the waterfront.”
More information is available here.
