The Calgary Green Line LRT project’s first phase is slated to connect southeast Calgary to downtown—11.18 miles from Shepard to Eau Claire—and link to the existing Red and Blue lines and four MAX BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) routes. (Calgary Transit Rendering)

Transit Briefs: Calgary Transit, LACMTA, NYMTA, SMART, Irwin/GMI

An SNC-Lavalin-led consortium lands a contract for the Calgary Green Line LRT project. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) releases its Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the C Line (Green) Extension to Torrance Project; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) debuts accessibility and circulation improvements at Penn Station in Manhattan; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) reports that a recent California Supreme Court ruling will help advance plans to construct its northern extensions; and Irwin Transportation Products acquires Hornell, N.Y.-based Gray Manufacturing Industries (GMI), a railcar component supplier and technical consultant for the transit industry.

Brightline is teaming with Uber to help get passenger rail riders to and from all five of its South Florida stations (Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach).

Transit Briefs: Brightline, CTA, NYMTA, VRE, VTA

Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, partners with Uber. Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) awards a four-year property maintenance contract as part of its Red Line Extension project; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) selects Skanska to improve passenger circulation at Grand Central-42nd Street Station; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) seeks approval for Fiscal Year 2024 operating and capital budget; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) provides free Transit app upgrade to all riders.

Amtrak is awarding 11 scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students, who have “an active interest in the railroad industry.”

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NYMTA, City of Montreal, TransLink

Applications are now being accepted for Amtrak’s scholarship program. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) unveils a strategic action plan to improve bike, pedestrian, and micromobility access at and near its facilities; city of Montreal advances the Western Link Kirkland project, providing access to the Prairies River and a new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) train station; and metro Vancouver’s TransLink fully integrates contactless Interac Debit payments systemwide.

The 14-mile Interborough Express would connect the Brooklyn and Queens communities to 17 MTA New York City Subway lines and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). It would use existing right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Branch freight line—owned by LIRR and operated by New York & Atlantic—and CSX’s Fremont Secondary line.

Light Rail Selected for New York’s Interborough Express Project

The MTA’s proposed Interborough Express project will move forward using light rail to provide service from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to Jackson Heights, Queens, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul reported during her 2023 State of the State address on Jan. 10.

GoTriangle has released the results of the Greater Triangle Commuter Rail Feasibility study and seeks public feedback on proposed regional passenger rail service through Durham, Cary, Raleigh and Clayton, N.C.

Transit Briefs: DART, GoTriangle, MARTA, MBTA, Metra, SunRail, Transit Tech Lab

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) launches a redesigned website. Also, Durham, N.C.-based GoTriangle releases a regional passenger rail feasibility report; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Deputy General Manager Josh Rowan steps down; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) calls out CCRC for railcar manufacturing quality issues; Chicago’s Metra commuter railroad and Pace Suburban Bus seek design feedback on their joint Harvey Transportation Center project; SunRail commuter rail could serve Central Florida’s Orange County Convention Center as early as 2030; and applications are open for the New York region’s Transit Tech Lab competition.

In Massachusetts, the Joint Committee on Transportation on Jan. 3 released a report recommending that MBTA be charged with subway and bus operations only, not Commuter Rail, ferry and construction services, according to the Boston Herald.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, Metro-North, BART

A new Massachusetts Legislature report recommends changing Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) structure, leaving it in charge of subway and bus operations only. Also, MTA Metro-North Railroad marks its 40th anniversary; and San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) teams with Rapido Trains, Inc., to produce 1:87 (HO) scale models of the BART legacy cars.

New York MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, NYCT President Richard Davey and MTA acting Chief Customer Officer Shanifah Rieara recognized Bronx resident Sasha Salazar as the one-billionth subway rider of 2022 on Dec. 27. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYCT, UTA

MTA New York City Transit’s (NYCT) subway service surpasses one billion riders in 2022. Also, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Board of Trustees approves the 2030 Strategic Plan.

Brightline’s two new South Florida stations—Boca Raton and Adventura—will launch Dec. 21. (Pictured, Adventura Station during a November “sneak peak.”)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, LACMTA, MARTA, MBTA, NYMTA, SEPTA

On Dec. 21, two new stations will open for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) celebrates its inaugural Youth Council; the first of the brand-new Stadler-built rapid transit car bodies arrive at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA); Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) eyes Widett Circle property for a new Commuter Rail layover yard; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recognizes 51 employees for delivering “exemplary service”; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) launches a mobile ticketing pilot program.

The Georgia Department of Transportation’s recent safety audit of MARTA has found “a strong commitment to safety and no major safety gaps or concerns,” the transit authority reported on Dec. 8.

Transit Briefs: MARTA, MBTA, Metrolinx, NYMTA, RTA, Sound Transit

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) undergoes the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT) 2022 Triennial Safety Audit. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) celebrates “substantial completion” of the first of two construction contracts for its South Coast Rail Phase I project; a contractor-targeted opening date for the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT, one of four light rail projects in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area, may be “overly ambitious,” according to a Metrolinx report obtained by the Toronto Star; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in early 2023 will begin phasing in a new role for subway station agents; Regional Transportation Authority of Northeastern Illinois (RTA) releases a draft strategic plan; and Sound Transit’s Downtown Redmond (Wash.) Link Extension has earned an award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

MTA Staten Island Railway’s Clifton Car Maintenance Shop officially opened on Dec. 7. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

MTA Opens ‘Storm-Resilient’ Car Maintenance Shop

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Dec. 7 unveiled a 93,220-square-foot facility housing a repair shop, administrative offices and support buildings for MTA Staten Island Railway.

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