U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND) recently introduced the bipartisan Passenger Rail Crew Protection Act (PRCPA) to enhance public safety by “ensuring passenger rail crew members are provided the legal protections that have been afforded to flight crew members and attendants for decades.”
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has awarded approximately $97 million to ten rail-related projects that it said prioritize public transit in communities most affected by pollution. They will be funded by
Ridership records are set for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) commuter railroads and California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit District (SMART). Also, the fiscal year 2025 audit for Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) receives a “favorable opinion from independent auditors”; and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) advance transit-oriented development (TOD) projects.
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit’s (SMART) Windsor Extension Project receives the American Society of Civil Engineer’s (ASCE) 2025 Outstanding Transportation Project Award. Also, the Ontario government breaks ground on the first of three stations for the Scarborough Subway Extension.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a preliminary report for its ongoing investigation of the July 18, 2025, Norfolk Southern (NS) derailment with subsequent collision and hazardous materials release near Browns, Ill.
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) District is in line for a $81 million award to extend its passenger rail service in Northern California. Also, Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC) releases details on a potential Santa Cruz-to-Pajaro passenger rail service; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA/Metro) celebrates the official opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center station.
Northern California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) launches service to Windsor. Also, NC By Train celebrates 35 years of Carolinian and 30 years of Piedmont passenger rail service; and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit–San Diego Railroad (NCTD) mark a contactless fare-payment milestone.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) ratifies agreements with three unions. Also, Amtrak advances upgrades at two western Pennsylvania stations; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) selects a developer for the future mixed-use buildings at Deanwood Metro Station; and first-quarter 2025 brings big gains for Bay Area transit agencies.
Justin Vonashek kicks off his first day as MTA Metro-North Railroad President by greeting riders of the newly announced “Super Express” trains. Also, Seattle’s Sound Transit readies for the Downtown Redmond Link Extension opening next month; and California’s Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) will launch service to Windsor in late spring.
KC Streetcar #814 arrives in Kansas City. Also, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and Bay Area transit agencies debut new transit maps and signs; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) budget proposal includes targeted rail service increases; and Amtrak releases its Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Year-End Summary video.
