SEPTA / BLET
Members of BLET Local Division 71 in Philadelphia, Pa., have ratified a new three-year contract with SEPTA, the union reported July 17. The contract governs 159 locomotive engineers who operate SEPTA commuter trains; 87% of eligible voters cast ballots, with 94% voting in favor.
According to BLET, the contract compresses the wage ladder from 15 to seven years. Previously, it would take a SEPTA engineer 15 years—“three to five times longer than any other railroad in the country”—to achieve their full rate of pay, the union said.
Additional improvements include:
- COVID bonus of up to $2,200 for eligible members.
- Juneteenth added as a holiday with eight hours compensation.
- Addition of four weeks of pregnancy/parental leave.
The agreement “does not change work rules or the members’ health and welfare plan,” BLET reported. “BLET General Chairman Don Hill said annual wage increases similar to what TWU 234 recently negotiated, in addition to the wage ladder compression, will help bring the pay of SEPTA engineers closer to that of their peers at other passenger and commuter railroads in the region.”
The national presidents of the BLET and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division, which represents conductors, last fall authorized strike votes on SEPTA “after months of mediated talks [with the agency] failed to produce progress toward agreements,” according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
SacRT
SacRT on July 18 held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Watt/I-80 Transit Center Improvement Project, which will improve safety, accessibility, and overall customer experience for light rail and bus riders (see fact sheet below). Slated for completion in early 2026, the project includes widening the Watt Avenue Bridge, constructing an open-air stairwell linking Watt Avenue with the transit center, developing a new bus/pedestrian plaza, upgrading I-80 on-ramps, and improving the portion of the transit center located beneath Watt Avenue.
SacRT said it recently invested millions into the transit center, including upgrading the two elevators, and will invest $26 million in the new improvements over the next two years.
Following is the anticipated construction schedule:
- Now – mid-August 2024: Modification of bus lane at light rail station; no impact to riders.
- Mid-July – October 2024: Watt Avenue median replacement; lane closures on Watt Avenue.
- August – September 2024: Modification of bus lane at light rail station; bus stops will be moved during construction efforts.
- September 2024 – February 2025: Construction on west side of Watt Avenue, bus plaza (upper deck on Watt Avenue), and stairs.
- December 2024 – March 2025: Construction to south on-ramp; lane and ramp closures expected.
- February – September 2025: Construction on west side of Watt Avenue, bus plaza and stairs.
- March – May 2025: Construction to north on-ramp; lane and ramp closures expected.
- September – November 2025: Watt Avenue and on-ramp construction; lane and ramp closures expected.
“The Watt/I-80 Transit Center Improvement Project is a critical step forward in our commitment to providing safe, reliable and efficient transit services for our community,” SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li said. “These improvements will not only make the transit center more accessible but also more inviting and capable of handling increased ridership.”
“Investing in our transit infrastructure is essential for the growth and development of our community,” SacRT Board Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy said. “The enhancements to the Watt/I-80 Transit Center will create a safer and more efficient transit hub, encouraging more people to use public transportation and reducing congestion on our roads.”
“The Federal Transit Administration is proud to support the Watt/I-80 Transit Center Improvement Project,” said Amy Changchien, Federal Transit Administration Region 9 Deputy Administrator. “This initiative aligns with our goals of enhancing public transportation systems to be more sustainable, accessible and more efficient. We look forward to seeing the long-term positive impact these upgrades will have on improving connectivity and promoting equity in the Sacramento community.”
In other SacRT news, two of the transit agency’s 20 new Siemens Mobility S700 low-floor light rail vehicles completed 1,000 miles of testing in May.
San Diego MTS / NCTD
San Diego MTS and NCTD on July 19 debuted contactless fare payment that allows riders to tap and pay directly on a fare validator with a credit card or other mobile payment option, such as a smartphone or smartwatch; riders can now choose to bypass purchasing a fare card or preloading fares. Contactless Payment is available on MTS trolleys and buses, as well as NCTD COASTER commuter rail, SPRINTER hybrid rail, FLEX on-demand, and BREEZE bus services.
Fares paid through contactless payment methods are eligible for free transfers during the two-hour period on most modes after the first boarding time, according to San Diego MTS. Each rider will be required to pay their fare with a unique payment method, as each method can only be used for one rider at a time. Most debit or credit cards, smartphones, and wearables like Apple Watches, Fitbits, and Samsung Watches are equipped with contactless pay options and can be used on system fare validators to pay. San Diego MTS and NCTD teamed with Germany-based INIT for system technology upgrades, Chase Bank for payment processing, and other technology and system developer partners to implement contactless payment.
“Contactless payment is great for riders on the go,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3. “It’s fast and simple. Being able to just tap a credit card makes taking transit easier.”
“This new feature expands payment options for riders to improve the convenience of taking transit,” said Jewel Edson, NCTD Board Chair and Solana Beach Deputy Mayor. “We hope folks heading to a Padres game, concert, or out to dinner will choose transit and enjoy the simplicity of contactless payment.”
Separately, the San Diego MTS Board has green lighted the Copper Line Trolley and NCTD recently elevated Misty Calder to Deputy General Counsel.
