“Transit is punk,” according to Kamala Parks, Principal Station Planner at BART.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) signs off on Metro’s Transit Blue Line Extension environmental review. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Board of Directors votes to join the California Senate Bill 63 endorsement and sticks with a single-bore tunnel for the final phase of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension.
Bay Area transit agencies improve transfers with latest “Big Sync” schedule update. Also, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) advances transit-oriented development (TOD) at the Bowie State MARC station; the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) launches a unified mobile app for regional transit; and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) breaks ground on the $1.66 billion downtown phase of its Skyline Rail project.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership continues to grow. Also, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) adopts its System Plan 2050; the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta United release the second edition of the “MARTA Collection” retail line; TransLink frontline workers wear language pins to better support newcomers and tourists; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership in June increases 6% from last year; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) installs protective platform barriers at more than 50 subway stations; POTUS 47 terminates $327 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Allston Multimodal Project; the opening of LA Metro’s LAX Transit Center drives a dramatic increase in ridership on the K Line; and Reading & Northern Railroad’s (RBMN) Passenger Department celebrates its 40th anniversary.
For the first time since the original BART (San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District) system was built in the 1960s, BART has completed construction on a brand-new substation facility in the system’s core that is already providing benefits to riders.
Following “robust public outreach and technical and business case analysis,” the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors voted to advance the Link21 Program as a standard-gauge rail project that is part of the California State Rail Plan and a series of projects to be advanced by the state, while seeking federal funding. The program will also be considered by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) Board on June 18, 2025.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) ratifies agreements with three unions. Also, Amtrak advances upgrades at two western Pennsylvania stations; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) selects a developer for the future mixed-use buildings at Deanwood Metro Station; and first-quarter 2025 brings big gains for Bay Area transit agencies.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) seeks the public’s input on proposed 2026 less-than-inflation fare increase. Also, Valley Metro begins two-line rail system testing in downtown Phoenix to prepare for the opening of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub; the Honolulu City Auditor releases a new audit on Skyline; and VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) launches a locomotive engineer program in northern Manitoba.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveils final designs for blocks under new Red Line tracks. Also, Metro-North Railroad unveils the sixth wrapped locomotive from its Heritage Series; a new poll shows strong regional approval for Caltrain; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) customer satisfaction rate hits its highest mark in 10 years; and NJ Transit announces new customer experience enhancements at key transit hubs.
The New Jersey Governor’s proposed budget includes a state corporate transit fee to help financially strapped New Jersey Transit (NJT). Also, the final arch is installed for the Portal North Bridge project, which will speed NJT commuter rail and Amtrak intercity passenger rail service; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership was up 8% in 2024; Connecticut commuter railroads continued their post-pandemic ridership rebound last year; STV, as part of a progressive design-build (PDB) team, extends Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s automated people mover (APM) system; North County Transit District (NCTD) proclaims Feb. 25 as Crystal Trent Day in honor of San Diego’s first African American female engineer; and San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) introduces a team that has five minutes to clean each rapid transit train.
