LACMTA’s Expo Line officially open for business
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Expo light-rail line officially opened to the public on April 28.
Passenger
CTA adds 145th rail station to the
The Chicago Transit Authority along with the Village of Skokie opened the Oakton Station, the first new ‘L’ station to open in 18 years.
“This joint effort resulted in a state-of-the art station and an additional, accessible station option for the expanding business and transportation needs of Skokie residents,” said CTA President Forrest Claypool.
Seven CTA Red Line stations to get $86 million renovation
An $86 million Chicago Transit Authority Red Line renovation project will involve seven stations: Jarvis, Morse, Granville, Thorndale, Berwyn, Argyle and Lawrence. The funding comes from a mix of federal and local resources and will generate approximately 250 full-time equivalent jobs.
NCTD assumes dispatch responsibilities for Coastal Rail Corridor
California’s North County Transit District, through its contract with Herzog Transit Service, Inc., will assume dispatching responsibility for the 60-mile coastal rail line that begins at the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego County and ends at the Orange County line.
Sound Transit board identifies route, station options to study for Lynnwood light-rail expansion
Seattle’s Sound Transit Board of Directors identified potential station locations for staff to study as part of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for light rail between Northgate and the Lynnwood Transit Center. The DEIS will also look more closely at impacts associated with the alignment running along the I-5 corridor.
US DOT adds safety section to Multimodal Transportation Indicators
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics added a new safety section to the Multimodal Transportation Indicators that will track seasonal and long-term rail fatality trends. The latest monthly rail data comes from the Federal Railroad Administration. The rail data exclude public grade-crossing accidents, eliminating double-counting that would occur with highway fatalities.
LACMTA Board advances Westside Subway Extension and Regional Connector Projects
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the $1.37 billion Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project, a priority transit project that will connect light-rail lines through downtown L.A. and greatly improve connectivity for the entire L.A. County transportation network.
Amtrak creates new Emergency Management and Corporate Security department
Amtrak is creating a new Emergency Management and Corporate Security department to integrate existing company-wide efforts into a single, cohesive unit to more effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters, mitigate effects and allow for fast and efficient response and recovery.
CTA, Wilmette to mark a century of ‘L’ service
Officials from the Chicago Transit Authority and the Village of Wilmette will celebrate the 100th anniversary of ‘L’ service to the North Shore community on Saturday, April 28.
NARP bestows safety award to Amtrak engineers, academic award to Prof. Barkan
The National Association of Railroad Passengers 2012 Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award was presented by the Burch family to three Amtrak employees for their groundbreaking work on the monitoring of track conditions, reducing the risk of accidents and derailments. The award, which honors individuals who have significantly enhanced rail passenger safety, is sponsored by the family of Dr. Burch, who died in a 1991 passenger train derailment in South Carolina.
LACMTA Foothill Extension to Claremont/MontClair completion possible by 2021
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors approved an updated expenditure plan for the Foothill Extension light-rail project from Pasadena to Claremont. The expenditure plan includes an estimated cost to complete the 23-mile light-rail extension and a timeline for needing funding.
City Council passes Chicago Infrastructure Trust
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to create the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, a way to leverage private investment for transformative infrastructure projects and guide the city’s renewal of these elements in the 21st century.
“Chicago will be a city that shapes its own destiny,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Nowhere is this more important than with our critical infrastructure needs. The Chicago Infrastructure Trust will allow us to consider transformative infrastructure projects and build a world-class infrastructure for our city.”
Mayor Emanuel announced the Trust on March 1, in an event in which he was joined by former President Bill Clinton.
The trust will provide advantaged financing, enabling each project to customize a financing structure using taxable or tax-exempt debt, equity investments and other forms of support. Each project will be coordinated with the city and its sister agencies’ long-term plan for transformational infrastructure investments.
The Chicago Infrastructure Trust was created with the private sector, non-profit organizations and union leaders. An amended ordinance was submitted this week, which calls for one Alderman to be on the trust’s board and clarifies that the trust will be completely subject to FOIA, Open Meetings laws and the city’s ethics ordinance.
The trust will require City Council approval for all projects and will operate as a non-profit organization as it seeks projects.
The trust passed by a vote of 41-7.
City of Seattle and Sound Transit begin construction of First Hill Streetcar line
The city of Seattle, Wash., and Sound Transit broke ground on Seattle’s newest streetcar line, the First Hill Streetcar.
LACMTA: Who says Los Angeles doesn’t have a mass transit system?
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is building a 21st century system linking all of L.A. with mass transit.
Denver RTD tax increase off the table in November
Denver’s Regional Transportation District Board of Directors indicated that they will not pursue a 2012 sales and use tax election for the FasTracks transit expansion program. The board also gave staff direction to submit a revised plan with alternate assumptions. Over the past several months, RTD has evaluated technical, financial and economic information and input from regional stakeholders and the general public.
Morello joins New York’s MTA as counselor to the chairman and CEO
Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York hired Stephen Morello as counselor to the chairman and CEO. In that role, Morello will direct the communications, government relations and community affairs divisions of the MTA and its agencies.
Wickford Junction station opens, service to T.F. Green Airport begins in Rhode Island
The Wickford Junction commuter rail station and the commuter line service to T.F. Green Airport in Road Island are now open for business.
HART begins construction on columns, foundations
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will begin on the first section of the elevated guideway for the rail transit system. With all the necessary state and federal approvals needed to move forward in hand, HART gave contractor Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. the green light to begin drilling for the concrete foundation shafts and support columns. The work started on April 23 in East Kapolei near Farrington Highway in the first section of the 20-mile route.
MBTA to launch mobile ticketing to commuter rail
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Masabi US Ltd, will be bringing mobile ticketing to MBTA commuter rail riders this fall. With applications for iPhone, Android and Blackberry, customers will be able to purchase commuter rail tickets and passes. Once tickets are purchased, customers will be able to use and display directly via their phone screen.
Amtrak completes Hialeah Preventative Maintenance Facility
Amtrak long-distance equipment will now receive safety inspections, servicing and maintenance in an upgraded, more efficient and environmentally designed facility in Hialeah, Fla., that will dramatically improve capacity, efficiency and working conditions.