Metro Transit

Minnesota’s Metro Transit suffers decline in ridership in 2019

Overall transit riders took fewer trips on Metro Transit in 2019, but there is plenty of blame to go around.

Capital Metro

Austin’s Capital Metro gearing up for massive light rail system

Some think big, but Austin’s Capital Metro is thinking massive.

TriMet

A drop in riders could eliminate one-third of funding for TriMet’s Southwest Corridor Project in Portland, Ore.

Eliminating park-and-ride spots has TriMet officials in Portland doing a duck-and-cover. Passenger estimates for the new Southwest Corridor Project have dropped from 43,000 to 37,500. TriMet was initially planning on the higher

NJ Transit forms task force to deal with coronavirus; ridership down in Washington State

Following the lead of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), NJ Transit is stepping up preventive measures in an effort to deal with a potential coronavirus outbreak. 

Ottawa Councillors say new Confederation Line is falling apart

Unhappy with the performance of Ottawa’s Confederation Line, Councillors have submitted a seething letter to Ontario’s Ombudsman demanding for an investigation.

Despite protestors, N.J. governor officially signals start of light rail extension project

The chants were overpowering the cheers. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the start of construction of the Hudson-Bergen light rail extension project. However, protestors disturbed the moment as they chanted against

Sound Transit

King County, Wash., planning to up its sanitizing game on light rail cars following first coronavirus death; China now using thermal scanners at stations

Now that the coronavirus is behind one death in King County, Wash., officials are working to sanitize public transit in the hopes ridership does not suffer a decline.

Light rail projects in Texas benefit from FTA’s CIG Program

The U.S. DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced that three project sponsors of Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program projects are approved to use a combined $64.2 million of the federal share of

Bells & Whistles—2/28/20

Railroad companies might have to deal with another wet spring. Atlanta board passes plan that includes $11 billion for rail transit. Judge removes himself from Purple Line case. Amtrak decides to repair

Purple Line

Case involving Maryland’s Purple Line project is being delayed after judge removes himself

A judge is removing himself from a court case involving Maryland’s light-rail Purple Line because he lives near the site of a future station.

Atlanta board approves $11 billion for transit over the next 30 years

The city of Atlanta is getting ambitious with its transportation planning, but so is traffic congestion when it comes to covering the area.

Hampton Roads Transit looking at two ways to attack Naval Station Norfolk

If you are going to attack Naval Station Norfolk, Va., you better have options. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) has two to fight ongoing congestion: light rail or bus rapid transit. Officials want

Sound Transit

Sound Transit victorious in court, but not for what you think

Sound Transit scored a victory in court on Feb. 13, but Initiative 976 is still in play.

South Shore Line

Indiana’s South Shore Line receives FTA approval on second rail project

Indiana’s South Shore Line is going to have a new addition. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) now has the line’s double track project in final engineering phase, which essentially means it has

Washington State senator offers friendlier version of car tab fees to help Sound Transit

Washington State Sen. Marko Liias is trying to sell at the Kelley Blue Book price. The lawmaker has drafted a bill that could help Sound Transit remove some of the sting of

Utah Transit Authority seeks more money to study TRAX extension

Lawmakers in the state of Utah favor shiny and new over dusty and old. Many are calling for an investment in new infrastructure, which will cost millions of dollars, instead of upgrades

Chicago Transit Authority continues to commit funding to Red Line extension

The hope that Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line may run a little deeper in the future has not faded one bit. The CTA Board has decided to look into extending the

Sound Transit

Judge hears arguments on Initiative 976, which may not be in line with state’s constitution

Initiative 976, which was approved by Washington State voters back in November, may not be constitutional, and it continues to be blocked by the courts.

Bells & Whistles—2/7/20

 DART gives city of Dallas rail bridge. Widow sues fall protection manufacturer. HART light rail project forces the delay of another major project in Honolulu. Canadian Pacific derailment causes fire.

Widow sues fall protection manufacturer following husband’s death on Sound Transit project

Just months away from retirement, Walter Burrows was working on Sound Transit’s light rail line to Redmond, Wash., attempting to secure a beam. Burrows lost his balance and fell 35 ft to