Minnesota’s Metro Transit suffers decline in ridership in 2019
Overall transit riders took fewer trips on Metro Transit in 2019, but there is plenty of blame to go around.
Passenger
Measure would provide low-interest loans for passenger rail projects across the country
States might have some help when it comes to financing rail projects. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas and U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster have introduced legislation that would give states low-interest loans for passenger
Amtrak cleaning trains more frequently and waiving change fees due to coronavirus fears
Amtrak is cleaning its trains more frequently to help prevent or reduce the spread of coronavirus on its trains. In addition, it is waiving any fees usually incurred by changing an existing
A drop in riders could eliminate one-third of funding for TriMet’s Southwest Corridor Project in Portland, Ore.
Eliminating park-and-ride spots has TriMet officials in Portland doing a duck-and-cover. Passenger estimates for the new Southwest Corridor Project have dropped from 43,000 to 37,500. TriMet was initially planning on the higher
New Amtrak CEO’s record on safety called into question
On Monday, RT&S reported that Amtrak has hired William J. Flynn to be its next CEO and president. Flynn is presently the CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide, which operates cargo aircraft and
NJ Transit forms task force to deal with coronavirus; ridership down in Washington State
Following the lead of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), NJ Transit is stepping up preventive measures in an effort to deal with a potential coronavirus outbreak.
Confirmed cases in N.Y. has MTA, rail agencies scrubbing stations, trains and cars
After two confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is on sanitize alert.
Ottawa Councillors say new Confederation Line is falling apart
Unhappy with the performance of Ottawa’s Confederation Line, Councillors have submitted a seething letter to Ontario’s Ombudsman demanding for an investigation.
Despite protestors, N.J. governor officially signals start of light rail extension project
The chants were overpowering the cheers. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the start of construction of the Hudson-Bergen light rail extension project. However, protestors disturbed the moment as they chanted against
U.S. DOT announces $8.5 million transit funding opportunity
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $8.5 million in Fiscal Year 2020 competitive grant funding for projects that
Amtrak names new CEO
Amtrak announced that it has named William J. Flynn as its next Chief Executive Officer and President. Flynn, a seasoned business leader with four decades of transportation and logistics experience, will begin
King County, Wash., planning to up its sanitizing game on light rail cars following first coronavirus death; China now using thermal scanners at stations
Now that the coronavirus is behind one death in King County, Wash., officials are working to sanitize public transit in the hopes ridership does not suffer a decline.
Light rail projects in Texas benefit from FTA’s CIG Program
The U.S. DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that three project sponsors of Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program projects are approved to use a combined $64.2 million of the federal share of
Bells & Whistles—2/28/20
Railroad companies might have to deal with another wet spring. Atlanta board passes plan that includes $11 billion for rail transit. Judge removes himself from Purple Line case. Amtrak decides to repair
Case involving Maryland’s Purple Line project is being delayed after judge removes himself
A judge is removing himself from a court case involving Maryland’s light-rail Purple Line because he lives near the site of a future station.
FRA Publishes Q4 2019 PTC Implementation Status Updates
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today released a quarterly status update on railroads’ self-reported progress, as of December 31, 2019, toward fully implementing positive train control (PTC) systems
Atlanta board approves $11 billion for transit over the next 30 years
The city of Atlanta is getting ambitious with its transportation planning, but so is traffic congestion when it comes to covering the area.
Michigan passenger trains to the northern part of the state now on the horizon
When the people of Michigan were asked where they would like to travel by rail, their answers hit close to home. Well, relatively close. Many wanted to take the train to the
U.S. rail employment continues to nosedive
FreightWaves is reporting that railroad employment in the United States, which has been falling continuously during the past year, continues to nosedive. January 2020 saw a 12.4 percent decrease in employment compared