Proposed concept rendering of MBTA’s Type 10 Supercar for Green Line light rail service. (Courtesy of MBTA).

CAF USA Lands MBTA ‘Supercar’ Contract

CAF USA Inc. will supply 102 Type 10 “Supercars” to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) under a nearly $811 million contract.

New Special Directives issued by the FTA call for the MBTA to “address personnel, deficiencies and inadequate operating conditions, policies, procedures and training that compromised a culture of safety at the agency.”

FTA to MBTA: Additional Safety Changes Needed (UPDATED)

Following a Safety Management Inspection of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) rail transit system, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a report of findings on Aug. 31 and informed both the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the state agency charged with Authority oversight, that safety changes, in addition to those announced in June, are needed.

On Sept. 12, 2022, the MBTA will launch a new, year-long pilot to test interest in weekday Commuter Rail service to Foxboro.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, CTA, BART, Amtrak, MDOT, RTD

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Foxboro Weekday Commuter Rail Service Pilot is scheduled to begin Sept. 12. Also, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) signs contract for new K-9 teams to be deployed across rail system; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) commemorates its 50th anniversary with vintage arcade games; Amtrak breaks ground on two Americans with Disabilities (ADA) station upgrade projects and celebrates the completion of another; Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and head of Amtrak take train tour to see what needs to be done to bring Springfield’s rail lines back; Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will ramp up activities on the Purple Line project; and the Regional Transportation District (RTD) selects Dr. Joel Fitzgerald Sr. as Chief of Police and Emergency Management.

MBTA Green Line Improvements Ahead of Schedule

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line E Branch service resumed earlier than previously scheduled following the successful completion of track and Green Line Train Protection System (GLTPS) work during a 16-day closure.

(Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

FRA Awards $233MM in SOGR Grants

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Aug. 18 awarded more than $233 million to 11 projects in eight states that will upgrade intercity passenger rail service. The grants are provided under the FY 2021 Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair (SOGR) Program (Partnership Program).

UTA’s FrontRunner Vineyard Station is now open. (UTA, via Twitter)

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;

Pictured: Stadler low-floor FLIRT DMU train testing is being conducted along the nine-mile Arrow passenger rail corridor, linking the San Bernardino Transit Center and the University of Redlands in California. (Courtesy of SBCTA)

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.

The first Caltrain EMU tested along part of the 51-mile commuter rail corridor July 16-17. (Photograph Courtesy of Caltrain via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Caltrain, CapMetro, MBTA, SkyTrain, VTA

Caltrain’s first new Stadler-built KISS EMU (electric multiple unit) has undergone clearance testing in Northern California. Also, CapMetro in Austin, Tex., held a groundbreaking ceremony for McKalla Station, which will be built on the MetroRail Red Line as part of Project Connect; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) awarded a construction contract for the Codman Yard Expansion and Improvements project; the Province of British Columbia is advancing the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project; and Santa Clara Valley (Calif.) Transportation Authority (VTA) will debut Neighborhood Donation Recycling Stations at four stations this summer.

(Photograph Courtesy of MBTA)

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.

Second FTA Safety Probe Targets MBTA

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is using authority granted years ago to investigate safety conditions at Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). This authority came from the MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act) legislation and has been used only once before, for an investigation at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Prior to that time, the agency had no authority over safety on the nation’s transit.

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