SacRT
SacRT on Sept. 24 announced the launch of the Transit Connect app, a new regional fare payment system that gives riders a “faster, easier, and more flexible” way to pay for transit. With the Transit Connect app, riders can purchase and activate tickets anytime, anywhere using their smartphone—eliminating the need for cash, paper tickets, or ticket machines.
The first phase of Transit Connect launches with SacRT full-fare mobile ticketing only. Discount fare options and Yolobus fare products are scheduled to be added in early November. This first phase introduces mobile ticketing, along with rider-friendly features such as stored value wallet to load funds directly in the app and group ticketing to purchase multiple fares at once.
Future upgrades will expand the Transit Connect app to include additional transit partner integrations and add new features like scan-to-pay for faster boarding, fare capping so customers never pay more than the daily max, and the ability to load cash at fare vending machines and convenience stores.
“SacRT is proud to launch the Transit Connect app, which will make it easier than ever for people to travel throughout the Sacramento region,” said SacRT General Manager and CEO Henry Li. “Our riders deserve a seamless, modern experience that makes it easier to connect to the entire region, and the Transit Connect app provides exactly that.”
Powered by Masabi, a global leader in mobile fare payment solutions, the Transit Connect app, SacRT says, “lays the groundwork for a seamless and unified transit payment system for the Sacramento region.”
“Mobile ticketing is transforming public transit worldwide by putting convenience and simplicity first,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We’re excited to partner with SacRT to deliver Transit Connect, helping riders across the Sacramento region access a modern and connected experience.”
To use the Transit Connect app, riders simply show their activated ticket to a bus operator or fare inspector, just like with the current ZipPass app, which will be phased out later this year. For riders currently using Connect Card (including state workers) full integration is expected as part of phase two in 2026.
LA Metro
On Friday, Sept. 19, LA Metro officially began passenger service on the Glendora to Pomona extension of the Meto A Line.
It was a truly historic day for the San Gabriel Valley, with thousands showing up for the opening day ceremony, community events at each station and to ride the new A Line extension, noted the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority (also known as the Metro Gild Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority). Among those in attendance were past and present elected officials at all levels of government who helped make this historic day possible; the Foothill Gold Line and Metro boards and staffs; the project’s design-build team of Kiewit-Parsons; higher education officials; community stakeholders; and the media.
“The Construction Authority again would like to thank the residents, businesses and students of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona for your patience and understanding over these past five years as this important project was completed. We look forward to riding this new extension with you.”
A view recap of the opening say is available below.
COWI
Denmark-based global consulting group COWI announced Sept. 25 that it has been appointed lead designer by Connect Plus Partners (Connect+) as part of the design build contract for the Phase 2 – Tunnelling and Structural Shell of the Second Avenue Subway Expansion in New York.
The Second Avenue Subway program, COWI says, is designed to deliver a modern, efficient, and attractive transit system, with the primary goals of improving access on Manhattan’s East Side—particularly for the East Harlem community—reducing congestion on the existing 4-5-6 line running under Lexington Avenue, and enhancing mobility for residents, workers, and visitors across New York City. The $1.972 billion design build construction contract, awarded to Connect+, a joint venture of Halmar International and FCC Construction, will extend the Q Line north from 96th Street to 125th Street, delivering critical new rail capacity and multimodal connections in Manhattan.
Phase 2 comprises approximately 1.5 miles of twin running tunnels, station shell construction at 116th and 125th Streets, and reuse of an existing tunnel segment originally built in the 1970s, providing significant savings. The project also includes above-ground ancillary buildings for ventilation, mechanical, and electrical systems, with opportunities for ground-floor retail and community uses. The contract awarded to Connect + and COWI includes design, engineering, scheduling, coordination and construction of the tunnelling and structural shells that will make up Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway Program.
Phase 2 is a transportation option that is long-awaited by the residents and businesses of East Harlem, the company noted. This project will restore a subway line to the neighborhood, adding three new ADA-accessible stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets. It will significantly improve mobility for commuters and residents of East Harlem, reduce congestion on the 4-5-6 line, and enhance overall system reliability.
“Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the country,” said COWI North America Executive Vice President Thomas Dahlgren. “By extending service north to 125th Street, MTA is restoring rapid transit to East Harlem for the first time in more than 80 years, reducing crowding on the current subway line under Lexington Avenue, and improving daily mobility for more than 100,000 riders.”
As lead designer for Phase 2, and with support from a team of design subconsultants, COWI says it will apply its expertise in tunnel design and transit facility rehabilitation to manage all aspects of the project scope. This includes bringing industry knowledge, innovation, and technical depth to one of New York City’s most significant infrastructure investments.
“This is a technically complex job in one of the world’s most challenging underground environments. Our role is to bring the depth of COWI’s global tunnelling and underground design expertise to ensure constructability, safety, and efficiency are embedded in every stage of delivery. With 50 years of U.S. experience and the support of more than 450 tunnel design professionals worldwide, we have one of the largest and most specialized teams in the industry. That scale and knowledge give us the capacity to manage every aspect of design for a project of this size and importance,” Dahlgren added.
Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with tunnel boring operations launching in 2027 and overall contract completion anticipated in 2030.
STM
The union representing Montreal transit maintenance workers warned Sept. 24 that “more strike days could be added after accusing the city’s transit agency of not negotiating in good faith,” according to a Montreal Gazette report.
According to the report, more than 100 maintenance employees of STM demonstrated outside the agency’s head office on Wednesday. Four more strike days can be exercised by the union between now and Oct. 3., unless a deal between maintenance workers and the STM is struck, The Gazette reports.
Bruno Jeannotte, President of the Syndicat du transport de Montréal–CSN, said “discussions with a mediator were continuing, but had not yet reached the stage of appointing an arbitrator.”
We are making progress on certain points,” he said.
François Enault, a Vice President with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), said the dispute “centers on subcontracting, atypical schedules and wages,” according to the report. “We’re ready to try to find an agreement. But right now, the employer is not acting in good faith,” he said. “We’ve been waiting months. If there’s no movement, we’ll increase the mobilization and the strike.”
Enault emphasized that “subcontracting remains the sticking point.” He argued that the STM “is looking to save money by outsourcing maintenance tasks that unionized workers already do.” In a statement, STM spokesperson Renaud Martel-Théorêt said “intensive negotiations had begun this week.” He said the union sought wage hikes of about 25% over five years, along with bonuses and other conditions. Martel-Théorêt said it would cost the STM $300 million more than its budget. The STM is offering 12.5% over five years, including an inflation-linked adjustment, according to the Montreal Gazette report.
Martel-Théorêt added that since last week the STM “has not received any further details from the union regarding its wage demands.”
Despite the tension, the agency said, “commuters were better prepared than during the first strike day Monday thanks to clearer communication,” though it acknowledged the service disruptions caused “a lot of headaches,” according to the report.
Labor Minister Jean Boulet told TVA that an arbitrator could be named “as early as Thursday morning if both sides agree to it.”
More information is available here.
TTC
Crisis workers will soon be stationed on TTC Line 1 subway platforms as part of a new safety pilot, according to a CP24 report.
According to the report, officials say deployment will start as soon as Nov. 15 and that Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) staff will be embedded 24/7 at Spadina, Union, and Bloor-Yonge stations.
Transit users can report an incident through the SafeTTC app, speaking to TTC staff, or by calling 211.
The plan, CP24 reports, is to scale the $540,000 pilot to $1.8 million annually, though Mayor Olivia Chow acknowledged “funding is not yet confirmed.” She is urging City Council to support the initiative in the upcoming budget, calling transit safety a “top priority,” according to the report.
“Transit needs to be safe and feel safe. Bringing crisis workers on to the platform as a resource for riders will help us respond to incidents faster and prevent them,” Chow said, noting that 78% of mental health calls are resolved without police involvement.
