The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is restoring some service in and around Boston in the wake of strong criticism by members of Congress and rider advocates. There are improvements planned for local rail transit and some bus lines. Starting in April, some commuter rail riders will benefit from improved mid-day service, while others will have to keep waiting before they have weekend service.
Massachusetts’ $16.5 billion transportation bond bill, recently signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker, will support rail, bus and roadway improvement initiatives. The new law earmarks funds for the South Coast Rail, Green Line Extension and East-West rail projects, among others.
Transit riders throughout the country are facing severe service cuts, as ridership and revenue remain low, and state and local governments face severe financial woes. Earlier this month, Railway Age reported that Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA, known locally as the “T”) announced a lengthy litany of services to be slashed. The Fiscal & Management Control Board (FMCB), which is acting as the Board for the Boston agency these days, has now finalized and approved the cuts by a 3-2 vote.
Wabtec Corp. and Keolis Group will team on commercial activities and product development for the freight rail and transit markets under a three-year international agreement.
As the COVID-19 virus continues its relentless march across the nation and around the world, U.S. transit is quickly becoming one of its casualties. The picture will probably get worse as the $24.9 billion that transit got from the CARES Act runs out next year.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is distributing $291 million in grants among 11 projects under its FY 2020 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair (SOGR) Program.
“Reopening New York” is the fourth virtual event of the Commuter Rail Coalition’s (CRC) “Adapt. Evolve. Innovate. Operating Commuter Railroads in a Pandemic” series. It will be held Oct. 6.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) $2.3 billion Green Line Extension (GLX) is now more than 50% complete and on track to open in December 2021.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has announced the lowest bidder for a $403 million contract for work on the Middleborough Secondary & New Bedford Main Line (MS/NBML) section of its South Coast Rail project. South Coast Rail Constructors, a consortium of Littleton, Mass.-based Middlesex Corporation and Los Angeles-based Tutor Perini, was identified by MBTA as the lowest bidder and is expected to be awarded the contract for the commuter rail extension.
Network Rail Consulting (NRC) was awarded a $15 million contract by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to: assist the agency in managing its assets in accordance with best practice principles, support the upgrade of several rail lines to higher levels of performance, and secure a specific set of outcomes desired by the Board and staff.