It might take 20 years, but LA Metro board approves ‘first-of-its-kind’ light-rail project

Lower income families in southeast Los Angeles County will one day be able to enjoy a light-rail line that will run from Artesia to downtown Los Angeles.

Watch: Twin Cities’ Met Council advances METRO Green Line Extension

The Twin Cities’ Metropolitan Council is moving forward with the Green Line Extension.

STV welcomes Joe Aiello as senior advisor

STV announced it has tapped Joe Aiello as a senior advisor for its advisory and climate adaptation, sustainability and resilience practices.

LA Metro wishes to have $16.5 billion of California state surplus

The state of California has a pot of money for infrastructure projects, and LA Metro has its hand in it.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) plans light rail track work for February

Two sections of light rail tracks are undergoing routine maintenance in the coming weeks as part of VTA’s Rail Rehabilitation and Replacement Program. This work will require some temporary bus bridges and road closures, so riders are encouraged to plan ahead. Here’s the latest on what to expect.

Chicago commemorates completion of new Red-Purple Bypass

Here’s some more news from the Chicago Transit Authority this week. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval Carter Jr., were among a group of dignitaries celebrating the completion of the Red-Purple Bypass.

Janno Lieber Confirmed as 15th Chair of the MTA

The New York State Senate confirmed Janno Lieber as the Chair and CEO of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) following his nomination on Jan. 8 by Governor Kathy Hochul.

CTA

Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Signal Upgrade project enters final phase

As part of the ongoing Your New Blue (YNB) O’Hare Branch Signal Upgrade project, which is now entering its final phase, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is alerting travelers to upcoming, reoccurring weekend-only project work that will require overnight lane closures of the Kennedy Expressway (I-190) near O’Hare International Airport, and operation of a shuttle train between the O’Hare and Rosemont Blue Line stations.

NTSB continues to press worker safety message

The National Transportation Safety Board has communicated significant concern about railroad worker safety.

Burbank-to-L.A. high-speed rail route reaches critical milestone

The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors have unanimously approved the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the approximately 14-mile Burbank-to-Los Angeles project section.

USDOT announces $11 million in grant awards to help communities plan for transit-oriented development

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the award of approximately $11 million to 20 projects in 12 states to support comprehensive planning efforts to improve access to public transportation.

MARTA to host two virtual meetings for track replacement project

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is preparing for the next phase of its Track Replacement Project, an approximate $225 million State of Good Repair project that will enhance the safety of the rail system, reduce train delays, and improve the customer experience.

BART single tracking through Lafayette for cable work (next Sunday single tracking 1/23/22)

BART is replacing electrical lines and other support components that are critical for maintaining reliable train service through Lafayette.

Sound Transit installing overhead wires on N. 1st Street and on Stadium Way this week at night

Sound Transit crews will install electrical wires over both sets of tracks on N. 1st Street, continuing in the Stadium curve and on Stadium Way to the traction power substation (between S. 4th St. and Division Ave.) this week.

HDR Engineering

HDR’s Joanna “Asia” Alvord promoted to transportation project controls director

With more than 20 years of innovative digital project management experience and recent management of the project controls cross sector, Joanna “Asia” Alvord has been promoted to serve as HDR’s transportation project controls director.

Amtrak reducing train frequency due to spread of COVID-19 Omicron variant

Amtrak is joining some other passenger carriers and transit agencies in reducing service because of the spike in the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Jeffrey Parker, MARTA CEO, has died

MARTA’s CEO, Jeffrey Parker, died Friday evening, January 14, when he was struck by an oncoming train at MARTA’s East Lake station. He was 55 years old.

FRA

Supreme Court blocks Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccination and testing mandate

While this is not a typical RT&S story, we want to ensure that our readers are aware of the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to block the Biden administration’s mandate that large employers (i.e., those employing more than 100 people) must require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

VIA Rail reducing service due to spread of COVID-19 Omicron variant

VIA Rail has joined several transit operations in limiting service due to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

U.S. DOT announces more federal grants to transit agencies

As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 continues to spread in the United States and hold much of the world in its grip, the U.S. Department of Transportation has announced additional American Rescue Plan grants to help transit agencies continue to battle the impacts of COVID.

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