MTA LIRR

The new Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), housed in the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research, will be co-led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards, who is the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and CEO of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. She received a Railway Age Women in Rail Award in 2020. (Photograph Courtesy of SEPTA)

Transit Briefs: R-TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM

The University of Pennsylvania launches the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), “a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation.” Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ridership surpasses 300,000 in one day for the first time since the pandemic; Chicago’s Metra commuter railroad will put into service this fall a prototype café car; and the opening of two Réseau express métropolitain (REM) branches in Montreal is delayed again.

Transit Briefs: MDOT, BART, Denver RTD, Caltrain, LIRR

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) releases its $21.5 billion draft six-year capital budget. Also, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) unveils its Cab Cam series, showcasing the agency’s entire system in 4K; Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) transit police uses virtual reality technology to build upon real world technical skills; Caltrain installs digital displays at South Santa Clara County stations; and Gatekeeper announces a C$27 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) transit video project with New York Metropolitan Authority’s (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

Transit Briefs: TriMet, LA Metro, LIRR, Sound Transit

TriMet announces service cuts and other reductions to address budget shortfall. Also, LA Metro’s A Line Extension from Glendora to Pomona will open on Friday, Sept. 19; the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) shatters its post-pandemic daily ridership record; and the Sound Transit Board advances the opening of the Federal Way Link Extension.

NYMTA Approves Purchase of 316 M-9A Passenger Railcars

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on June 23 announced that its Finance Committee has approved the purchase of 316 M-9A railcars. This includes 160 cars to be allocated to the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) fleet and 156 for Metro-North Railroad (MNR).

Transit Briefs: Station Yards, NYMTA, NJ Transit, KC Streetcar

The next phase of Station Yards, a transit-oriented development spanning 53 acres around the Ronkonkoma Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station, is unveiled. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launches a new campaign showcasing workers behind public transit; NJ Transit hosts its second large-scale public transportation event workshop in advance of FIFA World Cup 2026; and the KC Streetcar resumes service.

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SCVTA, VRE/MDOT MTA, Amtrak, LIRR

The New York Metropolitan Authority’s (MTA) G Line Signal Modernization Project enters the third phase. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) unifies schedule changes and contracts Econolite Systems for the installation of equipment to detect transit signal priority (TSP) calls at at-grade light rail intersections; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) celebrate a new collaborative agreement to advance regional connectivity; Amtrak restores full service on the Quincy-Chicago Corridor; and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) highlights the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever, women-only operated train.

RTD will introduce systemwide lower fares starting Jan. 1. (Denver RTD Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Denver RTD, NJ Transit, NYMTA, LIRR

Denver Regional Transit District (RTD) on Jan. 1 will launch systemwide lower fares. Also, AECOM lands a design contract for New Jersey Transit’s New Brunswick commuter rail station; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYMTA) is pre-qualifying vendors for new subway system fare gates; and HNTB earns an award for the MTA Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Jamaica Capacity Improvements (JCI) program, Phase 1–Platform F.

TAP wearables are back for a limited time and are available at Metro Customer Centers.

Transit Briefs: LA Metro, BART, WMATA, East-West Rail, Santa Cruz RTC, NYMTA

LA Metro releases limited edition TAP wearables at Customer Centers. Also, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) approves developer for North Berkley Transit Oriented Development (TOD); a new transit station area plan for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Huntington Metro Station, which serves the Yellow Line in Northern Virginia, has been approved; the East-West Rail Commission plans first hearing on Boston-Springfield passenger service; the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) pursues concept report for electric rail; and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grants the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) a waiver for train safety at Grand Central Madison.