TEX Rail awarded $499 million FTA grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Dec. 15 a $499.39 million federal grant agreement with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) to build TEX Rail, a commuter rail line between downtown Fort Worth and the Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport.

FTA issues final TAM rule

A final rule by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires the administration’s grantees to develop management plans for their public transportation assets, including vehicles, facilities, equipment and other infrastructure.

FTA on track with TRACS

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is seeking nominations from the public transportation safety community for TRACS (Transit Advisory Committee for Safety) membership.

FWTA gets greenlight to start TEX Rail construction

The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a Letter of No Prejudice (LONP) to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (FWTA) for TEX Rail, which means that construction for the 27-mile commuter rail can break ground next month.

CTA receives perfect score from FTA

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced on June 8, 2016 that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the top federal oversight agency for transit agencies, gave the CTA a perfect score on its FTA Triennial Review and found no deficiencies across multiple categories and departments.

FTA tightens safety screws on WMATA

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 7, 2016 issued an “urgent safety directive” to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) just one day after the agency released a plan aimed at improving safety and maintenance on its Metrorail system.

FTA sets FY2017 funding priorities

The Federal Transit Administration on Feb. 10, 2016 highlighted $3.5 billion recommended in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 federal budget to advance the construction or completion of 31 public transit projects in 18 states, including 15 first-time funding recommendations. The projects would be funded through the FTA Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program.

Secretary Foxx recommends $3.5 billion to expand transit options

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on Feb. 10, 2016 highlighted $3.5 billion recommended in President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget to advance the construction or completion of 31 rail, bus rapid transit and streetcar projects in 18 states. These projects, competitively funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program, would create thousands of construction and operations-related jobs and help communities expand transportation choices that offer new ladders of opportunity for residents.

OLI awards $204,000 for crossing safety public awareness campaigns

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), announced on August 11, 2015 more than $200,0000 in grants to 13 State Operation Lifesaver programs for a variety of highway-rail grade crossing safety public education projects, in conjunction with the nonprofit safety group’s ongoing “See Tracks? Think Train!” public awareness campaigns.

Commentary

LRT beats BRT on key metrics: FTA

For several decades, U.S. proponents of “bus rapid transit” (so-called BRT) have waged a veritable war against light rail transit (LRT), relying particularly on a claim that BRT is “just like light rail, but cheaper.”