FTA

For TriMet, $289.1MM ARP Grant

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) a $289.1 million grant for COVID-19 response under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

For MARTA, $285.7MM ARP Payout

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) a $285.7 million grant for COVID-19 response under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021.

Commentary

Biden Administration Sides With Labor, Throwing California Transit Grants (and Riders) Under the Bus

In what has become a contest between two groups who strongly back Democrats, the Biden Administration has come out for labor by refusing to certify grants that would help California’s transit providers and, eventually, the state’s riders. The decision by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) could eventually affect transit projects in other transit-rich states that are facing financial woes due to the pandemic.

FTA Seeking Input on Title VI

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on how it can update Title VI guidance addressing civil rights rules for transit; the deadline is Jan. 3, 2022.

NTSB Issues Wheelset Safety Alert, Preliminary Report on WMATA Derailment

Following the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Oct. 12 derailment, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety alert calling on rail transit agencies and commuter railroads to check their fleets for “wheelsets that do not meet gage specifications”; NTSB also released a preliminary report on the derailment.

USDOT Officials Ride New Caltrain EMU

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation recently had a test ride of Caltrain’s Stadler-built KISS EMU (electric multiple-unit), which is now in the final stages of testing at Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Pueblo, Colo.

Former FTA Deputy Joins WSP USA

Kenneth Feldman has been hired to lead WSP USA Advisory’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Grant Practice for major transit projects, following 19 years of FTA service.

FTA Releases Safety Advisory Following WMATA Derailment

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a Safety Advisory requiring State Safety Oversight Agencies (SSOA) to report “out-of-tolerance wheel gauges” on all rail transit rolling stock in revenue service, and recommending fleet-wide inspections of wheel gauges at public transportation systems in their jurisdictions.

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