SacRT
SacRT rolled out the first of its new Siemens Mobility S700 LRVs on the Gold Line (Sept. 1) and the Green Line (Sept. 3), marking a “significant milestone in modernizing Sacramento’s transit system, enhancing accessibility, and improving the rider experience,” it reported. The transit agency held a launch ceremony Sept. 3 at the 7th & Richards/Township 9 Station (watch the video in the social media post above).
According to SacRT, the new S700s have at-platform boarding at every door and allow riders with mobility devices to board using a deployable ramp at the two center doors. Also, each LRV can accommodate up to 187 riders (sitting and standing) and features four dedicated wheelchair locations.
For the first couple of weeks, SacRT said it will operate a mixed fleet of new low-floor and legacy high-floor trains on the Gold and Green lines as it completes final testing of the new trains. SacRT in May had finished testing the first two of the 20 new LRVs that had been delivered.
On the Blue Line, SacRT will continue to run the current high-floor trains, which still require riders with mobility devices and those unable to climb stairs to use the mini-high ramps at the end of station platforms. Platform construction to meet the new LRV height requirements is slated to begin later this month and wrap up in 2027.
The new low-floor LRVs are part of SacRT’s Light Rail Modernization Project, which includes modifications to station platforms to accommodate them and the addition of a Gold Line passing track to help provide 15-minute service at all four Folsom-area stations. Until construction of the passing track is completed in October, the new LRVs will only run between Sacramento Valley Station and Iron Point Station, according to SacRT.
The transit agency has ordered 45 S700s from Siemens for its 43-mile, 53-station system to replace older cars that have reached the end of their useful life. It initially awarded the carbuilder a 20-car contract in 2020 with options to purchase up to 76. Siemens had previously provided 36 U2A vehicles in the late 1980s.
“This is a historic moment for SacRT and the Sacramento region,” SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li said. “The launch of our new S700 light rail vehicles reflects our dedication to delivering safe, reliable, and accessible transit options. I want to thank all our partners, elected officials, and the entire SacRT team for their commitment to making this day a reality.”
“These new trains are more than just a transit upgrade; they are a promise to our community to provide equitable, efficient and future-ready transportation,” SacRT Board Chair Patrick Kennedy said. “This is an exciting time for Sacramento, and we look forward to continuing to serve our riders with these new, improved vehicles.”
“Thanks to new funding created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was proud to award more than $45 million dollars to help SacRT buy new trains and the platform improvements to use them,” said Ray Tellis, Administrator for FTA Region 9.
“Congratulations to the entire SacRT team for their relentless efforts in making this service launch a reality,” said Michael Cahill, President Rolling Stock for Siemens Mobility North America. “Built by Siemens Mobility and our team of more than 2,400 in Sacramento, these trains and the connection they bring are a gateway to a future where transportation is seamlessly connected, and where our city can thrive.”
Denver RTD
Denver RTD on Sept. 3 reported launching a Transit Police (RTD-PD) cadet program for full-time Denver metro-area college students, who are pursuing a criminal justice or related degree. Created by Denver RTD Deputy Chief Steven Martingano, the program allows students to gain insight on the day-to-day work of an officer in a transit police environment and explore the public safety field, while potentially earning a three-hour credit for college. It provides specialized training on video investigations, integrated security, cybersecurity and police dispatch communications.
Johan Sherpa, a senior at the University of Colorado Denver studying criminal justice, started as RTD-PD’s first police cadet on July 22. He is expected to complete the program in approximately six months. The agency said it will soon add an Emergency Management police cadet to the program.
“The program dedicates time and resources to make sure someone knows what they’re coming into when considering being an officer,” Martingano said. “If a cadet wants to join our department, they already have the confidence coming in and understanding of the work to quickly complete field training.” Martingano is keenly aware of the importance of police cadet programs. Without his year-and-a-half experience as a New York City Police Department cadet, Martingano said he “might never have applied to be an officer.” He had intended to pursue a degree in accounting.
Denver RTD provides public transportation in eight counties, including all of Boulder, Broomfield, Denver and Jefferson counties; parts of Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas Counties; and a small portion of Weld County. Among its services: bus, rail (light rail and commuter rail), shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand responsive services like FlexRide, special event services, and vanpools.
Separately, earlier this month Denver RTD reported meeting all nine of the state of Colorado’s financial health ratios and made permanent its Zero Fare for Youth program.
DART
DART has introduced the “Live Green, Ride Clean” campaign to demonstrate its commitment to the cleanliness and overall maintenance of its facilities, including bus stops, transfer and train stations, and buses and LRVs.
According to the transit agency, the overall goals of “Live Green, Ride Clean” are to:
- “Enhance Hygiene Standards: Comprehensive cleaning of stations, bus shelters, trains, and buses to ensure all areas meet or exceed hygiene regulations.
- “Landscape Beautification: Improve drive-up appeal and enhance beauty through plants and landscape materials.
- “Improve Functionality: Maintenance work to address any operational issues and ensure all facilities are functioning optimally.
- “Elevate User Experience: Create a more inviting and user-friendly environment for all visitors and employees.”
“DART has more than 250 employees, including dedicated staff and contractors committed to the overall maintenance of the system,” the agency said. “DART maintains hundreds of locations that are cleaned daily—many three times per day or more.”
DART LRVs, for example, are cleaned throughout the day, even when the vehicle is in revenue service, according to the agency. Additionally, all buses and LRVs are brought to service yards at night where they are deep cleaned before entering revenue service the next day.
“DART is thrilled to be able to spotlight the efforts of our clean team through the Live Green, Ride Clean initiative,” said Bernard Jackson, DART Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. “This effort relates to many of the pillars of our Point B, Strategic Plan, especially Quality Service and Culture of Contribution. As part of these, we want our riders to see the care that our team puts toward making DART spaces clean and inviting and we want our employees to deliver on our mission of creating a best-in-class mobility experiences that help people and communities connect and flourish.”
“It is extremely gratifying to hear from the community as they notice the changes that are being implemented as we work to enhance the system,” said Gustavo Espinoza, DART Assistant Vice President of Maintenance of Way and Facility Maintenance. “Many people would be surprised to find out the effort and staffing that is required to maintain a system as large as ours. We take immense pride in ensuring that things look their best, that is why we have efforts like the main line cleaning program, or a two-hour window to remove any graffiti that is offensive.”
In other DART news, the Orange Line recently celebrated a decade of providing service to DFW Airport.
