New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Trinity Metro will continue TEXRail commuter service south to one new station. (Photograph Courtesy of Trinity Metro)

Transit Briefs: Trinity Metro, Midcoast Railservice, NYCT, Keolis

Trinity Metro selects a final design consultant for its $167 million commuter rail extension project in Fort Worth, Tex. Also, Midcoast Railservice debuts Rockland-to-Brunswick, Maine, rail excursions; off-peak headways on MTA New York City Transit’s C Line are decreasing by 20%; and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) provides $25,000 in scholarships to Massachusetts students.

A consultant has been selected to perform the environmental review of New York MTA’s Interborough Express, a proposed 14-mile, 19-station light rail transit project. (Station Rendering Courtesy of NYMTA)

Transit Briefs: East-West Rail, MBTA, Metra, NYMTA, SEPTA

Funding for the east-west passenger rail project is left out of the Massachusetts budget. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Boston Carmen’s ATU Local 589 reach a tentative agreement; Chicago’s Metra is boosting its ME Blue Island commuter rail service; a consultant has been selected for environmental review of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Interborough Express project; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is expanding its institutional pass program.

A new Amtrak OIG report finds that Amtrak “faces challenges with the systems and processes it uses to track and manage costs for capital projects, which hinder project teams from identifying emerging cost overruns.” (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak OIG, via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak OIG, FTA, NYMTA

“Amtrak is strengthening its project cost management, but can better organize costs and improve guidance,” according to the latest Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report. Also, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Cincinnati Connector Streetcar will receive funding through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Areas of Persistent Poverty Program; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will increase subway fares and implement recommendations of the Blue-Ribbon Panel Report on Fare and Toll Evasion.

The environmental review and permitting process for the planned Victor Valley-to-Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. segment of Brightline West’s Las Vegas-to-Southern California high-speed rail project is complete, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported July 14.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Brightline West, Metrolinx, NYMTA

Idaho and Utah are seeking to revive Amtrak service between Salt Lake City and Boise. Also, Brightline West’s planned Las Vegas-to Southern California high-speed rail project advances; Metrolinx teams with Turo car-sharing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area; and subway and bus workers in TWU Local 100 ratify their contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and an MTA survey shows increased satisfaction for subway, bus and paratransit riders.

New York MTA and union officials are testing “no standing” zones at Harlem’s 125th Street and Lexington Avenue subway station to help prevent rider assaults on conductors. (Screen Grab From Spectrum News NY1 Video)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Sound Transit, VPRA, WMATA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is testing “no standing” zones on New York City Transit (NYCT) subway platforms to help eliminate rider assaults on conductors. Also, Seattle’s Sound Transit is beginning simulated service on the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension; Jacobs will deliver general engineering consulting services for passenger rail under the Transforming Rail in Virginia infrastructure program; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) mulls expansion options.

  • News

New York MTA Marks BMT Centennial

The Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) was founded 100 years ago, on June 15, 1923, and New Yorkers gathered in Brooklyn to celebrate by riding on a train that was even older and