Author: Carolina Worrell

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 23 Weeks

For the first 23 weeks of 2023 (ending June 10), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.2% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) June 14 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

Photo Courtesy of STM, City of Montrea

Transit Briefs: STM, Tri-Rail, Keolis, NYMTA, TriMet

The Société de transport de Montréal (STM), along with the City of Montreal and the Montreal police (SPVM), launches campaign calling on witnesses to help prevent harassment in public spaces. Also, south Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter railroad’s estimated downtown Miami service start date gets pushed back; Massachusetts lawmakers urge Gov. Maura Healey to start preparations for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) next Commuter Rail operations contract; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes renovation at Kings Highway F Station; and a partnership between TriMet and Multnomah County breathes new life into an underused park & ride in Gresham, Oreg.

APTA: Public Transit Agencies Face ‘Severe’ Fiscal Cliff

One-half of 122 responding agencies say they are facing a Fiscal Cliff in the next five years, according to a May 2023 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) survey on future potential operating budget shortfalls that many of its public transit agency members are facing.

InvadingInvader Wikimedia Commons

Transit Briefs: BART/SFMTA, WMATA, UTA, HART

California’s state budget will include a $1.1 billion bailout for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and Bay Area transit agencies. Also, service improvements on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Red Line begins with more service and fare improvements coming this month; the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) announces Rider’s License for young passengers; and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) delivers Segment 1 of the Honolulu Rail Project to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS).

MBTA Approves $2.7B FY24 Budget

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors on June 8 voted to approve a $2.7 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) that “will sustain levels of service while making strategic investments in safety, staffing and hiring, key capital investments, including station and accessibility needs, and design work required for a future connection of the Red and Blue lines,” according to the agency.