Amtrak

Baton Rouge-New Orleans Passenger Rail Service Advances

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Oct. 26 joined Department of Transportation and Development Sec. Eric Kalivoda, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and other officials to sign a development agreement that will advance the return of intercity passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La.

Amtrak this month celebrated completing accessibility improvements at Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station in Wilmington, Del. Pictured, from left to right: Delaware Gov. John Carney, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Amtrak EVP Laura Mason, U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), White House Senior Advisor Mitch Landrieu, U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and FRA Administrator Amit Bose.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Brightline, CDOT, HART, LACMTA, SRPRA

Amtrak completes Wilmington, Del., station renovations. Also, Brightline releases Miami-to-Orlando, Fla., ridership data; Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is exploring northwest passenger rail service; the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) targets late 2023 to sign a new Full Funding Grant Agreement with Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART); Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) Ambassador Program may become permanent; and Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) in Pennsylvania renews its contract with consultancy Transportation for America.

Transit Briefs: SMART, NCTD, CTDOT

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) awards a $32.5 million contract for a second Petaluma train station. Also, North County Transit District (NCTD) authorizes an exclusive negotiating agreement for the Escondido Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) finalizes Service and Fare Equity (SAFE) analysis.

WMATA photo

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, AECOM, WMATA

Amtrak introduces a simplified fare structure. Also, AECOM is appointed by Metrolinx to serve as technical advisor for the Hamilton Light Rail Transit (LRT) project; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) prepares for its Auto Doors function.

Commentary

Troubled NEC Bridge Over Maryland Waters

Amtrak is working on a plan to replace the 117-year-old Howe deck truss bridge over the Susquehanna River between Perryville and Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, railroad west from Delaware and on the way to

Amtrak OIG: New Acela Program Facing Additional Delays, Increased Costs (Updated with Alstom and OIG Responses)

More delays are anticipated for Amtrak’s new Acela trainsets, already three years behind schedule, due in part to defects and designs not yet meeting Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements, the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report has found. Alstom has taken exception to certain elements of the report. OIG stands by it.

Image Courtesy of Amtrak

Production of Amtrak Airo™ Trains ‘Boosting Business Nationwide’

The production of new Amtrak Airo™ trains is “boosting business nationwide as manufacturing ramps up,” benefiting communities across the country through the creation of new, sustainable, engineering and manufacturing jobs with more than 3,500 parts manufactured by nearly 100 suppliers in 31 states, the passenger railroad company announced Oct. 12.

Accessibility upgrades were celebrated at Amtrak’s Del Rio station in Texas. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, CTA, LACMTA, NJ Transit

Amtrak completes station accessibility upgrades in Texas and West Virginia. Also, ridership growth at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) continues into September; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) celebrates a $38.2 million grade separation project grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA); and New Jersey Transit debuts contactless fare payment for light rail and bus riders.