Passenger Rail Briefs: UTA, LIRR, MBTA, Metrolinx
The Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) FrontRunner Vineyard Station is now open. Also, the first section of MTA Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Main Line (Third Track) Expansion Project is now in service;
FTA
Transit Briefs: SBCTA, Amtrak, MBTA, NCTD
San Bernardino County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (SBCTA) reports that train testing continues along the nine-mile Arrow passenger rail corridor, which is slated for launch this fall. Also, Amtrak late last month celebrated the completion of ADA-related improvement projects at two Kansas stations; the Federal Transit Administration ordered Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to conduct “an immediate safety standdown,” starting July 30; and North County (Calif.) Transit District has earned a financial reporting award.
FTA Issues $343MM ‘All Stations Accessibility Program’ NOFO
Approximately $343 million in Fiscal Year 2022 grants will be made available through the new All Stations Accessibility Program, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reported on July 26, the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
FTA Issues Safety Directives to MBTA (UPDATED)
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) have been called out by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for safety violations.
FTA: TOD Planning Grant Applications Welcome
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is providing approximately $13 million in FY 2022 grant funding through its Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Planning. Applications will be accepted through July 25, 2022.
Vanterpool Named FTA Deputy Administrator
The Federal Transit Administration has named Veronica Vanterpool, who has served as Senior Advisor in the FTA Office of the Administrator since August 2021, as Deputy Administrator.
LACMTA: FTA LOI for East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor LRT
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 10 issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) announcing DOT’s intention to obligate funds for the first phase of the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor light rail line.
Tempe Streetcar to Debut May 20
Set to launch May 20 is the Tempe (Ariz.) Streetcar system. Six Brookville Equipment Corp. vehicles will run along the three-mile, 14-station route, whose construction got under way in 2018.
USDOT: $20B for FY22 Transit Investment
More than $20 billion in Fiscal Year 2022 funding is available to transit agencies and communities—58% more than in FY 2021 thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which on April 6 released full-year apportionment tables for each of its 30 programs.
Biden FY23 Budget Request: $105B for USDOT
President Joe Biden on March 28 submitted to Congress a $5.79 trillion budget plan for fiscal year 2023 that calls for $105 billion to be distributed to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). With an additional $37 billion in guaranteed advance appropriations provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL; also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA), the USDOT’s total budget would be $142 billion. Included in the budget for USDOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is funding for four new rail-related projects; the Gateway Program’s Hudson Tunnel project in New York and New Jersey, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II rail project in California are among them.