U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) on June 25 reported on Twitter: “This morning I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Amtrak platform at the Homewood Station. Commuters in the [Chicago] South Suburbs deserve safe, accessible and well-maintained public transportation, and this project does just that.” (Photograph Courtesy of Rep. Kelly via Twitter)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, LACMTA, Metrolinx, New York MTA, TransLink

Amtrak has officially completed a $15 million project to bring ADA-compliance to its Homewood, Ill., station. Also, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board has approved a new transit ambassador program; Metrolinx is advancing plans to bring GO Train service to Bowmanville, approximately 47 miles east of Toronto; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and accessibility advocates have reached a class action settlement agreement; New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment; and Vancouver’s TransLink is developing a transit-oriented development program.

As transgender issues and rights have moved to the forefront over the last few years, CTA has added the Transgender Flag—featuring blue, pink and white—to its train wrap celebrating “Pride Month” (June). (Photograph Courtesy of CTA)

Transit Briefs: CTA, LACMTA, MARTA, NYMTA

Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Pride Train returned to service this month. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has earned a Transportation Security Administration award; Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is establishing a farm in DeKalb County, Ga.; and a new group of subway train operators completed training at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

(Photo Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

NY-Senate Confirmed: 9 MTA Board Members

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has welcomed six new members and three returning members to the Board following the group’s confirmation by the New York State Senate.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul (center) is joined by MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber and Metro-North President/LIRR interim President Catherine Rinaldi at Grand Central Terminal on May 31, 2022 to announce the branding of “Grand Central Madison.” The major capital construction project, previously known as “East Side Access,” brings LIRR service to Grand Central with a new concourse extending west toward Madison Avenue. (Photograph and Caption Courtesy of Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Kathy Hochul.)

‘Grand Central Madison’ Nearing Completion

MTA Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) $11.1 billion project to bring commuter rail service to Manhattan’s East Side is on track to start later this year. Riders will travel to a new 700,000 square-foot LIRR terminal, which is nearing completion and now called Grand Central Madison, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA officials announced on May 31.

Suspect in NYC Subway Shooting Apprehended (UPDATED)

Frank R. James, the suspect initially considered a “person of interest” in connection with the April 12 Brooklyn, N.Y. subway shooting that sent 23 people to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries (10 were shot and 13 were injured in the rush to get out of the 36 Street N Line station in Sunset Park or suffered from smoke inhalation or panic attacks) has been captured.

MTA is advancing Penn Station reconstruction with the removal of seven low-hanging beams, dubbed “Head Knockers.” The beams, weighing in at 10 tons apiece, are part of the original Penn Station structure and have limited passageway heights to 6 feet, 8 inches.

Transit Briefs: Metrolink, NYMTA, TransLink

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.

New York MTA late last year launched a Track Trespassing Task Force to study ways to reduce track intrusions, which increased by 20% between 2019 and 2021 across its subway and commuter rail systems, resulting in 68 fatalities in 2021.

New York MTA Tackling Track Intrusion

Platform screen doors and track intrusion detection technology will be pilot tested on New York City subways as part of a multi-pronged safety initiative that was announced at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Feb. 24 Board meeting.

Mitsubishi Electric Lands NYCT CBTC Contract

Mitsubishi Electric Corp., which in 2020 joined Thales and Siemens as the New York MTA’s third CBTC (communications-based train control)-certified supplier after completing a testing program launched in 2015, has been awarded a $62.65 million contract to provide wayside equipment for the MTA New York City Transit QBL-E (Queens Boulevard Line East) resignaling project.

Amtrak told The Mercury in Pennsylvania that it is “starting a planning process with local and state officials, including PennDOT, to study the possibilities of bringing Amtrak passenger trains to Reading, Phoenixville and Pottstown.” (Amtrak/Emily Moser)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NYCT

Amtrak is eying express bus service to connect Reading and Pottstown with Philadelphia, Pa., as a precursor to reestablishing passenger rail service. Also, earlier this month, MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subway ridership surpassed the 3 million mark for three consecutive days, the first time since the Omicron variant was reported in the city on Dec. 17, 2021.

“Bringing riders back to mass transit depends on three variables—reliability, safety and price,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said. “We’ve made it a priority to get creative on fares. Transit affordability is also an equity issue, and we are committed to providing a wide range of new discounts, while ensuring the MTA maintains a solid bottom line.”

New York MTA ‘Getting Creative’ on Fares

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) later this month will launch a four-month pilot fare program to encourage riders to use the city’s subways, buses and trains; it includes fare-capping.

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