NYMTA

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings has upgraded the New York MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating from “A-” to “A” with a “stable” rating outlook. (NYMTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, MDOT, NC By Train, MBTA

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings upgrades New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) credit rating. Also, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) awards $500,000 in Purple Line small business grants; NC (North Carolina) By Train ridership rises in first-half 2025; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) encourages riders to take advantage of extended service this fall by offering free fares after 9 p.m. on five Fridays and Saturdays.

NYMTA: ‘Safest July in Subway History’

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on Aug. 10 announced that July 2025 was the safest July in recorded history for the New York City Transit (NYCT) subway system, with an 8% drop in overall major felony crimes compared to July 2024.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber announced that the Interborough Express (IBX) project is moving from the planning to active phase during a press conference at 61st St. & 14th Av. on Aug 1. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Tri-Rail, FTA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) begins the engineering and design phase for Interborough Express (IBX) and awards an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Implementation System contract for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). Also, South Florida’s Tri-Rail achieves a new all-time fiscal year ridership record; and the Federal Transit Administration rolls out guidance for host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

MTA’s July Financial Plan forecasts approximately $50 million less in deficits for Fiscal Year 2027 and 2028, totaling $98 million. This is in addition to the $100 million announced in November, totaling $198 million less in deficits than this time last year, according to MTA. The projected deficit for Fiscal Year 2029 is $428 million. These funding shortfalls, MTA said, are in large part due trip growth in Paratransit. (Courtesy of MTA)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, Denver RTD

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases its July Financial Plan, showing balanced operating budgets for 2025 and 2026 and narrowed deficits in 2027 and 2028, and announces a TOD (transit-oriented development) project near Metro-North’s Beacon, N.Y., station. Also, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) authorizes a successor contract for two-thirds of its workforce.

Amtrak Virginia, the commonwealth’s state-supported passenger rail service, closed the state fiscal year by setting another ridership record. (Photograph Courtesy of VPRA)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, NYMTA, Trinity Metro, LACMTA

Amtrak Virginia closes the state’s fiscal year with record ridership. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases rider survey results, showing improvements in overall satisfaction across subway, commuter rail and bus service, and is adding customer service centers to 15 subway locations; Trinity Metro in Texas is offering one week of free rides on all local services; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) “care-based outreach model” is paying off.

Transit Briefs: BART, VRE, MARTA, TransLink, SEPTA, NYMTA, MassDOT, LA Metro, Reading & Northern

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership continues to grow. Also, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) adopts its System Plan 2050; the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta United release the second edition of the “MARTA Collection” retail line; TransLink frontline workers wear language pins to better support newcomers and tourists; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership in June increases 6% from last year; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) installs protective platform barriers at more than 50 subway stations; POTUS 47 terminates $327 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Allston Multimodal Project; the opening of LA Metro’s LAX Transit Center drives a dramatic increase in ridership on the K Line; and Reading & Northern Railroad’s (RBMN) Passenger Department celebrates its 40th anniversary.

A map of the proposed route for Northlander passenger rail service showing stops at Union Station (Toronto), Langstaff, Gormley, Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River, North Bay, Temagami, Timiskaming Shores, Englehart, Kirkland Lake, Matheson, and Timmins (South Porcupine), with a rail connection to Cochrane. (Courtesy of Ontario Government)

Transit Briefs: Northlander, NYMTA, APTA

Construction is under way at the Timmins-Porcupine Station in Ontario, Canada, part of the Northlander passenger-rail revival project. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) posts ridership, performance and safety improvements in first-half 2025; and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognizes two members’ outstanding sustainability achievements.

REM’s South Shore-to-Central Station automated urban rail system service (Part 1) will be closed completely from July 5 through Aug. 17, to allow for service testing on Part 2, the new REM lines linking Montreal’s West Island and the North Shore to downtown, which are due for launch in fall 2025. (First trip across the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge | July 2022. Photo ©Thierry Du Bois)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, REM

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) offers a congestion-pricing progress report. Also, Montreal’s Réseau express métropolitain (REM) will shut down temporarily this summer.

NYMTA Approves Purchase of 316 M-9A Passenger Railcars

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on June 23 announced that its Finance Committee has approved the purchase of 316 M-9A railcars. This includes 160 cars to be allocated to the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) fleet and 156 for Metro-North Railroad (MNR).

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