MBTA
The joint venture (JV) of MBTA, Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), and Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is seeking a developer for a mixed-use transit-oriented development project at the Anderson Regional Transportation Center (RTC) in Woburn. MBTA on Dec. 1 reported that a Request for Proposals has been released.
Responses are due by March 24, 2026. A JV selection committee will evaluate the proposals before recommending a developer for designation by the three agencies’ respective Boards.
The City of Woburn has advanced planning and economic development efforts in the area surrounding RTC, setting the stage for a development opportunity, which MBTA said will complement the existing transportation operations while providing additional housing options within the Woburn community.
The JV-owned Anderson RTC is a 26-acre multi-modal transportation facility that for more than two decades has supported high-occupancy vehicle transportation services. It features a train/bus station and surface parking, and benefits from nearby access to I-93 and I-95 and a rail connection to North Station in Boston. Service is provided by the MBTA Commuter Rail’s Lowell Line; Amtrak’s Downeaster from Boston to Brunswick, Maine; and the Woburn Logan Express bus to Logan International Airport.
Earlier this year, the JV sought Expressions of Interest from developers “to better understand the site’s development potential, particularly given its unique environmental characteristics and current market conditions,” according to MBTA. After receiving multiple responses, the JV “believes the RTC offers a compelling transit-oriented development opportunity for a qualified developer able to navigate complex environmental regulations,” the transit agency reported. “Offering prospective residents a 25-minute trip from Anderson/Woburn station on the MBTA Lowell Commuter Rail Line to downtown Boston at North Station, the transit-oriented development opportunity has the potential to accommodate a mix of housing and other uses across up to six acres while improving connectivity and reflecting the City of Woburn’s broader planning vision.”
Further Reading:
- Keolis, IBEW Reach Tentative Agreement
- MBTA: $850MM to Enhance Safety, Reliability
- Eng Named Interim MassDOT Secretary
- Eng to Duffy: ‘Safety is Integral to Everything We Do at the MBTA’
NJT
NJT on Dec. 2 reported partnering with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to explore opportunities to redevelop Penn Plaza East—the transit agency’s former headquarters building adjacent to the historic Newark Penn Station—into a potential mixed-use development. The project, NJT said, is a two-phase process that also includes a new headquarters for Horizon in downtown Newark.
NJT, through its real estate broker Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. (JLL), in conjunction with CBRE representing Horizon, is inviting potential developers to register their interest by Dec. 31, 2025.
Interested developers who request a copy of the Confidential Information Memorandum may be invited to attend a future Information Sharing Event hosted by JLL and CBRE. The event, NJT said, will provide further details of the anticipated project timeline and allow JLL and CNRE to answer questions.
Led by JLL and CBRE, NJT envisions its former headquarters and Horizon headquarters at 1 Penn Plaza East and 3 Penn Plaza East, “as a prime opportunity for premier mixed-use, multi-housing development on three acres with sweeping, unobstructed views of the Passaic River and Manhattan skyline.” The development would also offer access to historic Newark Penn Station and be within proximity to Newark’s historic Ironbound neighborhood. Located within the city’s Newark River Redevelopment Plan, it could accommodate up to 1,000 units of residential development in addition to integrated retail and structured parking, according to NJT.
“The redevelopment of our former headquarters property is a key step in advancing our real estate strategy and our commitment to unlocking new value from our assets,” NJT President and CEO Kris Kolluri said. “Aligned with the recent launch of our LAND Plan, this project reflects our disciplined approach to generating incremental revenue for NJT, while contributing to economic growth across the state and in cities such as Newark through new jobs, housing and long-term investment.”
“Horizon is excited to work together with NJT to support the [Newark] mayor’s vision and create new opportunities that bring more residents and retail businesses to the area around Penn Station,” commented Doug Falduto, Horizon’s Vice President Administration and Chief Security Officer. “We have called Newark home since our founding nearly 100 years ago. An essential element of this plan is a new headquarters to be built and financed by the developer that allows Horizon to remain in Newark and continue to serve our members in the most financially responsible way possible.”
Further Reading:
- NJT Slates $917MM Multilevel I, II Overhaul
- NJT Releases RFQ for Northern Rail MOW Facility
- NJT Sets FY26 Ops Budget, Authorizes Capex Funding
- NJT BLET Rank-and-File Ratify Deal
WMATA
Construction is now under way on a new four-phase, 364-unit affordable housing development at New Carrollton, Md., the first phase of which includes 112 homes for seniors, WMATA reported Dec. 2. This construction is the next step in a master planned redevelopment of the New Carrollton station into a transit-centered community.
This new phase of affordable housing development was made possible in part by funding from the Prince George’s County Housing Investment Trust Fund, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Rental Housing Works program, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from the State of Maryland, according to WMATA.
Once complete, it will join recent additions at New Carrollton, including the Kaiser Permanente office building, The Stella’s 282 units, The Margaux’s 291 attainable homes, and Metro’s (WMATA’s) Building at New Carrollton.
According to WMATA, additional improvements are under way across the station area, including a wetland restoration project and a federally funded upgrade to the transit hub through a BUILD Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The project will support the construction of a new train hall, prepare the site for the arrival of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) Purple Line, and create new trails and walkways to improve pedestrian and bike access to the station.
“The transformation of the New Carrollton station and its surrounding areas is a tangible example of how investments in transit build community,” WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said. “In a few short years, the joint development agreement has added close to 600 housing units, 3,500 square feet of retail space, 500,000 square feet of commercial office space, new parking, and will soon add regional connection via the Purple Line and improved Amtrak. These projects are a great example of the power of public-private partnership.”
“Urban Atlantic is excited to celebrate the start of construction on this important phase of affordable housing at the New Carrollton station,” said Alan Lederman, Managing Director of Development at Urban Atlantic. “The continuing support of Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland, and WMATA has allowed Urban Atlantic to create a truly unique transit-oriented development that serves all residents of Prince George’s County with a variety of housing options. We are looking forward to not just delivering these new homes, but are looking beyond, to the future, and working with our public partners to complete improvements to the Metro [WMATA] station and public amenities that serve all county residents.”
Further Reading:
- WMATA Breaks Ground on Mixed-Use Community at West Falls Church Station
- Report: DC Rail Extension Eyed for New Commanders Stadium Project
BART
BART on Dec. 2 reported that fares will increase Jan. 1, 2026, “to keep pace with inflation so the agency is able to pay for continued operations and to work toward restoring financial stability.” BART said that its “current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations, and fares continue to be an important funding source to meet the needs of riders who rely on BART and to attract new riders.”
The agency in March sought the public’s input on the fare increase.
Fares will increase 6.2% based upon actual inflation in 2023 and 2024, according to the transit agency. The average fare will increase $0.30, from $4.88 to $5.18. For a short trip like Downtown Berkeley to 19th St./Oakland, the regular fare will increase by $0.15, and for a longer trip, such as the 45-mile journey between Antioch to Montgomery, it’s a $0.55 increase.
The fare increase is expected to raise $15.6 million for Calendar Year 2026, BART reported.
The agency said it is also changing parking prices effective Jan. 1, 2026.
“BART needs a reliable, long-term source of operating funding,” it said. “The agency’s current funding model relies on passenger fares to pay for operations, an outdated model that is no longer feasible due to remote work. Even with the fare increase, BART faces a deficit of $376 million in FY27. The agency must modernize its funding sources to better align with other transit systems in the country that receive larger amounts of public funding.”
BART pointed out that its costs have grown at a rate lower than inflation, “demonstrating we have held the line on spending,” and BART balanced the FY26 budget with $35 million in ongoing cuts and strict cost controls. In the FY27 budget which begins July 1, 2026, BART said it will institute cost savings and deferrals of $108 million to maintain current service levels and produce a balanced budget. In addition, it said it is running shorter trains to save “millions of dollars on energy costs,” and its service schedule better matches ridership. BART said is has implemented a “strategic hiring freeze, targeted reductions to operating costs across departments, renegotiated with unions to reduce near-term retiree healthcare costs, and locked in low energy costs through long-term contracts.”
“As we ask the region for greater investments and support for BART while also making internal cuts to reduce costs, we also must ask our riders to contribute more towards their trips,” BART Board President Mark Foley commented. “We will continue our commitment to enhance efficiencies and implement strict cost controls.”
Further Reading:
- MARTA, BART Budgets Approved for FY26
- BART: ‘Getting Our Budget in Order’
- Watch: BART Constructs New Power Substation in San Francisco
Amtrak
Amtrak on Dec. 1 officially restored direct rail service on the Lake Shore Limited between Albany-Rensselaer and Boston. A landslip near Albany forced the closure of the Post Road Branch earlier this year. Buses had transported riders between these two cities, while Amtrak said its crews “worked hard six days a week, 10 hours a day to get the tracks ready for service.”
“This restoration was a true collaboration,” Amtrak said. “We’re grateful to our partners in New York State, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Federal Railroad Administration for their commitment to reconnecting the Capital Region with New England. We are delighted to welcome the more than 80,000 guests who rely on this route back on board.”
The schedule is:
- Train 449 departs Boston at 12:50 p.m., arriving in Albany at 6:10 p.m.
- Train 448 leaves Albany at 3:27 p.m., pulling into Boston at 8:32 p.m.
The Lake Shore Limited stops daily in Pittsfield, Mass.
Further Reading:
- For Amtrak, ‘A Year of Records’
- Empire State Corridor Service Restored, Improved
- Multiple Factors Impacting Amtrak Long-Distance Trains
GCRTA
Effective Dec. 19, 2025, customer Wi-Fi will be discontinued on all GCRTA buses, trolleys and trains, the transit agency reported Dec. 2. The move, it said, “is a part of cost savings efforts previously announced by GCRTA in managing budgets in 2025 and 2026.”
Customer Wi-Fi will continue to be available 24/7 at the following GCRTA stations and transit centers:
- Tower City Station
- Cedar University Station
- East 55th St. Station
- Louis Stokes/Windermere Station
- East 79th St. Station
- Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center
These stations will be affected:
- Cedar – University Rapid Station
- E. 55 Rapid Station
- E. 79 (Red Line) Rapid Station
- Louis Stokes / Windermere Rapid Station
- Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center
- Tower City Rapid Station
