Commentary

Trump to Schumer: “Drop dead”

“Non-existent”: This is the exact term the United States Department of Transportation used to describe any commitment the federal government has toward funding the ambitious, multi-billion-dollar Gateway Program, which would vastly improve passenger rail access to New York City, the nation’s busiest transportation hub.

FTA NPRM promotes transit P3s

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Private Investment Project Procedures (PIPP), “to facilitate public-private partnerships for public transportation capital projects that will help the federal government develop more-effective approaches to spurring private participation and investment in areas such as project planning, development, finance, design, construction, maintenance and operations.”

FTA: Get those SSOs in!

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has notified the 30 U.S. states where rail transit systems operate that federal law requires they establish an FTA-certified State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program by April 15, 2019, otherwise they risk losing funds.

Sound Transit: Trump budget a “body blow”

The Trump Administration’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2018, which would eliminate the Federal Transit Administration New Starts grant program that supports building new mass transit projects around the country, “would cause far-reaching impacts on the construction of voter-approved projects in the Puget Sound region,” Sound Transit said on March 21.

USDOT defers Caltrain electrification funding

Caltrain has warned that the viability of its project to electrify the 52-mile San Jose-San Francisco corridor may be in jeopardy after newly appointed United States Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao ordered the Federal Transit Administration to defer federal funding.

FTA issues directive to reduce the frequency of stop signal overruns

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a public notice and request for comments on a proposed General Directive that would reduce the frequency of stop signal overruns in the rail transit industry.

$1B agreement for CTA’s Red and Purple Lines

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Jan. 9 a $1 billion funding agreement for the first phase of the Red and Purple Modernization Program (RPM).

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.

$1 billion for San Diego Trolley

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA)  has finalized a $1.04 billion federal grant agreement with the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to extend existing Blue Line Trolley service from downtown San Diego to the growing University City area.

FTA guiding Buy America requirements from 60% to 70%

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Sept. 1, 2016 issued its final Buy America policy guidance advising transit agencies and transit vehicle manufacturers how to implement a phased increase in domestic content requirements for transit rolling stock procurements from 60% to more than 70% by the year 2020.

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