PANYNJ
PANYNJ recently reported that its PATH commuter rail system recorded its second busiest month since the pandemic, welcoming 5.2 million passengers and reaching 74% of pre-pandemic ridership.
The month’s total of 5.2 million passengers was second only to the 5.7 million passengers recorded in October 2024. April 2025’s passenger total was 11% above April 2024.
April 2025 also saw average weekday ridership surpass 200,000 passengers for the third time since the pandemic. The month’s average weekday ridership of 203,615 passengers was a jump of 12% from April 2024.
PATH welcomed 18.7 million passengers over the first four months of the year. The total was a 7% increase from the same period of 2024. It was 71% of 2019’s year-to-date total.
WMATA
WMATA on May 27 announced the selection of Hines, the global real estate investment manager, as the developer for the 13.9-acre North Bethesda joint development site adjacent to the rail station. The firm has been operating in the DC metro area for more than 40 years and owns and operates $90.1 billion of assets across property types.
This selection, WMATA says, brings Montgomery County one step closer to “a transformative new life sciences-anchored development and resulting economic opportunities, with the North Bethesda Metro station serving as the gateway.”
“Today’s milestone is the result of a thorough evaluation process that started after team qualifications were submitted in October 2024 and was preceded by years of planning,” WMATA noted.
Last summer, WMATA and Montgomery County officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that affirmed infrastructure funding and economic development incentives for North Bethesda, including more than $36.6 million for on-site infrastructure, a new north entrance to the Metro station, and a commitment from the University of Maryland to establish the Institute for Health Computing as an anchor for the development.
Six development teams responded to WMATA’s Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Hines was competitively selected, the agency says, based on their “proven capacity to execute complex projects, including significant experience with and commitment to life sciences integrated with mixed-use development.” The future development is envisioned to include delivery of a new Metro entrance on the north side of the station, a signature building along Rockville Pike, the future home of the University of Maryland’s Institute for Health Computing and incubator space, as well as a mix of life science, residential, and retail uses.
Staff will commence negotiations on the joint development agreement in anticipation of bringing recommendations to WMATA’s Board of Directors later this year for approval to execute the agreement. The development plan and timeline will be refined and advanced as part of this process.
In related news, WMATA on May 28 launched a new, faster, and easier way to pay fares called “Tap. Ride. Go.”
According to the agency, customers can now simply tap a contactless credit or debit card with the contactless symbol or mobile wallet/smartwatch virtual cards on rail station fare gates to pay for fares. SmarTrip cards (physical and mobile) will continue to be an option to pay for fares and parking.
Tap. Ride. Go. will be available for use on Metrobuses and at Metro parking facilities in the future.
The new way to pay, WMATA says, “will greatly benefit tourists and occasional customers who want to avoid fare machines and SmarTrip cards altogether.” Customers can simply tap in at a faregate with a contactless credit or debit card and tap out with the same card to pay for their fares.
“Our Board of Directors is proud to celebrate Metro’s latest transformative initiative,” said Metro Board of Directors Chair Valerie Santos. “The launch of Tap. Ride. Go. fits into our strategic vision of enhancing service efficiency and accessibility. We expect that open payment will offer increased convenience for our customers — especially visitors to our National Capital Region — making it easier to access Metro, simplify their travel experience, and explore the region. This innovation is designed to modernize the customer journey and elevate Metro to world-class standards for seamless transportation.”
WMATA has been working on the Tap. Ride. Go. Program, which was launched with help from contractors Littlepay, Cubic, and STraffic, since late last year.
Alstom
Alstom on May 28 announced that it will deliver 19 additional Innovia APM R cars to Denver International Airport. This option order will increase the total number of cars delivered to 45. The Automated People Mover (APM) vehicles will be manufactured and tested in America at Alstom’s facility in West Mifflin, Pa. The total value of this option is more than $69 million USD.
The Innovia APM R, Alstom says, provides increased capacity with up to eight four-car trains available to operate at any given time. The upgrades to the APM system are essential to serving existing demand and supporting the continued growth of Denver International Airport, the third busiest airport in the U.S., and sixth busiest airport in the world, the company noted.
This expansion of the APM fleet serving Denver International Airport, Alstom says, “will help ensure the airport can adapt their fleet size to support current and future passenger volume, as well as accommodate vehicle maintenance schedules. Alstom’s Innovia APM R cars are a perfect fit for this kind of frequent airport operations, as the fully automated system allows operations to easily adjust for peak and off-peak times. The airport set an all-time passenger traffic record of 82.3 million in 2024 and is projected to exceed 100 million passengers per year by 2030.”
In addition to moving more passengers at a time, the lightweight aluminum car bodies are assembled using recyclable materials and use a more efficient power supply that improves the airport’s energy consumption by more than 30%, “reflective of Alstom’s and Denver’s commitment to sustainable mobility solutions,” the company noted.
Alstom has been providing operations and maintenance services for the airport’s APM system since the airport opened in 1994, with staff providing 24/7 support. In late 2024, Alstom secured a contract extension to continue providing operations and maintenance services for an additional seven years, through December 31, 2032.
“We are delighted to see how Denver International Airport has grown over the years and proud to be a partner with them as they manage an increasing number of passengers that move through the airport each day,” said Michael Keroullé, President of Alstom Americas. “The expansion of the Innovia APM fleet reinforces our shared goal to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable transportation that will support the airport’s extraordinary growth.”
