BART proposes second SF Bay tunnel
Proposals for a second rail tunnel beneath San Francisco Bay were discussed at a meeting of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) board of directors on Nov. 15.
Author: Keith Barrow
DART approves Cotton Belt commuter line
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board unanimously approved construction of an east-west commuter rail line linking communities to the north of the city, albeit with fewer stations than previously planned.
New York commits to Brooklyn-Queens light rail
New York City will develop the Brooklyn Queens Connector (BQX) light rail project following the completion of a two-year feasibility study.
Funding boost for Montreal metro Blue Line extension
Canadian prime minister, Mr Justin Trudeau, and the premier of Quebec, Mr Phillippe Couillard, announced on April 9 that federal and provincial funding will be made available for the extension of the Montreal metro Blue Line from Saint-Michel to Anjou.
Smart Larkspur extension secures FTA funding
The United States Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded California’s Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (Smart) a $US 22.5M grant to help fund the extension of its Santa Rosa – San Rafael commuter rail line to Larkspur ferry terminal.
Ontario commits to funding Toronto-Windsor high-speed rail
Ontario has committed an initial investment of more than CA$11 billion (US$8.6 billion) to make high-speed rail service between Toronto and Windsor a reality as early as 2025.
GO Transit hydrogen fuel cell train plan “technically feasible,” says study
Toronto and Hamilton transit authority Metrolinx has published the findings of its Hydrail Feasibility Study into the potential use of hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) trains on the Go Transit commuter rail network.
MARTA to take over Atlanta Streetcar
Atlanta City Council approved a statute on September 19 transferring all assets and operations of Atlanta Streetcar to Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).
Private investors plan metro-Ottawa passenger rail
Plans for privately-financed 250-mile commuter rail network centered on Ottawa and Gatineau took a step forward on July 1, when the Moose Consortium of eight local companies exchanged letters of intent with a consortium of LeMine Investment Group and Consortia N.A. (LeMine-ConsortiaNA) to assess the business and technical potential of the project.
Go Transit electrification moves forward
Ontario Transportation Minister Steve Del Duca visited Go Transit’s Willowbrook depot on June 15 to announce that the province has launched the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the Go Rail Electrification program.
Canada commits $US 960 million to Montreal REM
Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced on June 15 that the federal government will contribute CA $1.28 billion (US $960 million) towards the CA $6.04 billion (US $4.56 billion) cost of constructing Montreal’s Metropolitan Electric Network (REM).
Trams return to the Motor City
Trams carried passengers along Woodward Avenue in Detroit for the first time in 61 years on May 12 with the inauguration of the 3.29-mile Q Line from Larned Street to West Grand Boulevard.
Quebec funds Gaspé railway revival
The Premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard announced on May 5 that the province will allocate CA$100 million (US$73 million) towards the rehabilitation of the Matapédia – Gaspé line.
Durham-Orange light rail plan approved
Commissioners in Durham County, N.C., approved an updated transit plan and cost sharing agreement for the Durham-Orange LRT line on April 24, taking the project a step closer to a federal funding application.
Ferromex owner to acquire Florida East Coast Railway
FERROMEX owner Grupo México confirmed in a statement to the Mexican stock exchange on March 27 that it has reached an agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Florida East Coast Railway Holding Corporation (FEC).
British Columbia to study Vancouver Island commuter rail
British Columbia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone announced on March 9 that the Canadian province will study options for establishing commuter rail services on Vancouver Island.
Nashville transit plan proposes LRT and commuter rail expansion
Proposals for a 46-mile light-rail network and a second commuter rail line for Nashville have been included in a 25-year transit strategy for the region, which was presented to the boards of Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (NMTA) and Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) on August 17 following 16 months of public consultation.
Miami proposes six new urban rail lines
The Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) adopted a resolution on April 21, 2016 endorsing the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan, which envisages the construction of six new urban rail lines in Miami-Dade County.