Metro-North’s locomotive No. 201 pays tribute to Conrail. (MTA photo)

Transit Briefs: Metro-North Railroad, BART, MBTA, OC Transpo, Metrolinx, NYMTA/LIRR

Metro-North Railroad celebrates its 40-year history of public service with a second rebranded locomotive; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) latest Quarterly Performance Report (QPR) shows major service reliability improvements with fewer delays; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Operations Control Center (OCC) policies meet Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requirements for safety of the public and workforce; service on OC Transpo’s Ottawa LRT network resumes; Metrolinx announces e-scooter pilot program with SCOOTY Mobility; and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces preliminary findings of internal investigation following Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) derailment.

Avalon Harrison will include more than 140 affordable housing units, as well as access to shops and retail. (MTA photo)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA/Metro-North, LA Metro, Metrolink, Brightline, OC Transpo, WMATA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces the completion of Avalon Harrison, a transit-oriented development at the Harrison Metro-North station. Also, LA Metro reveals new subway cars; Metrolink relaunches low-income discount program as “Mobility-4-All”; Brightline delays inaugural Orlando rail service; partial service on OC Transpo’s O-Train Line 1 returns; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is paid $100,000 to extend service after Beyoncé concert.

The Mobility Wallet allows LA Metro passengers to pay for all of the above transportation services.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, Montreal REM, OC Transpo, LA Metro

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Ashland Station will receive $2.5 million in repairs and improvements. Also, Montreal’s Reseau express metropolitain (REM) shuts down on first official day of service; OC Transpo is still unclear as to when LRT will resume service; and LA Metro’s Mobility Wallet (MW) program provides a transportation solution for residents of South Los Angeles.

DART is adding more than 100 contract transit security officers to improve public safety and security for riders onboard its light rail vehicles and Trinity Railway Express commuter railcars and at stations. (DART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: DART, LACMTA, OC Transpo, WMATA, Amtrak

Contract transit security officers will join Dallas (Tex.) Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) police and fare enforcement officer team. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) provides a progress report on its strategic goals in FY 2023 and reviews plans for FY 2024; Ottawa’s OC Transpo expects to resume light rail service this month on its Confederation Line; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) begins rolling out new, higher faregates to help prevent fare evasion; and Amtrak’s public art program showcases two new installations at New York Penn Station.

Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, Metra, MBTA, LA Metro, SMART, OC Transpo

NJ Transit signs lease for new headquarters. Also, Metra launches survey for 2024 fare structure proposal; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) eliminates significant speed restriction in Orange Line Tunnel; LA Metro launches new fare capping policy on Cubic-powered TAP system and is honored with the 2023 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Agency of the Year Award; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) reduces price of 31-day pass in response to hybrid work week; and OC Transpo announces that it does not have a firm timeline for when service will resume on its LRT Confederation Line following a shut down due to a bearing issue.

UITP President Renée Amilcar (left; courtesy of UITP, via Twitter); and former CATS General Manager of Rail Operations Deltrin Harris (right).

People News: UITP, CATS

The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) elects OC Transpo’s Renée Amilcar as President for 2023-2025. Also, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) fires General Manager of Rail Operations Deltrin Harris.

A westbound OC Transpo train approaches Bayview Station on Line 1 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo: Courtesy, City of Ottawa)

Ottawa LRT Projects Advancing

Work is progressing on the two extensions to Ottawa, Ontario’s crosstown Confederation LRT Line, opened in 2019. A third major rail transit project currently under way in the Ottawa area is extending and upgrading the DMU Trillium Line. Scheduled for completion in 2023, this improvement should significantly boost ridership.

Transit Briefs: Brightline, MBTA, OC Transpo, TransLink, WMATA

Brightline is bringing BrightBikes to West Palm Beach, Fla. In addition, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is providing commuter railcar-seat availability data online; OC Transpo in Ottawa, Ontario, is offering “unlimited no-charge transit” in December; riders of metro Vancouver’s TransLink will be able to pay with Interac Debit by year-end 2022; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will maintain reduced rail service levels through the end of 2021.

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.

Otis Gives Canadian LRT a Lift

One of the oldest names in “people movers” has landed major contracts at three Canadian transit agencies.

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