BART Silicon Valley Phase 2 Advancing With $100MM FTA Pledge

California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has been allocated $100 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for phase 2 of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley project. The $6.86 billion final phase will extend BART operations 6.5 miles from downtown San José to Santa Clara and include four new stations.

FTA to Allocate $14B in COVID Relief for Public Transportation

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reported that it will allocate $14 billion to public transportation systems under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) (H.R. 133). CRRSAA directs recipients to prioritize payroll and operational needs.

FTA Commits $766.5MM to Portal North Bridge

New Jersey Transit has received a $766.5 million grant agreement from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the $1.888 billion two-track, fixed-span Portal North Bridge Project in Hudson County.

USDOT Previews FY21 Small Business Innovation Research Program Topics

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is providing a preview of the 13 topics to be featured in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program this year. Program grants will total $1.9 million.

FTA Signs FFGAs for NICTD, Phoenix Metro Projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has signed Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGAs) for Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s (NICTD) Double Track Northwest Indiana Project and for Valley Metro’s South Central Light Rail Extension/Downtown Hub Project in Phoenix.

Human Trafficking Awareness Training Required for California Transit Employees

All California public transit agency employees must be trained on human trafficking awareness under a California law that went into effect Jan. 1.

Trump Signs $2.3T Omnibus Spending Bill (UPDATED)

Congress passed the $2.3 trillion “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021” (H.R. 133), an omnibus spending bill that includes a $900 billion COVID-19 emergency relief package as well as government appropriations for fiscal year 2021, tax extenders and other provisions. While many in the rail industry expressed appreciation—stressing that additional transit aid, for instance, will be needed—outgoing President Donald Trump did not. He refused to approve the bill—calling for higher direct relief checks to Americans and other changes—but he finally signed it into law late Dec. 27, averting a government shutdown Dec. 29.

FTA Allocates $544.3MM to Seven Transit Projects

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will allocate $544.3 million to seven transit infrastructure projects—five rail-specific— through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) Program. This discretionary grant program funds capital investments in rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, streetcars and bus rapid transit (BRT).

FTA Awards $6.2MM in TOD Grants

Nine projects—seven rail-specific—will share $6.2 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grants through the Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning.

Austin’s Project Connect Receives TOD Grant

The $7.1 billion Project Connect bus and rail transit improvement initiative is moving forward in Austin, Tex. Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) has been awarded a $900,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for transit-oriented development (TOD) planning and anti-displacement efforts.

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