(William C. Vantuono Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NJT, NJT/Amtrak, LACMTA, CTDOT, STV, NCTD, BART

The New Jersey Governor’s proposed budget includes a state corporate transit fee to help financially strapped New Jersey Transit (NJT). Also, the final arch is installed for the Portal North Bridge project, which will speed NJT commuter rail and Amtrak intercity passenger rail service; Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership was up 8% in 2024; Connecticut commuter railroads continued their post-pandemic ridership rebound last year; STV, as part of a progressive design-build (PDB) team, extends Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s automated people mover (APM) system; North County Transit District (NCTD) proclaims Feb. 25 as Crystal Trent Day in honor of San Diego’s first African American female engineer; and San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) introduces a team that has five minutes to clean each rapid transit train.

IAM’s Organizing Department adds 135-plus rail workers at Alstom’s Plattsburgh, N.Y., facility to its roster. (IAM Photograph)

Transit Briefs: IAM, Caltrain, WMATA

Alstom workers in Plattsburgh, N.Y., voted to join International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Also, California’s Caltrain will move its headquarters to Millbrae; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) unveils the newest design for its holiday wrapped train and buses.

“The drop in criminal activity on BART is happening as we have been going all out to implement our Safe and Clean Plan,” BART General Manager Bob Powers said in reference to the agency’s commitment to boost rider safety and provide clean service. “Our riders have been loud and clear that they want us to step our game up when it comes to their safety and the cleanliness of our system.” (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: BART, LACMTA, MDOT

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) experiences a double-digit drop in crime. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) logs its 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth; and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) launches a strategic plan for development around MARC commuter rail stations.

Pictured: BART’s Transbay Tube following the completion a seismic retrofit project. (Courtesy of BART)

Transit Briefs: BART, GCRTA

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) wraps up its Earthquake Safety Program and reports a decline in the number of police department incidents causing train delays. Also, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit (GCRTA) earns a Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Innovative Transportation Solutions Award.

(Photograph Courtesy of BART)
Commentary

Watch: Transbay Tube Turns 50

Sept. 16, 1974, was a banner day in the history of the Bay Area. On this day, 50 years ago, BART’s Transbay Tube opened for passenger service.

“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.

“This Measure RR Annual Report highlights how the rebuilding program is boosting safety, making our core infrastructure more resilient, and improving our on-time performance for our riders,” BART General Manager Bob Powers said during the report’s July 11 release. (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: BART, CTA, Denver RTD, MBTA

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) releases its latest Measure RR rebuilding program report. Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) marks a milestone in its commitment to delivering pre-pandemic levels of rapid transit service by year-end 2024; Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) is set to serve its 50 millionth A Line commuter rail rider; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is launching a public access Naloxone (Narcan) pilot program.

MBTA will begin accepting contactless payments onboard Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys as well as buses, and at all gated subway stations beginning Aug. 1. (Photograph Courtesy of MBTA)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, BART

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will next month debut contactless payments onboard Green Line and Mattapan Line trolleys as well as buses and at subway fare gates, and has officially opened the Worcester Union Commuter Rail Station’s center platform. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) releases a report detailing its role in the region.

A recent photo of Linda Yee-Sugaya, a.k.a. Mama Linda, at Daly City Yard. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of BART)
Commentary

Mother of all Train Operators: BART’s ‘Mama Linda’

For 33 years, Train Operator Linda Yee-Sugaya, better known as “Mama Linda,” has said a prayer before stepping onto her train.

The goal of removing from service WMATA’s aging 2000-series rapid transit cars is to leave “a more reliable fleet of newer vehicles” that will result in “fewer offloads and delays,” the agency reported May 9. (WMATA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: WMATA, SCVTA, Québec

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) is officially retiring its 1980s-era equipment from Italian firm Breda (now Hitachi Rail Italy). Also, the 2024 federal budget allocates $500 million to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) BART Silicon Valley Extension Project in California; a new public transit development agency is eyed for Québec; and more transit-oriented development (TOD) is planned for Montréal.

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