Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

WMATA/Metro and KRC on Feb. 5 announced their “resolution of several ongoing contract disputes regarding, among other things, the 2021 Blue Line derailment of a 7000-series railcar which led to the entire 7000-series fleet being grounded.” (WMATA 7000-Series railcars, courtesy Wikipedia)

Transit Briefs: WMATA/KRC, NCDOT, PennDOT

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA/Metro) and Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. (KRC) resolve their 7000-Series railcars disputes. Also, a new North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) study confirms that restoring Salisbury-to-Asheville passenger rail service would benefit the economy, job opportunities, and public transit in the area and the state; and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) advances the Scranton-to-New York Penn Station Passenger Rail Corridor project.

The new Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), housed in the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research, will be co-led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards, who is the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and CEO of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. She received a Railway Age Women in Rail Award in 2020. (Photograph Courtesy of SEPTA)

Transit Briefs: R-TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM

The University of Pennsylvania launches the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), “a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation.” Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ridership surpasses 300,000 in one day for the first time since the pandemic; Chicago’s Metra commuter railroad will put into service this fall a prototype café car; and the opening of two Réseau express métropolitain (REM) branches in Montreal is delayed again.

PennDOT State Rail Plan Available for Review

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Sept. 23 that the Pennsylvania State Rail Plan is available for public review and comment between now and Oct. 24. The State Rail Plan (download

PennDOT: 2025 Rail Freight Grant Application Period Now Open

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on Aug. 4 announced that the application period for the grants under the Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTA) and the Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) is now open with $41 million available to support rail freight infrastructure and safety.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, SEPTA, CDOT/FRPR District, Santa Clara VTA

Amtrak advances upgrades and repairs at Lancaster Station. Also, April 2025 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership increases 6% from last year; SEPTA’s Efficiency & Accountability (E&A) Program recognizes $91 million in revenue and savings; the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) District explore options to bring passenger rail service to the Front Range; and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) launches a veteran discount fare pilot program.

PennDOT: $55MM for 30 Freight Rail Projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) on Dec. 18 announced the approval, through the state’s Rail Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP) and Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP), of $55 million in funding for 30 rail freight improvement projects that will “enhance freight mobility while creating or sustaining 344 jobs across Pennsylvania.”

Amtrak in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is investing $122 million to improve the Harrisburg Line track between Lancaster and Harrisburg, Pa. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, SMART

Amtrak’s Vice President, State Supported Services discusses the Harrisburg Line Track Renewal Project with Pennsylvania’s NPR affiliate. Also, California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) receives a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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