The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced March 18 that it has partnered with the requisite 30 states to strengthen and certify 31 State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs prior to the April 15 safety deadline, and is transferring WMATA safety oversight to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WMSC).
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and a private-sector partner have launched a yearlong pilot project to offer shared, on-demand rides serving three Metro rail stations. The ride-hailing service “has been designed for those who have been excluded from using existing services,” Metro said. “A goal of the partnership is to extend the benefits of on-demand services to a wider audience and to make it easier for riders to connect with a growing Metro system.”
The North American light rail transit (LRT) renaissance began in the late 1970s and early 1980s, starting with Edmonton in 1978 and followed by Calgary and San Diego. More than 40 years later, LRT remains the most appealing mode of new public transportation for many North American cities.
Five nominations for rail transportation federal leadership posts were announced Jan. 16 by President Trump. All are nominees from the previous session of Congress, and were cleared by respective Senate oversight committees for confirmation on the Senate floor—but none advanced for a floor vote prior to the Senate adjourning.
In the people’s company town of Washington, D.C., the most popular refrain during lame duck sessions of Congress—the fewer than 60 days between congressional elections and adjournment—is the catchphrase from Mariah Carey’s iconic tune, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
The Federal Transit Administration is looking for transit agencies to participate in its “Pilot Program for Expedited Project Delivery,” which is “is aimed at faster delivery of new transit capital projects that by law must utilize public-private partnerships, be operated and maintained by employees of an existing public transportation provider, and have a federal share not exceeding 25% of the project cost.”
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has outlined the process by which primary responsibility for federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail rapid transit system will transfer from FTA to the Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC).
The Federal Transit Administration has made available $25.8 million in competitive grant funds to support TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) projects.
Virginia and Colorado have obtained Federal Transit Administration certification of their rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs, well in advance of the 2019 deadline.
The White House announced late on Feb. 13 that President Donald Trump intends to nominate former Virginia Republican Congresswoman Thelma Drake to be Federal Transit Administrator.