Work begins on Eglinton Crosstown’s Laird Station
On June 30, the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit line broke ground on the Laird Station, which located near the midpoint of the 19-kilometer (12–mile) Light Rail Transit (LRT) line.
Passenger
Final Sandy relief funds allocated
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will allocate the final $834.6 million available in Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery funding, providing maximum flexibility for impacted communities to direct repairs and has validated additional eligible damage for each recipient agency.
Work on expanded GO Transit service between Hamilton and the Niagara Region to begin in 2017
Ontario is planning to bring new weekday GO rail service between the future Confederation GO Station in Hamilton and the Niagara Region starting in 2021, with service to Niagara Falls by 2023.
CTA’s Pink Line marks decade of service
After 10 years and 50 million rides, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) celebrated the 10th birthday of the Pink Line this week, which began service on June 25, 2006.
FWTA gets greenlight to start TEX Rail construction
The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) for TEX Rail, which means that construction for the 27-mile commuter rail can break ground next month.
SacRT GM/CEO Wiley to retire earlier than planned
The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Mike Wiley plans to accelerate his retirement date from December 2016 up to August 1, 2016, when Henry Li takes over the position.
St. Louis to study three potential MetroLink routes
In St. Louis, Mo., studies have been planned to evaluate three potential MetroLink routes in St. Louis County, pending approval by city council. The routes were identified in the region’s long-range transportation plan developed by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments based on public input.
LACMTA adopts FY 2017 budget; releases DEIR for Airport Connector 96th Street Transit Station
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors approved a $5.66-billion budget for fiscal year 2017. The adopted budget represents over a two percent decrease from FY16 budget — even with the addition of new rail services, rising costs and new projects and programs.
Sound Transit sends light-rail expansion plan to November ballot
The Sound Transit Board has capped three and a half years of discussion and public input by unanimously voting to send voters a final Sound Transit 3 (ST3) ballot measure for consideration in November. The plan’s proposals include completion of a regional light-rail network as the area’s population grows an estimated 800,000 by 2040.
Additional GO Transit stations proposed for east Toronto
Ontario has proposed four new GO Train stations along the Stouffville and Lakeshore East GO Transit lines as part of Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail (RER) program.
New passenger concourse opens at Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Mark Gottlieb joined federal, state and local officials and partners June 22 to celebrate the completion of the $22-million reconstruction of the train passenger concourse at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MIS).
Leader named COO of WMATA
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) named Joseph Leader as the new chief operating officer (COO) in charge of rail, bus and paratransit services, effective August 1.
Four new GO Transit stations proposed in West Toronto
Ontario has proposed four new GO Train stations along the Barrie and Kitchener GO Transit lines as part of Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail (RER) program.
WMATA completes weather tight seals on third rail power feeds early
An accelerated project timeline has resulted in all of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) underground weather tight seals located on third rail power feeds and jumper cables have been successfully being installed ahead of schedule.
Voters to decide several MARTA projects fate in November
The Atlanta City Council has voted unanimously to include a menu of significant Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) transit improvement projects on a Nov. 8 ballot referendum, which if approved would fund many MARTA projects with a half-penny sales tax levy that would raise an estimated $2.5 billion over the next 40 years.
Ontario plans 12-mile GO Transit extension to Durham Region
Ontario is extending GO Transit’s Lakeshore East rail corridor to offer new GO train service from Oshawa to Bowmanville, extending the GO train network by nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) and building four new stations.
Purple Line partners reach financial close
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) and Purple Line Transit Partners, LLC, have signed the final financial documents on the $5.6-billion Purple Line Public-Private Partnership (P3) contract.
SEPTA readies for fourth annual Trolley Tunnel Blitz
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will perform power, track and station improvements during its Trolley Tunnel Blitz July 8 through July 10, temporarily suspending trolley routes 10, 11, 13, 34 and 36.
MassDOT approves five-year, 14.8B capital investment plan
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Board approved a $14.8 billion five-year capital investment plan that includes a $3.8 billion state of good repair backlog reduction for transit in the commonwealth.
CTA finalizes 95th St. Terminal design
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has finalized a design for the new 95th Street Terminal—a $280-million project to completely rebuild the Red Line South’s busiest station to create a safer, more-efficient environment for transit riders.