For NJT, Office of General Counsel Established
Brian Wilton has been selected for the newly created position of General Counsel at New Jersey Transit, effective mid-September.
NJ Transit
For NJT, $256MM ARP Payout
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has dispensed $255.7 million in previously awarded American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to New Jersey Transit that the agency will apply toward NJT services affecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania. SEPTA has received about $650 million.
Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, TransLink, WMATA
New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) is advancing its Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project at Metropark Station in Woodbridge; TransLink, Vancouver, will begin upgrading the Burrard SkyTrain Station on the Expo Line in early 2022; and Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) will expand rail service to midnight, seven days per week, starting July 18.
Transit Briefs: Ottawa Airport, NJ Transit
Canada’s Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport Authority will receive C$6.4 million from Transport Canada’s Airport Critical Infrastructure Program for the construction of a light rail transit (LRT) station. In addition, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has launched a Map My Ride™ feature on its mobile app to track trains and buses.
Commentary
Final in a Series: From “Commuter Railroads” to “Regional Railroads”
The COVID-19 virus did not kill all of its victims. Most people who were infected with it recovered. Still, the virus not only wreaked havoc on individuals, but also on communities and the economies of those communities. Transit is no exception. It is recovering slowly, but its long-term future is uncertain.
Transit Briefs: CDOT and CTA; NJ Transit
The Chicago (Ill.) Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) have released preliminary design plans for modernizing the 100-year-old State/Lake station; and New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has partnered with Waze, a traffic navigation mobile app, to improve safety at highway/rail grade crossings in the state.
NJT: We’re Ready for Your Return
New Jersey Transit recently launched a new informational campaign for riders called While You’ve Been Away “to educate them about the extensive safety measures in place as well as systemwide improvements made as they return to mass transit.”
Commentary
High-Speed Debate Continues—in Congress
The long-simmering controversy over high-speed rail (HSR) continued during a May 6 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Its theme: “When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies.”
People News: NJ Transit, HDR, Schenck, STV, WSP
New Jersey Transit hires Chief of Construction Management; HDR names Transportation Program Delivery Services Director; Schenck Process Group signs on Advisory Board Chairman; STV appoints Vice President; WSP USA welcomes two Leadership Team members for Southern California and Nevada.
New York Penn Station Reconstruction Project Advances
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Amtrak and New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) have announced two alternatives to transform their separate concourses into one “open, light-filled” space in the existing Penn Station.