SMART East-West Rail Corridor Receives Federal Boost

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) announced Dec. 18 that its east-west rail corridor, connecting the City of Novato to Suisun City, has been designated for inclusion under the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program.

The state of California and Stadler have signed a contract for four hydrogen-powered trainsets, “marking a significant step towards a sustainable, emissions-free future for the Golden State,” Stadler reported in an Oct. 12 LinkedIn post. (Rendering Courtesy of Stadler)

California Finalizes Order for 29 HFC Trainsets

Stadler on Oct. 12 signed an agreement with the state of California to supply four zero-emission HFC (hydrogen fuel cell) four-car FLIRT H2 trainsets to the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and

Transit Briefs: LOSSAN Rail Corridor, Clean California, Conn. State Bond Commission, Ottawa LRT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs legislation incorporating climate resiliency into Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor planning. Also, California announces $114.5 million in Clean California grants; the Connecticut State Bond Commission announces $398.1 in state funding approved for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Match Program and $15 million for New Haven Station improvements; and the Ottawa LRT north-south expansion line is delayed until spring 2024.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak/LOSSAN, NYMTA/PANYNJ, WMATA, Brightline

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service reduces fleet’s environmental impact with sustainable fuel alternative. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces that AirTrain JFK will accept payments via OMNY, beginning Oct. 11; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) celebrates one million customers at the Washington Dulles International Airport Silver Line Metrorail Station and announces that normal rail service has returned as the agency continues to inspect the fleet’s oldest railcars; and Brightline will double its train service between Orlando and Miami.

New York MTA has received a strengthened credit rating outlook from Moody’s Investors’ Service, which amended the outlook of its A3 rating for MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating to “positive” from “stable.”

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SacRT

Moody’s Investors’ Service ups the credit rating outlook for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Also, the state of California has awarded Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) $4.4 million for three transportation infrastructure projects.

Rendering Courtesy of Alstom

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, SFMTA, LA Metro, New Orleans RTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will tackle critical track and power maintenance as part of its 2023 Trolley Tunnel Blitz. Also, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) riders will soon receive improved wireless connectivity; copper theft causes delays on LA Metro’s rail lines; and the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) Rampart streetcar line reopening is pushed back to 2024 amid infrastructure delays.

Metrolink reports that its earthquake early warning system is based on an interface between the United States Geological Survey ShakeAlert® system and the railroad’s Positive Train Control system.

Watch: Metrolink Deploys Earthquake Early-Warning Tech

Technology that automatically alerts trains and applies the brakes for safe, rapid slowing or stopping in the event of an earthquake has been rolled out across Metrolink, the seven-line, 538-route mile regional/commuter

InvadingInvader Wikimedia Commons

A Varied, Growing Network

RAILWAY AGE, MARCH 2023 ISSUE: Rail transit in Northern California is on the rise.

According to the MTA, major subway crime is down 16% compared to the same period in 2022.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Rio Grande Train Station, TTC, CCJPA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces significant progress on subway and transit public safety initiatives. Also, a new plan aims to re-establish Rio Grande as a transportation hub; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will deploy more than 80 additional staff focused on safety; and the Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) announces pilot program to let riders pay fares with contactless debit/credit cards.

Project site location for the Pier B replacement project.

Port of Long Beach Releases Pier B Relocation Plan

The Port of Long Beach (POLB) on Nov. 10 released its relocation plan for the proposed Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility project, which will reconfigure, expand and enhance the existing rail yard and directly connect to on-dock rail facilities and the Alameda Corridor railway.

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