Transit Briefs: TransLink, Metrolinx, Caltrain, NYMTA, Sound Transit

TransLink

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for North Vancouver Jonathan Wilkin, along with TransLink CEO Kevin Quinn and members of the TransLink Mayors’ Council, on Jan. 27 announced a federal investment of more than C$663 million in transit funding to improve Metro Vancouver’s public transit infrastructure, “providing predictable and long-term funding, tied to a greater density near transit.”

This funding, which will be delivered over 10 years from 2026 until 2036, will help Metro Vancouver advance key improvements to its public transit system and help respond to critical transit needs caused by rapid population growth, according to the Government of Canada. Providing long-term, predictable funding will help TransLink plan, upgrade, replace, or modernize existing public transit and active transportation infrastructure.

The investments will also help increase the housing supply and affordability as part of complete, transit-oriented communities, while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, the Government of Canada noted.

“Through a $663 million injection of reliable, predictable baseline funding for TransLink, this federal government is keeping Metro Vancouver residents connected to their work and communities,” said Wilkinson. “The funding, which will focus on expansions, improvements, and repair, is critical to the stability and future of public transit in the region, including along the North Shore. Reliable public transit infrastructure is key to reducing traffic, lowering air pollution, and improving affordability for all communities.”

“TransLink is grateful for the Federal Government’s continued capital funding commitments through the Canada Public Transit Fund, which will allow us to upgrade our current infrastructure,” said Quinn. “We are ready to meet the demands of our growing region through the Access for Everyone plan and look forward to continuing work with the Government of Canada to advance much-needed transit expansion in Metro Vancouver.”

Metrolinx

The City of Brampton on Jan. 24 celebrated the Ontario government’s announcement to extend Metrolinx’s Hazel McCallion Line into downtown Brampton with the development of a rapid transit tunnel.

Premier of Ontario Doug Ford last February fist confirmed, while speaking at the Mississauga Board of Trade, the government’s plan to extend Metrolinx’s Hazel McCallion LRT project (formerly known as the Hurontario LRT project) by building the Mississauga loop and bringing the line into downtown Brampton. 

“This transformative project will provide fast, reliable and sustainable transit while enhancing connectivity and supporting the City’s vision for a thriving downtown core,” the City said.

The planned four-kilometer (2.5-mile) underground extension will run from the Brampton Gateway Terminal to downtown Brampton, linking the Hazel McCallion Line to the heart of the city. This investment, the City says, “ensures seamless integration with Brampton Transit, Züm, GO Transit and other regional transit systems, providing residents and businesses with improved accessibility and convenience.”

The Hazel McCallion Line extension is expected to spur significant economic development in Brampton, including the creation of 47,000 new housing units and 17,000 jobs over the lifespan of this project. “These new opportunities will drive urban renewal in the city’s downtown core, further solidifying Brampton’s reputation as a key destination for growth and innovation,” according to the City.

The project will prioritize connections to key destinations like the Brampton Innovation District and the downtown core, supporting the City’s long-term economic and urban development goals.

According to the City, key benefits for Brampton include:

• “Enhanced connectivity: The extension will connect downtown Brampton with major transit systems across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
• “Reduced congestion: By encouraging transit use, the project will ease traffic on Brampton’s busiest roads.
• “Environmental sustainability: Clean, electrically powered light rail vehicles will produce near-zero emissions, promoting greener transportation.
• Economic growth: The improved transit infrastructure will attract businesses, residents and investment to the city’s core.”

The Hazel McCallion Line extension is part of the largest transit expansion in North America, with Ontario investing nearly $70 billion over the next decade to modernize and expand public transit. Designated as a priority under the Building Transit Faster Act in 2024, the project will benefit from expedited approvals, ensuring timely delivery and value for taxpayers.

As Ontario’s third-largest city continues to grow and evolve, the Hazel McCallion Line extension “will be a cornerstone of Brampton’s transportation and city-building strategy, providing residents with efficient, sustainable and accessible transit options for decades to come,” the City noted.

Caltrain

Despite the winter weather, Caltrain’s ridership continues to show major gains, with December 2024 having more than a half million passengers, a 41% increase over December 2023, the agency reported on Jan. 27. Since the launch of electric service in September 2024, the agency has been reporting its best ridership numbers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Caltrain had more than 588,000 passengers last month, a substantial increase from 416,000 in December of last year. Average weekday ridership stood at just over 24,000, a 39% increase from last December, following October’s increase of 38% and November’s 24% increase. Weekend ridership is also standing strong since service was doubled at launch, with Saturdays seeing a 62% increase and Sundays an 85% increase from last December, bringing it to nearly pre-pandemic levels.

“Electric service is continuing to deliver on its promise,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “We are providing a fast, convenient, modern service, and many people who are tired of sitting in gridlock on 101 are getting onboard and experiencing the future of travel firsthand.”

NYMTA

The MTA on Jan. 27 announced the results of the Fall 2024 Customers Count Survey, which launched on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, and received responses from 82,222 customers. The results, according to the agency, showed increased overall satisfaction for Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North riders and increases in feeling safe on subways.

Long Island Rail Road

In Fall 2024, overall satisfaction on the LIRR reached 76%, a six-point increase from Spring 2024, according to the survey (download below). Focusing on on-time performance through Jamaica Station and the transfer experience are key factors in the improvement. Satisfaction with the transfer experience, a very important key driver, is up six points to 63%. Satisfaction with service reliability also improved two points to 82%, peak service frequency rose four points to 71%, and satisfaction with on-time performance increased by two points to 78%. Several other attributes saw increases, including satisfaction with frequency of delays and seat availability.

Nine branches saw significant increases in overall satisfaction, and all branches now have satisfaction scores above 70%, besides Oyster Bay, which increased eight points to 68%.

Customers are noticing the added focus on restroom cleanliness through the LIRR’s Restroom survey. Satisfaction with restroom cleanliness is up, both for restrooms at stations at 73%, up four points, and for restrooms on board at 45%, up four points.

“One of my main goals when I assumed the presidency of the LIRR was to create an amazing customer experience, every day, on every train,” said Long Island Rail Road President Rob Free. “This incredible jump in customer satisfaction shows that we are in fact achieving it. The LIRR continuously monitors data and customer feedback to improve the reliability and customer experience of our service. On-time performance is at record highs, schedules are more convenient, and this makes our customers happy.”

Metro-North Railroad

Metro-North continues to be the highest-rated agency with an overall customer satisfaction rating of 85%, up from 83% in Spring 2024, with increases across all lines, according to the survey. The Hudson line was the highest performing line, with satisfaction increasing three points to 86%. The Harlem line improved to 85%, up two points, and the New Haven line increased one point to 84%.

“Customers throughout the Metro-North service region are experiencing record on-time performance, accessibility upgrades and station improvements,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “And upcoming capital investments will further improve the safe and reliable railroad that our riders deserve.”

New York City Transit

Nearly half of subway customers are satisfied with the subway overall, up two points to 49% from 47% in the Spring 2024 survey. The overall increase in satisfaction is likely driven by higher satisfaction with safety, MTA noted. Fifty-six percent of customers feel safe on trains, up from 45% in the spring; and 51% of customers feel safe in stations, up from 44%. Customers are also more likely to be satisfied on board at 58%, up from 54% in the spring, according to the survey (download below).

“Improving the perception of safety on the subway and bus systems is a constant work in progress, but it is encouraging to see the presence of MTA employees and police officers is making a difference,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “We will continue to deliver on our core priorities of improving safety and service in the coming months, bringing customers a smoother and more reliable transit experience.”

Sound Transit

The Sound Transit Board has voted to adopt the name Pinehurst Station for the NE 130th Infill Station Project, the agency announced on Jan. 24. The station, which will enter passenger service in 2026, will serve the growing residential neighborhood between Northgate and Shoreline South/148th Street stations.

This new elevated station was approved by voters in 2016 as part of the ST3 ballot measure and will be the first infill station to join the Link light rail network. The project includes pedestrian and bicycle connections, bus stops at the 130th/5th Avenue intersection, a dedicated paratransit drop-off area, and a passenger vehicle drop-off area.

The name change, Sound Transit says, comes after robust public engagement and an internal station name evaluation process. Sound Transit made surveys available in nine languages, and outreach staff made more than 800 in-person contacts in the area. Combined with email and online outreach, more than 2,300 people weighed in on the new station name. Survey respondents were asked to assess a short list of names, and “Pinehurst Station” emerged as the top choice.

Staff will now move forward with fabricating “Pinehurst Station” signage and programming necessary systems to ensure that Pinehurst opens with all necessary passenger-facing and operations-related tools tested and ready for revenue service. 

Pinehurst Station is an important part of Sound Transit’s larger regional expansion of light rail service to downtown Redmond and across the I-90 bridge, the agency noted. When the current expansion projects are complete, Link will provide service to future Pinehurst riders as often as every four minutes, as trains travel through Seattle to reach Federal Way and the east side.