Amtrak Virginia

Amtrak Virginia, the commonwealth’s state-supported passenger rail service, closed the state fiscal year by setting another ridership record. (Photograph Courtesy of VPRA)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, NYMTA, Trinity Metro, LACMTA

Amtrak Virginia closes the state’s fiscal year with record ridership. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases rider survey results, showing improvements in overall satisfaction across subway, commuter rail and bus service, and is adding customer service centers to 15 subway locations; Trinity Metro in Texas is offering one week of free rides on all local services; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) “care-based outreach model” is paying off.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Zephyr Rail, Metrolinx

Amtrak’s Borealis tops 205,800 guests in its first full year of service. Also, Amtrak Virginia sets another ridership record in April; Zephyr Rail is selected by the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency to provide preliminary engineering and design services for the Ortega Siding project in Carpinteria, Calif.; and Metrolinx issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first major Hamilton LRT contract.

Passenger Service Returning to New River Valley

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), joined by Norfolk Southern (NS) and state and local leaders, on April 24 broke ground on the New River Valley Rail Project in Christiansburg, Va. The project is part of VPRA’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative and encompasses railroad infrastructure that will allow the Authority to extend its Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to Christiansburg and return passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979.

RTA of Central Oklahoma landed a $400,000 to evaluate 52 at-grade crossings along a proposed commuter rail corridor from Edmund to Norman. (Map Courtesy of RTA of Central Oklahoma)

Transit Briefs: RTA of Central Okla., UTA, Metro Transit, Metra, Amtrak Virginia

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Central Oklahoma wins a USDOT grant to evaluate at-grade crossings along a proposed commuter rail corridor. Also, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) finalizes plans for a new TRAX light rail line; the Minnesota governor’s budget proposal reduces support for rail operations at Metro Transit; Chicago’s Metra is reopening one commuter rail station and closing another temporarily for rehab on its Metra Electric Line; and Amtrak Virginia sets an all-time record with 2024 ridership.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, Amtrak/NJ Transit, SEPTA, WMATA

Amtrak Virginia begins service to the Newport News Transportation Center. Also, Amtrak and NJ Transit announce a series of actions that both companies will take following a spike of service disruptions in New Jersey and New York Penn Station during May and June; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) enhances safety measures for the new school year; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors approves a new four-year contract with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689.

Transit Briefs: Tri-Rail, CTA, Amtrak Virginia

Tri-Rail introduces new express train service. Also, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announces “Refresh & Renew” work across the system and celebrates diversity and inclusiveness with the return of its Pride Train; and Amtrak Virginia rolls into summer with record ridership.

NJT celebrates “Earth Week” by unveiling its first-ever sustainability plan. (NJT Image)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, LACMTA, NJT, MWAA

Amtrak Virginia and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) experience double-digit ridership growth in March. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJT) releases its first sustainability plan; and Brookville Equipment Corporation receives a Notice to Proceed on a $16.4 million contract from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

San Francisco Bay Area transit in California will take on a whole new look later this year. Transit agency and Metropolitan Transportation Commission officials unveiled design prototypes for a common set of signs to be used by all agencies at all locations. (Image Courtesy of BART)

Transit Briefs: Bay Area Transit, LACMTA, CTA, Amtrak Virginia

A project is under way to unify San Francisco Bay Area transit maps and signs. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) renames the West Santa Ana Branch Corridor Project to avoid rider confusion; and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Amtrak Virginia set ridership records in 2023.