Riders of Metrolink, southern California’s regional/commuter rail system, can now use the Transit app for trip planning. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is moving forward on Penn Station reconstruction; and Vancouver’s TransLink is starting a C$8.1 million upgrade project at the Brentwood Town Center SkyTrain Station.
WATCHING WASHINGTON, RAILWAY AGE MARCH 2022 ISSUE: “The farmer and the cowman should be friends,” wrote Rodgers and Hammerstein for the 1943 musical, Oklahoma! In 1967, Aretha Franklin recorded R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Five gets you 10 that neither friendship nor respect exist at the bargaining table where rail management and labor have been negotiating contract amendments since January 2020.
Southern California’s Metrolink; Seattle’s Sound Transit; and The Broe Group, parent company of transportation firm OmniTrax, have announced executive leadership appointments.
The Chicago Transit Board has approved a new agreement with Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) largest union. Also, Icomera U.S. is improving Wi-Fi service for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner riders; and San Bernardino County (Calif.) Transportation Authority (SBCTA) is starting train testing this month along the nine-mile Arrow passenger rail corridor.
California’s Metrolink is the latest regional/commuter rail agency to join the Commuter Rail Coalition. It was the final of four such agencies to join the CRC in calendar year 2021, following the Long Island Rail Road (now part of a combined New York MTA membership that also includes Metro-North), Trinity Metro and the Utah Transit Authority.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and a developer partnered to add a one-acre park near Victory Station. In addition, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) awarded a 10-year transit and digital advertising contract; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) celebrated the completion of the Chelsea commuter rail station; the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board approved final environmental studies for Metrolink’s Antelope Valley Line Capacity and Service Improvements Program; and San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) determined that a Trolley extension to the airport is feasible and can be built within 10 years.
Brightline has partnered with TransitScreen to provide real-time multi-modal transportation information in stations. In addition, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is honoring the Chicago Sky, its hometown 2021 WNBA Champions; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) is working with Moovit to help riders calculate the best routes for their trips; and New Jersey Transit is adding 22 weekday trains to align with rider demand and 14 weekend trains to improve service frequency.
The planned $8 billion Brightline West high speed rail line is another step closer to connecting Las Vegas with Southern California.
New Jersey Transit has been named to the Forbes “America’s Best Employers By State 2021” list. In addition, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) will offer free round-trip tickets for rider use from Sept. 22, Car Free Day, until Oct. 31.
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) will test an Earthquake Early Warning System. In addition, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Sept. 10 unveiled the reconfigured 42nd Street Shuttle; California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) on Sept. 12 restored complete Blue Line light rail service; and Sound Transit on Sept. 13 kicked off its Fare Ambassador Pilot program.