In a letter to the United Transportation Union, Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo pushed for more integrated rail systems. In the message, he said:
“We know well the population growth, mobility and environmental challenges revealing a clear need to invest in passenger rail and of passenger rail’s skyrocketing ridership, be it intercity, commuter, light or heavy.
Former Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manger B.R. (Bill) Stokes passed away May 15, at his daughter’s home in Sammamish, Wash. He was 89. Stokes was considered a pioneer in the advancement of public transit.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors selected the North Downtown Central Corridor as the alignment to move ahead with further environmental review for a potential expansion of the Tacoma Link light rail system. The alignment, also known as the E1 corridor, serves the Stadium District and Martin Luther King Jr. mixed use center.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors have adopted a balanced $5.075-billion budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 that begins on July 1, 2013.
The first Houston Metro train to travel the new North/Red Line extension will be tugged along the track by a special railcar mover beginning May 28, as Metro starts testing clearance on the 5.3-mile line.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board has approved a proposal to increase fares and simplify the payment process for customers in preparation for next year’s move to a modernized fare system under the New Payment Technology (NPT) project.
U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) have formed the Congressional Public Transportation Caucus, aimed at addressing issues facing the country’s public transportation systems, including rail, light rail, bus rapid transit and traditional bus service.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released an additional $3.7 billion in disaster relief funds to help the four major transit agencies in New York and New Jersey that sustained the greatest damage from Hurricane Sandy.
The TriMet Board of Directors in Portland, Ore., unanimously adopted the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The $485 million operating budget, which will take effect July 1, 2013, includes budget priorities aimed at providing better service for riders and safety and maintenance improvements.
New Jersey Transit has added express service this summer to New Jersey’s shore towns, beaches and boardwalks.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has selected the Capital Rail Constructors joint venture for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Phase 2: Package A.
RailWorks Corporation, named Mark Patterson president of its transit systems subsidiary L.K. Comstock National Transit, Inc., and named Nuno Pereira president of its Canadian subsidiary PNR RailWorks Inc.
In Minnesota, the Hiawatha light-rail line has been rebranded as the Metro Blue Line, the first of the Twin Cities rapid transit lines. The Metro system will also include Green Line light-rail service between the downtowns (service begins mid-2014).
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the $4.4 billion Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit brings FASTRACK back to the Upper East Side of Manhattan on the 4, 5 and 6 Subway Lines, this time to perform maintenance work in the lower level express tunnels.
Kal Krishnan Consulting Services, Inc. (KKCS), appointed Gary Gordon, PE, as associate vice president, based in the Northeast.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) kicked off of the $425-million Red Line South Reconstruction Project May 19.
Through New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) initiatives, plans to permanently repair damage from Superstorm Sandy, flood-proof major sections of the subway system and begin the planning process to fortify the region’s mass transit network are planned.
The Chicago Transit Authority Train Tracker now offers new features, which includes getting train arrival information at any station more quickly, to help time-pressed customers to get around more efficiently.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors has authorized a revised contract with URS Energy and Construction, Inc., to design and build the Atlanta Streetcar that sets the total price for its work on the project at $59 million.