Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority

SEPTA on April 1 reported that Exo in Quebec has formally approved its $8.58 million bid for 24 coach cars (pictured). (Courtesy of SEPTA)

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, Amtrak

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) purchases coach cars from Exo in Quebec, Canada, to bolster its Regional Rail fleet. Also, Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer grows in popularity as a travel option to Oklahoma City, but more money is needed to keep it running even after receiving a “lifeline” last summer.

The LACMTA Board has selected the San Vicente–Fairfax alignment as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the 10-mile, 10-station K Line Northern Extension project. (Map Courtesy of LACMTA)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, NYMTA, BART, Denver RTD, SEPTA, Alstom

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board signs off on the K Line Northern Extension plan. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launches a mobile app for subway and bus riders; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) posts its highest ridership week since the pandemic; Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Colorado releases preliminary 2025 financial results; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will deploy digital real-time arrival displays at selected trolley and bus stops; and Alstom will upgrade the Skyway at Houston Intercontinental Airport in Texas.

Transit Briefs: Transdev Canada, MARTA, SEPTA, BART

Transdev Canada Inc. is selected by exo to provide rail rolling equipment operation and maintenance. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority’s (MARTA) Better Breeze fare payment system goes live; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) systemwide ridership decreases 2% for February 2026; and Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Next Generation Fare Gates Project wins two prestigious awards.

Service along the LACMTA D Line Extension project’s Section 1 corridor includes three new stations: Wilshire/La Brea and Wilshire/Fairfax—which bookend Los Angeles’ Miracle Mile —and Wilshire/La Cienega in Beverly Hills. (LACMTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, SEPTA, Sound Transit, WMATA

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) announces the launch date for the D (Purple) Line Extension Section 1. Also, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) awards a lease contract for transit-oriented development near Regional Rail’s Ambler Station; Seattle’s Sound Transit adopts the 2026-2030 Sustainability Plan; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is expanding its University Pass program.

Amtrak said it will soon issue a formal request for suppliers to bid on the new long-distance fleet replacement contract and cancel the bi-level procurement. (Courtesy of Amtrak)

Passenger Rail News: Amtrak, SEPTA

Amtrak revises its long-distance fleet replacement strategy. Also, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) upgrades the Media–Sharon Hill Line with Hitachi Rail’s CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control) system.

Construction is now under way along the entire Ontario Line in Toronto, which when complete will be a 9.7-mile (15.6-kilometer), 15-station stand-alone subway. (Map Courtesy of Metrolinx)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, HART, LACMTA, SEPTA

Metrolinx’s C$29.5 billion Ontario Line project advances in Toronto’s east end. Also, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) will study potential extensions to Skyline; the upcoming 2.3-mile Claremont extension of the LACMTA (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) A Line could generate more than $1 billion in economic output; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reports January ridership.

The proposed CV Rail intercity passenger service would span approximately 144 miles, linking the City of Coachella, Calif., with Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. (Courtesy of RCTC)

Transit Briefs: LACMTA, BART, UTA, Phoenix Valley Metro, SEPTA, CV Rail

Parsons Transportation Group (Parsons) lands a contract for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) Metro A line extension project. Also, crime on the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) drops 41% in 2025; Utah Transit Authority (UTA) shares 2025 achievements and 2026 service plans; Phoenix Valley Metro in Arizona is identified as a top transit agency in the nation for ridership growth; leased railcars will soon enter Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) commuter rail service; and Southern California’s Riverside County Transportation Commission advances the proposed Coachella Valley Rail (CV Rail) project.

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, Brightline West, TTC

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) system-wide ridership for December 2025 decreases 1%. Also, work on Brightline West’s Las Vegas rail station is under way; and the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Ontario Line subway system gets protective platform doors.

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, WMATA, Alto

A new quarterly report shows that crime on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) continues to drop. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) receives the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Gold Standard Award; and Alto launches public consultations for its high-speed rail network.

A SEPTA employee inspects a Silverliner IV Train. (Courtesy of SEPTA)

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, STM, LACMTA, NC By Train

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is restoring all morning express trips on Regional Rail as more Silverliner IVs return to service. Also, STM (Société de transport de Montréal) releases its 2026 budget and 2026-2035 Capital Investment Program; the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board will consider advancing the C Line Extension to Torrance and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor projects; and NC By Train in North Carolina breaks its ridership record for the fourth consecutive year.