San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District

The joint venture of MBTA, Massachusetts Port Authority, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation is seeking a developer for a mixed-use transit-oriented development project at the Anderson Regional Transportation Center in Woburn. (BMRR, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, NJT, WMATA, BART, Amtrak, GCRTA

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), New Jersey Transit (NJT) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) advance transit-oriented development projects. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) fares will increase Jan. 1 to keep pace with inflation and help pay for service; Amtrak resumes Lake Shore Limited service between Albany, N.Y., and Boston, Mass.; and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is discontinuing Wi-Fi service on buses, trolleys and trains.

New York MTA on Oct. 15 reported beginning the environmental review process for the planned Interborough Express (IBX) light rail project. (Rendering Courtesy of MTA)

Transit Briefs: MTA, BART, SEPTA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is beginning environmental assessment of the Interborough Express light rail project. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) ridership is on the rise; and a new quarterly report finds that crime on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) continues to drop.

“The opening of Confederation GO Station marks an important milestone—it’s the first new GO station to open in four years, with more stations soon to follow,” Metrolinx President and CEO Michael Lindsay said on Sept. 29. (Photograph Courtesy of Premier Doug Ford via social media platform X)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, BART, NYCT

Metrolinx next month will add a new GO Transit station in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) is running longer trains in response to increasing ridership; and MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) in December will implement a route swap to improve train service between Manhattan and Queens.

“On behalf of our Amtrak guests who count on daily Heartland Flyer trains, we thank the Texas Transportation Commission for approving the state’s share of funding of the service from the NCTCOG and its RTC,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Amtrak Executive Vice Presiden, on Aug. 21. (Heartland Flyer Photograph, Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, KC Streetcar, SEPTA, BART, Brightline

The Texas Transportation Commission approves the state’s share of funding to keep Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer running. Also, Kansas City (KC) Streetcar begins full-service simulated testing ahead of the Main Street Extension’s fall launch; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) system-wide ridership in July was up 4% from the same month last year; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) celebrates the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all San Mateo County, Calif., stations; and Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, partners with Capital One.

The Sound Transit Board on June 26 identified its preferred light rail route and station locations for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension, which will expand service nearly 10 miles on mostly elevated light rail tracks between Federal Way and Tacoma, Wash., and include four new stations in the South Federal Way, Fife, East Tacoma/Portland Avenue and Tacoma Dome areas. (Courtesy of Sound Transit)

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, CHSRA, Amtrak, BART

Seattle’s Sound Transit Board identifies the preferred alternative for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension. Also, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) issues a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for operating segment delivery; Amtrak Pacific Surfliner celebrates the 70th anniversary of Disneyland Resort with a special train wrap; and new San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) data shows ridership growth and improvements to safety, cleanliness, and rider satisfaction, plus a reduction in fare evasion.

(Top, Courtesy of MARTA; Bottom, Courtesy of BART)

MARTA, BART Budgets Approved for FY26

The Boards of Directors for Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) have voted to approve their respective budgets for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which begins July 1.

UP’s automated cross tie unloading equipment in action in North Little Rock, Ark. (UP Photograph)

Class I Briefs: UP, NS

Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker issues a “Status of the Railroad” report to customers. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) uses “silvopasture” to help prevent wildfires at Brosnan Forest in South Carolina.

Unifor's VIA Rail Canada Bargaining Committee. (CNW Group/Unifor)

Transit Briefs: Unifor/VIA Rail Canada, BART

Unifor’s VIA Rail Canada master bargaining committees are preparing to conduct strike votes. Also, how one San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) station supports a city’s ecosystem of businesses, residents, and tourists.

(BART)

BART: ‘Getting Our Budget in Order’

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) on March 24 reported eliminating what was projected to be a $35 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026, starting July 1, 2025. But “structural deficits of $350 million to $400 million loom in the following years,” it said, “unless long-term, stable funding sources can be identified.”

LOAD MORE