Transit Briefs: WMATA, VPRA, UTA, Santa Clara VTA, Sound Transit

WMATA

In alignment with WMATA’s Strategic Transformation Plan (download below), the WMATA Board of Directors has adopted a banning policy, which will take effect on June 2, 2025, or on a later date as may be necessary for all administrative processes to be in place.

The purpose of the banning policy, the agency says, is to prohibit a person who commits a sex or sex-related crime or any assault on a WMATA employee, contractor, or customer from entering or using the WMATA system, properties, or facilities for more than 24 hours.

Currently, the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) may ban a person for up to 24 hours if they violate the passenger conduct rules in WMATA’s Tariff, which includes abusive, unacceptable, or unsafe conduct.

Under the new policy, the banning period will apply as follows:

• First offense: 45 days
• Second offense: 90 days
• Third offense: 365 days

The policy allows for appeals of any banning period longer than 24 hours.

“We appreciate the Board’s support as we take every step we can to maintain a safe system,” said WMATA General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke. “Crime is at a seven-year low as a result of the many steps we’ve already taken—including making it harder to fare evade with taller faregates and putting more officers on trains. Having this policy in place will enhance our efforts and provide MTPD an extra tool to prevent repeat offenses.”

Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have passed laws or are considering legislation for enhanced penalties and/or banning for assaults against public transit operators.

“The implementation of this policy is about creating a safer, more secure environment where both customers and employees can confidently utilize the system,” said WMATA Board Chair Valerie Santos. “Banning individuals who display violent or lewd conduct promotes trust, reduces risks, and reinforces Metro’s commitment to well-being and accountability.”

VPRA

To provide the most up-to-date train status information to customers, VPRA, Amtrak, and the City of Richmond have collaborated on the installation of a PIDS at the Amtrak Station on Main Street in Richmond, Va.

The system, VPRA says, provides customers with real-time information on train arrivals and departures and track assignments in audible and visual formats. This system can also announce essential updates information during service disruptions. PIDS is equipped with an adaptive sound system that adjusts to different environmental noise levels. This allows the system to detect ambient noise and alter the volume of announcements during special events at the station, the agency noted.

Other Virginia stations are equipped with PIDS, including Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Petersburg, Williamsburg, and the Staples Mill Road Station in Richmond, Va.

Plans are under way to install PIDS at the Amtrak Station in Ashland, Va.

UTA

Now open on the TRAX Red Line, UTA’s new South Jordan Downtown station is at the center of a “growing hub for entertainment, dining, shopping, and housing,” the agency announced via a LinkedIn post.

Located near the Downtown Daybreak development and the Ballpark at America First Square, home of the Salt Lake Bees, it connects passengers to everything South Jordan has to offer—today and in the exciting years ahead, UTA noted.

Built in partnership with CRSA, Larry H. Miller, Paulsen Construction, South Jordan City, and UDOT, this station, the agency says, “supports the city’s continued growth and offers more ways to move quickly, conveniently, and sustainably across the Wasatch Front.”

Construction began summer of 2024 and adds a third TRAX station for the City of South Jordan and southwest Salt Lake County.

Santa Clara VTA

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Daniel Nishigaya has granted an injunction ordering striking VTA employees back to work, the agency recently reported. The judge issued the order after hearing arguments from lawyers representing VTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local (ATU) 265 in court on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

The ruling will return affordable transportation to tens of thousands of people in Santa Clara County who rely on it to get to jobs, school and other important destinations, the agency noted. “It will get our employees back to work after they’ve been without paychecks for more than two weeks.”

“We hope this ruling will encourage ATU to return to the bargaining table with a proposal that will resolve the contract conflict,” added VTA.

On Friday, March 28, a phased approach will be implemented to restore bus and light rail operations, the agency announced via an X post. Bus service will begin on Friday, light rail will follow after rail system inspections.

According to an ABC 7 News reportm VTA said that while limited bus service wouldn’t take as long to get running again, light rail is “a different story.”

The track inspection and maintenance that was already necessary is now taking longer because of copper wire theft, most of which is happening along the Green Line between Santa Clara and Campbell, according to the report.

The hope, VTA says, is that light rail service will be up and running on Monday.

According to the ABC 7 News report, ATU Local 265 members say they plan to “appeal the court ruling that sent them back to work.”

Sound Transit

The Sound Transit Board of Directors on March 27 approved the choice of King County Executive Dow Constantine to serve as Sound Transit’s next CEO, effective April 1.

“For every large organization, time is money, and we don’t have time or money to waste delivering on the promise of a truly regional mass transit system,” said Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair. “Dow can hit the ground running and intimately knows the inner workings of Sound Transit. He has proven his ability to oversee large organizations, run a major transit agency, and maintain crucial partnerships locally, regionally, and nationally that will be necessary to complete the central spine. Our economy and environment will benefit from the success of Dow and Sound Transit.”

The Board’s action followed the recommendation of the Board’s Executive Committee, which solicited input on priorities and reviewed 60 applicants from around the world, 15 of whom were interviewed. The final selection process included candidate interviews with multiple panels representing a wide range of regional interests.

“It is an honor to be chosen as the next CEO of Sound Transit,” said Constantine. “Much of my service as an elected official has been devoted to building the world-class transit system our region has long needed and creating vibrant, transit-connected communities throughout Central Puget Sound. I can think of nothing I would rather do than lead this agency into the future, and I thank the Board for their vote of confidence.”