Ontario to fully fund Hamilton LRT; expand Lakeshore West GO service

The province of Ontario will provide up to CA$1 billion (US$804 million) to build a new light-rail transit (LRT) line in Hamilton as part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history.

SEPTA places railway safety technology order

Protran Technology, a Harsco Rail company, has received an order for railway safety technology from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), operator of the sixth largest rapid transit system by ridership in the United States, the company announced on May 26, 2015.

Parsons names Walker VP of Rail and Transit division

Parsons appointed Jannet M. Walker as vice president and deputy eastern sector manager for the corporation’s Rail and Transit Systems Division. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., her primary focus will be growing the rail and transit business in the eastern United States, providing leadership in overall operations and sector management.

Maintenance facility dedicated for Foothill Gold Line

California’s Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a community open house and dedication for the Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus.

Met Council aims to cut $341 million from Southwest LRT project

Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council‘s Southwest Project Office is analyzing options for cutting $341 million in costs for the Green Line light-rail extension from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

CTA publishes environmental findings for modernization program bypass

The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) is moving forward with its Red and Purple Modernization Program (RPM), a transformational, multi-phase program to completely rebuild the northern sections of the Red and Purple lines and provide CTA with the ability to add trains to meet the demands of growing ridership on its busiest rail line.

TriMet MAX Orange Line hosts “First Ride”

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and other officials and project partners took the first ride on the TriMet Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project, the future MAX Orange Line, on May 15.

Virginia Beach City Council Oks funds to support light-rail extension

The Virginia Beach City Council has adopted a budget for the coming year that includes $20 million for a Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) light-rail extension. The total budget will increase 2.2 percent – roughly the rate of inflation.

Houston Metro to open two new light-rail lines

Beginning May 23, 2015, there will be more transit options as two new light-rail lines begin serving the Houston, Texas community. The Green Line (East End Line) travels along Harrisburg through the historic East End and the Purple Line (Southeast Line) travels through one of Houston’s oldest African-American neighborhoods.

OC Streetcar marks progress

Stakeholders gathered at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center in California on Monday afternoon to mark a number milestones toward the construction of Orange County’s first modern streetcar.

SACRT light-rail extension goes hot

California’s Sacramento Regional Transit District (SACRT) has activated high voltage wires above the light-rail tracks along the Blue Line to Cosumnes River College (CRC) light-rail extension currently under construction.

Parsons nabs O’Hare automated people mover contract

Parsons has been selected by the city of Chicago’s Department of Aviation to replace and expand O’Hare International Airport’s Automated Transit System (ATS) on a design-build basis.

Search is on for new Sound Transit CEO

The Sound Transit Board of Directors is beginning a process to hire a new chief executive officer as Joni Earl prepares to retire next year.

Carter named next CTA president

Dorval Carter, Jr., has been named president of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Carter, who has more than 30 years of experience in public transit at both the city and federal levels, joins the CTA from the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., where he most recently has served as acting chief of staff to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

PANYNJ commits $40 million to plan AirTrain Newark replacement


The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) has committed $40 million to study construction of a new AirTrain system with enhanced capacity, better service and increased reliability.

RTD’s I-255 Line is 60 percent complete


The Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) 10.5 mile-long I-225 Rail Line in Aurora, Colo., is now 60 percent finished.

CTA moves forward with plan to rebuild and modernize Red, Purple Lines

The Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) is moving forward with its Red and Purple Modernization (RPM), a transformational, multi-phase program to completely rebuild and add passenger capacity to the northern section of the Red Line, as well as the Purple Line north of Belmont.

FASTRACK comes to the Brighton Line in Brooklyn

On May 4, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will bring FASTRACK to the Q on the Brighton Line between Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr. and Prospect Park for two consecutive weeks of maintenance and repairs during weeknights and overnight hours.

State auditor validates BART’s projections and reinvestment needs

A rigorous state audit validated Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) financial projection process and reaffirmed that BART is facing $9.6 billion in capital needs, potentially affecting the reliability of rail service if additional revenue isn’t secured. The audit reports BART has taken recent steps to improve its process for planning capital improvements and has already begun work to secure funding and identify potential future funds.

Ontario moves ahead with Finch West Light Rail Transit project

Ontario is moving ahead with the $1.2-billion Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, a priority transit investment in the city of Toronto that will bring much-needed rapid transit to communities along Finch Avenue West.

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