BART

SEPTA Key Advantage allows institutions to acquire SEPTA Key cards directly from the Authority and distribute them to employees.

Passenger Rail Briefs: SEPTA, Brightline, BART

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) expands its institutional pass program. Also, Brightline’s Bright Pink 2 and Bright Green 2 are en route to Florida and a mural at Bay Area of

The Sacramento region has secured nearly $50 million in CalSTA TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants for Sacramento Valley Station and transit improvement projects. (Rendering Courtesy of Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority)

CalSTA Allocates $378.9MM for Rail Transit Projects

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) are among the eight California agencies that will share $378.9 million in TIRCP (Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program) grants from CalSTA (California State Transportation Agency) for rail-related projects.

Commentary
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How One BART Track Operator Forged Her Own Path

Editor’s Comment: Here, courtesy of Bay Area Rapid Transit, is an inspiring story of a young Vietnamese immigrant who, seeking a better life, came to the United States. Thu Nguyen is just one example of how the rail industry is embracing ethnic, cultural, racial and gender diversity. She, and others like her, are the future, not only of rail, but of America. This story was written for the general public—hence, the simplified, “non-railroad-jargon” language, but it’s well worth reading for us “industry folk.” – William C. Vantuono

Transit Budget Briefs: BART, MARTA

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Board has approved an operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year 2023 and a proposed budget for FY 2024, including a 3.4% fare increase. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board has adopted a FY23 budget.

“The pandemic has made clear our operating funding model of relying so heavily on riders is outdated and hampers our efforts to provide equitable service, especially for low-income riders and marginalized communities,” BART General Manager Bob Powers said. “Increased federal funding allows BART to continue to invest in service improvements and safety enhancement as we welcome riders back to transit.”

BART, WMATA Awarded $390MM in ARP Additional Assistance Grants

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will receive $270 million and $120 million, respectively, from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Additional Assistance Grant Program; the funding is awarded to transit systems demonstrating additional pandemic-associated needs.