The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Build America Bureau has clarified the eligibility of transit-oriented development (TOD) projects for funding under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has shortlisted three joint ventures to undertake the estimated $2 billion tunnel and trackwork contract for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase 2 (BSV2) extension project.
The All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act of 2021 has been introduced to establish grants that help transit authorities and commuter railroads upgrade existing stations to “meet or exceed accessibility standards” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reported bill authors and U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has selected consultant and digital services provider ICF to automate and update the National Transit Database (NTD), improving data visibility, analysis and tracking.
Resurrecting a position that was abolished more than 40 years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation is appointing a Chief Science Officer for the entire agency, and has taken additional steps “to act on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to address the climate emergency and restore scientific integrity.” And the Federal Transit Administration has made available $10 million in TOD (transit-oriented development) planning grant funds.
The competition for federal transit grants is stiff. HDR’s Mark Fuhrmann offers guidance on how to navigate the process.
In a letter, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has called on U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and three other members of Hawaii’s federal delegation “to lobby for an additional $800 million for rail to help build the final four miles [of the city’s light rail line] from Middle Street to Ala Moana Center,” the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
Join Railway Age and Railway Track & Structures for Light Rail 2021, featuring top practitioners like Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff, plus Nuria Fernandez, who was recently nominated for Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.
The Biden Administration has announced that a “critical milestone” in the Gateway Tunnel Project will be achieved in May—completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and the Record of Decision (ROD).
President Joe Biden has officially sent to the U.S. Senate his nomination of Nuria I. Fernandez for Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); the move would elevate her from Acting Administrator.