The countdown is on: Valley Metro light rail will expand into south Phoenix with the June 7 opening of the South Central Extension/Downtown Hub project. “This fresh segment of our transit system will
Brightline West’s private activity bond sale “exceeds expectations.” Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) readies for expanded Foothill Gold Line light rail service; Calgary Transit is launching a two-car train service pilot; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes more than 50% of a system-wide subway-lighting upgrade project and reports on Reduced-Fare rider use of its new contactless tap-and-go fare payment method.
Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) has issued its $1.94 billion budget proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2026, which it said “holds the line—with no increases beyond necessary contractual obligations, such
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) now has a total of 48 Siemens Mobility S200 LRVs (light rail vehicles) on order to replace its current fleet operating on the Red, Blue and Green lines.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) selects a construction partner for the Long Bridge Project-South Package. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) rolls out its first two Type 6 MAX system light rail vehicles; Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is scheduling light rail rehabilitation projects for 2025; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reports the largest one-year drop in serious crimes in its history.
![“Today, the 9.1-mile, four-station Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Glendora to Pomona [California] reached substantial completion on time and on budget,” the project team reported Jan. 3 via social media platform X. (Foothill Gold Line Image)](https://www.old.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FoothillGoldLine-315x168.png)
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) $1.5 billion Foothill Gold Line light rail project in California reaches substantial completion. Also, Metropolitan (Met) Council’s 2025 operating budget invests in a “safe, clean, and welcoming experience” for Metro Transit rail and bus riders in the Twin Cities; and Sacramento Regional Transit District’s (SacRT) light rail service resumes to all Folsom, Calif., area stations.
The Ontario government on Dec. 6 announced a platform reconstruction contract and revealed an updated trainset design as part of its plan to reinstate Northlander passenger rail service between Timmons and Toronto with a rail connection to Cochrane.
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.
Siemens Mobility announced Dec. 5 that it will continue its efforts to “future-proof legacy rail networks across the country” by partnering with mission-critical wireless data network developer Ondas Networks to upgrade Metra’s legacy 900 MHz communications network with Siemens Mobility’s Airlink wireless networking equipment.
Bussnang, Switzerland-based Stadler on Dec. 3 reported that its passenger railcar manufacturing location in Salt Lake City, Utah, will separate from the Swiss division as of Jan. 1, 2025. To “further strengthen