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.

“Public transportation is the safest mode of surface transportation, but it can be even safer for both passengers and transit workers,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.

FTA: $102.3MM in Disaster Relief Funding for Transit Agencies

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on July 31 announced $102.3 million in funding to 17 transit agencies, cities and planning councils in eight states and territories to help recover from natural disasters.

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.

Last reconstructed 30 years ago, New York Penn Station’s LIRR 33rd Street concourse has nearly doubled in width, from 30 to 57 feet, and its ceilings have been raised to 18 feet. The concourse stretches from Seventh Avenue near the 1/2/3 subway to Eighth Avenue near the A/C/E subway. (Lucas Blair Simpson © SOM)

NY Penn Station Renovation Opens Up LIRR Concourse

The approximately $400 million project to modernize and widen New York Penn Station’s Long Island Railroad (LIRR) 33rd Street concourse is now complete, Skanska, AECOM and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) reported

A new station at 106th Street (rendering above, courtesy of NYMTA) is part of the Phase 2 extension of the Second Avenue Subway in New York.

NYMTA Kicks Off Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Project

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on July 5 reported soliciting the first contract to construct Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, and unveiled draft station renderings for the long-awaited 1.5-mile

Aerial view of mid-block train hall from 33rd St facing south. (Rendering Courtesy of MTA)

NY Penn Station Reconstruction Design Kicks Off With Notice to Proceed

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its railroad partners have issued a Notice to Proceed to kick off preliminary design on a plan to transform the existing Penn Station into a “world-class commuter and intercity transit hub,” the agency recently announced.

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

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