Author: Marybeth Luczak

BART’s overall customer satisfaction rating in the most recent Passenger Experience Survey (PES) reached 81%, which is 7% higher than the previous quarter, according to the transit agency. (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: BART, Metro-North, VIA Rail, WMATA

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) reports rider satisfaction gains. Also, MTA Metro-North Railroad completes its third station-accessibility project in 2024; VIA Rail Canada calls on Ottawa to replace its long-distance fleet; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) increases police patrols on trains and buses.

“Last year, aggregates were a rock star among our business segments,” BNSF reported in a Feb. 21 LinkedIn post. (BNSF Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, UP

BNSF “crushed it” in 2023, moving record loads of aggregates, and donates $2 million to the National Juneteenth Museum in Texas. Also, Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker provides a status report on the railroad, which recently announced it will serve Midwest Refrigerated Services in Illinois.

A $3.47 million CRISI grant made replacement of the William J. “Bill” Duggan bridge by the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) possible. The new bridge opened to freight rail traffic on June 30, 2020.

Is Your CRISI Application Under Way?

The countdown is on! The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is expected to release its CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) notice of funding opportunity in March, with less than 90 days

This photograph from another Metrolinx project shows the tunneling method that will be used on the eastern underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Metrolinx)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, NYCT, San Diego MTS

Metrolinx awards a second tunneling contract for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. Also, all 472 MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subway stations will be upgraded to LED lighting; and San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) breaks ground on a new transit-oriented development project.

“This federal funding is vital to enhancing safety, accessibility and performance on MTA’s light rail,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said. “By having a more reliable light rail fleet with low-floor cars, MTA will deliver premiere customer service to the greater Baltimore region.” (MDOT MTA Photograph)

FTA Awards $631MM for Rail Vehicle Replacement

Three transit agencies in three states have been selected to share nearly $631 million in grants to replace a total of 300 aging passenger railcars and support American manufacturing, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reported Feb. 21.