Sacramento Regional Transit District

“It’s remarkable how much the new [Fleet of the Future] cars have changed the look and feel of BART for the better,” BART President Bevan Dufty said July 23. “These cars are delivering on the promise of being more reliable, more modern and easier to enter and exit.” (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: BART, LACMTA, SacRT, Sound Transit, Valley Metro

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) reaches a Fleet of the Future project milestone. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) releases a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the K Line Northern Extension Project; Sacramento (Calif.) Regional Transit District (SacRT) receives nearly $1 million in Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Awards from the state; Seattle’s Sound Transit is simplifying its fare structure, renaming a station and debuting three-digit station codes on its Link light rail system; and U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff rides Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority’s (Valley Metro) streetcar system in Arizona.

(Image Courtesy of BLET)

Transit Briefs: SEPTA/BLET, SacRT, San Diego MTS/NCTD

Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) ratify a new three-year contract with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Also, Sacramento (Calif.) Regional Transit District (SacRT) marks the start of construction on the Watt/I-80 Transit Center Improvement Project; and California’s San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) introduce contactless fare payment.

Transit Briefs: SacRT, APTA, BART, MARTA

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project’s second train crossing; construction begins on BART’s Lake Merritt Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Indian Creek TOD project following rezoning approval.

New York MTA officials were joined by “Equity in Infrastructure Project” (EIP) founders Phillip A. Washington and John D. Porcari, and Chicago Transit Authority President Dorval R. Carter, Jr., who also serves as EIP Chair, to sign the EIP pledge on March 7. (New York MTA Photograph).

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SacRT, Metrolink, WMATA, NJT, Houston Metro

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) signs the “Equity in Infrastructure Project” Pledge. Also, Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is developing mobility hubs at three light rail stations; Southern California’s Metrolink extends its fare-free pilot program for students; Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) marks improvements in ridership, customer satisfaction, public safety and fare collection while reducing expenses; New Jersey Transit (NJT) expands its partnership with Comcast Business; and Houston Metro (Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Tex.) selects Copperleaf to help improve asset management.

BART crews have installed prototype fare gates at West Oakland Station to “protect against fare evasion, expand access to transit-dependent riders, and reduce system downtime due to maintenance.” (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NJT, BART, SacRT

Buses of migrants bound for New York City have been stopping at New Jersey Transit (NJT) stations to avoid New York rules. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) unveils prototype fare gates and boosts its “Clipper START” means-based fare discount; and Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) eyes a Blue Line light rail and/or bus rapid transit extension from the city of Sacramento to the city of Elk Grove, supports Sacramento’s Truxel Bridge Concept and Feasibility Study, and lands a Caltrans Climate Adaptation Planning grant.

With service expected to launch early next year, Phoenix Valley Metro’s 1.6-mile Northwest Extension Phase II project is now in the testing phase. (Phoenix Valley Metro Photograph)

Transit Briefs: CTA, MARTA, Phoenix Valley Metro, SacRT, Tri-Rail, TTC

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is developing a chatbot for customer assistance on its website. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Five Points Station Transformation Project; Phoenix Valley Metro readies for the Northwest Extension Phase II project’s 2024 launch; the first of Sacramento (Calif.) Regional Transit District’s (SacRT) new Siemens Mobility SD700s enter the final testing phase; Tri-Rail’s commuter rail ridership recovery continues in Florida; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) awards a radio communications coverage contract for a subway system pilot project.

SacRT in mid-year 2024 will begin introducing a new fleet of low-floor light rail trains from Siemens Mobility.

Transit Briefs: BART/MTC, East-West Rail, Metrolinx, NYMTA, SacRT, San Diego MTS

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) and Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) are expanding their unlimited transit pass pilot program. Also, a Massachusetts legislative-panel report finds that MassDOT should run east-west passenger rail; Metrolinx addresses the launch date for Eglinton Crosstown LRT in Toronto; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is considering recommendations for a congestion pricing toll rate schedule; Sacramento (Calif.) Regional Transit District (SacRT) provides a light rail transit-modernization update; and California Transit Association elects San Diego Metropolitan Transit System’s (MTS) Sharon Cooney as Chair.

Image Courtesy of Alstom

Transit Briefs: KDOT, Amtrak, Alstom, SacRT, CTA

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) gives an update on the proposed expansion of Amtrak’s Heartland Virtual Flyer line into Wichita. Also, renovation is complete on Amtrak’s Staples Mill Station; Alstom signs a contract with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport for a modernization and replacement program for its Skylink automated people mover (APM) system; the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) celebrates its Light Rail Modernization Project and groundbreaking ceremony for Folsom 15-minute light rail service; and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) enhances rail station access with new Americans with Disabilities (ADA) faregates.

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