NYMTA
The New York MTA on Dec. 2 unveiled a first-of-its-kind, limited-edition merchandise collaboration with the AMNH in celebration of the 40th anniversary of MTA Arts & Design. The capsule collection draws inspiration from artwork at the 81st Street-Museum of Natural History B and C subway station.
The station’s expansive mixed-media art installation, titled “For Want of a Nail,” compromises glass mosaic, glass tile, ceramic tile, granite, and bronze relief. It was developed by MTA Arts & Design in partnership with AMNH staff and community members and installed in 2000. The designs, the agency says, “reflect the broad scope of the Museum’s renowned collections and exhibitions, celebrating the intersection of science, art, and the everyday journeys of transit riders.”
The collection apparel and accessories for all ages—adult and children’s t-shirts, a fleece sweatshirt, water bottle, tote, backpack, hat, stickers, magnets and collectible pins. Merchandise is available exclusively at the AMNH Gift Shop and online store while supplies last.
This initiative, the agency says, “reflects the MTA’s ongoing commitment to enriching the transit experience through art, culture and community partnerships. It also invites New Yorkers and visitors alike to engage with public transit and natural history in a new and tangible way. The collaboration is part of a broader initiative to generate incremental revenue for the MTA through activities such as licensing and advertising.”
“Transit’s not just a way to get from point A to point B, it’s a cultural experience,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “Few stations make the point better than 81 St–Museum of Natural History with its stunning mosaics, and we hope this will be the first of many location-based collections between the MTA and iconic New York institutions like this one.”
“Most of our visitors and staff arrive at the Museum by subway through one of the most iconic and beautiful stations in the system,” said American Museum of Natural History President Sean M. Decatur. “A journey of discovery begins the minute you step off the train and encounter spectacular art installations that reflect the wide range of the Museum’s scientific work and exhibitions, thanks to Arts for Transit and our longstanding partnership with the MTA. We’re delighted now to build on our partnership, enabling visitors to bring home a souvenir both of their time at the Museum and their travel through the 81 St–Museum of Natural History station.”
VIA Rail
VIA Rail on Dec. 3 welcomed elected officials, partners, and members of its Accessibility Advisory Committee to its Ottawa Station to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and to unveil its 2026-2029 Accessibility Plan, recently submitted to the Government of Canada.
For VIA Rail, the agency says, “accessibility is not simply a goal, it is a core value that guides its decisions, the design of its services, and the way its teams welcome and support passengers and employees.” For several years, it has worked closely with experts, specialized organizations, and persons with disabilities to make its network, digital tools, and workplace increasingly inclusive.
“As Canada’s national intercity passenger rail carrier, we have a responsibility to make transportation accessible to as many people as possible,” said VIA Rail President and CEO Mario Péloquin. “With unprecedented federal support and the guidance of our accessibility partners, we are delivering a travel experience that removes barriers and expands mobility for all Canadians.”
The 2026–2029 Accessibility Plan (download below), VIA Rail says, reflects this ambition and is structured around strengthened priorities, including:
- “Integrating accessibility from the design stage of all major projects, including digital services, internal procedures, and workplace environments.
- “Improving the experience of persons with disabilities through user-centered processes, ongoing staff training, and sustained dialogue with the advisory committee.
- “Creating an inclusive and barrier-free workplace to ensure that all employees and candidates benefit from real equality of opportunity.”
The event also highlighted the crucial role of collaboration. Organizations such as Transport Canada, Ottawa Tourism, members of VIA Rail’s Accessibility Advisory Committee, and participants in the various accessibility consultations have, for years, helped shape the solutions being implemented, the agency noted.
The plan is also supported by federal investments, including those announced in Budget 2024 to renew VIA Rail’s pan-Canadian fleet, which will introduce modern and universally accessible trains across the country beginning in 2032.
Mass. Government
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on Dec. 3 held a signing ceremony for a bill to protect transit workers from assault and battery, according to a WWLP news report.
According to the report, the new law “ensures public transportation workers are explicitly protected from assault and battery, including assault involving human secretions. The human secretion clause closes a loophole in the law where certain behaviors did not previously explicitly fall under the categories of assault and battery. According to the governor, transit workers often face violent behavior from customers while working.”
The protections, WWLP reports, which, applies to transit workers across the state—Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) employees in Cambridge to bus drivers in Chicopee—takes effect in early March, 90 days after the official signing.
