WMATA
After more than 20,000 votes from customers throughout the region, WMATA has announced that the public has selected Option 3 as the updated livery design for the agency’s incoming rail fleet.
“While the exterior design of the new 8000-series fleet pays homage to Metro’s past, the interior is all about the future,” said Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “This new rail fleet will improve the customer experience in every way. We thank our loyal customers for their input on the future of Metro.”
The 8000-series Hitachi Rail cars feature wider aisles, increased digital signage, and dynamic wayfinding, among other upgrades.
“Our region deserves a modern rail system, and the new 8000 series fleet will be instrumental in providing the safe, frequent, and reliable service our customers expect,” said Metro Board of Directors Chair Valerie Santos. “We also commend Metro staff for identifying $21 million in cost savings on this project- funds that will now be reinvested directly into the capital program to benefit our customers.”
Customers can expect to see pilot cars with the new rolling through stations in late 2027. The updated rail fleet look “represents another step toward delivering a more seamless experience for our customers,” WMATA noted.
BART
Newly released data shows crime has dropped substantially on BART through the first seven months of this year. The number of violent crimes reported on BART declined from 203 for the first seven months of 2024 to 130 incidents this year. Property crimes also fell from 1,091 for the first seven months of 2024 to 547 this year. All the latest crime numbers can be found in the July Chief’s Report (download below).
The decrease in crime, the agency says, comes as BART PD has remained focused on maintaining a highly visible safety presence in the system. At the same time BART has accelerated the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates. Now 48 of BART’s 50 stations have new high-tech gates, which are proving to be a strong deterrent against fare evasion and other unwanted behavior, the agency noted. BART says it is well on track to meet its goal to have Next Generation Fare Gates at all stations by the end of this year. “Maintaining a visible safety presence and installing new gates are both key components of BART’s Safe and Clean Plan to put the everyday concerns of riders first,” the agency said.
Other highlights from the Chief’s Report:
- Robberies plummeted from 126 for the first seven months of 2024 to 37 this year.
- Only one cellphone robbery was reported for the entire system in July. That follows zero cellphone robberies in June.
- Auto burglaries fell from 449 last year to 162 in 2025.
BART PD’s highly visible safety presence is making it possible for officers to get to incidents more quickly. The average emergency response time for July was four minutes, 21 seconds. “That’s well below BART PD’s goal of five minutes and one of the fastest response times for any law enforcement agency in the Bay Area,” the agency said.
City of Honolulu DTS
The City of Honolulu’s DTS recently announced the official integration of its newly redesigned “Transit App,” which, the city says, “aims to make the commute easier for people who rely on public transportation,” according to a KHON2 report.
According to the report, “riders of TheBus and Skyline can track in real time, plan trips with transfers between TheBus, rail, and Biki, and service alerts.”
As part of the partnership with DTS, Honolulu riders will also receive free access to “Transit Royale”, the app’s premium subscription service, which the city says, “unlocks advanced customization tools and features, such as personalized themes, access to complete schedules and real-time info and leaderboards and achievements,” according to the KHON2 report.
“As we expand mobility across Oʻahu with new Skyline and bus routes, we’re committed to giving riders the best tools to move with confidence,” said DTS Director Roger Morton. “The Transit app brings a user-friendly, reliable experience to the palm of your hand, making wayfinding easier, and getting you where you need to be, on-time. Transit Royale will allow our riders access to the best version of the app at no cost to them.”
Following the major redesign, the app, which is available for free on iOS and Android devices, now includes ETA Cards, a refined typeface and a new neon dark mode, according to the report.
“This redesign is more than an aesthetic update,” said Sam Vermette, CEO of Transit App. “It makes Transit easier to use, more informative, and more fun. Our work wouldn’t be possible without our agency partners. We’re proud to be working hand-in-hand with DTS to unlock the best app experience for their riders.”
