Amtrak and private sector partners convene for an industry roundtable. Also, north and west Réseau express métropolitain (REM) branches will begin carrying passengers in October; and OC Transpo reports that more than 300,000 customer trips were taken on O-Train Lines 2 and 4 in the first four weeks.
On Jan. 6, 2025, OC Transpo (Ottawa) O-Train Lines 2 and 4 (Trillium Line) began weekday passenger service to Limebank Station and Ottawa International Airport Station, respectively, marking a “major milestone” in the O-Train South Extension project.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will respond to 13 findings following a safety audit of its Metrorail Roadway Worker Protection Program. Also, improvements are proposed for Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee’s (RTA) WeGo Star commuter rail service; Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) updates its All Stations Accessibility Program, which has doubled in cost; Denver, Colo., Regional Transit District (RTD) makes permanent its Zero Fare for Youth program; Train and Engine Service employees for North County Transit District’s (NCTD) COASTER commuter rail in California will unionize; and Michael Morgan is stepping down from his top rail construction post at OC Transpo, Ottawa, Ontario’s public transportation agency.
OC Transpo provides a progress update on all three O-Train extensions and an overview of efforts under way to improve the service reliability of O-Train Line 1. Also, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) plans to extend FrontRunner train service to Payson; the Detroit People Mover will receive new railcars from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC); and Caltrain runs eight trains simultaneously on its newly completed corridor.
Austin’s Project Connect enters the development phase. Also, debit card payments are now available on OC Transpo; Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project earns an Envision Platinum Sustainability Award; and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) receives regional funding to move transit-oriented development (TOD) projects forward.
Ottowa’s public transportation agency OC Transpo withheld C$15.1 million in payments to Rideau Transit Maintenance (RTM) in 2023 due to maintenance problems and extended shutdowns on the troubled-plagued Confederation Line, according to
Amtrak and Southern Rail Commission (SRC) officials share updates on three passenger rail projects spanning Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. Also, New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) continues its school safety education programs; Ottawa’s OC Transpo launches a credit card fare payment system for all buses and O-Train Line 1 stations; and metro Vancouver’s TransLink is conducting a survey to measure regional travel patterns.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) announces new Safe & Clean plan. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s (MARTA) railcars head for Atlantic Ocean as part of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Reef Project; Amtrak eyes restoring 63 more cars to active fleet; VIA Rail Canada Inc. (VIA Rail) increases service between Ottawa and London this fall; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) adds more rail service; and OC Transpo faces a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) Police Department earns highest level of accreditation from expert law enforcement panel. Also, Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, again delays its Miami-to-Orlando line opening; Caltrain energizes its second traction power substation as part of the California commuter railroad’s Electrification Project; Massachusetts lawmakers seek year-round MBTA Commuter Rail service between Boston and Buzzards Bay; Ottawa’s OC Transpo will add more trains this fall to O-Train Line 1 if ridership increases; and Pittsburgh (Pa.) Regional Transit (PRT) is reversing its COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees.
A recent poll finds community support for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) C Line (Green) extension to Torrance, Calif. Also, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) team on a new approach to transit-oriented development; the Ontario, Canada, government is investing in infrastructure upgrades at Metrolinx’s Aurora GO Station; six of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) 1940s-era PCC cars will return to service next month; the DMU Trillium Line’s hand-over to the city of Ottawa, Ontario, has been delayed again; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is on schedule to reopen the MAX Red Line on Oct. 22.
