From left to right: VP of Burns' Railroad and Transit Practice Tony Koltuv; Bentley Systems Chief Revenue Officer Brock Ballard; Bentley Systems Investor Relations Officer Eric Boyer; KCS LEAD–Operations and LRW Awards Chair Denise Williams; and Cummins Vice President and Chief Technical Officer Jim Fier.

People News: Burns, Bentley Systems, KCS, SEPTA, Cummins

Tony Koltuv joins Burns Engineering (Burns) as Vice President of the company’s Railroad and Transit Practice. Also, Bentley Systems announces promotion of Brock Ballard to Chief Revenue Officer and Eric Boyer joining as Investor Relations Officer; The League of Railway Women (LRW) selects Kansas City Southern’s (KCS) LEAD–Operations Denise Williams as Awards Chair; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) appoints Emmanuella Myrthil new Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer; and Jim Fier retires from Cummins Inc. after 36 years with the company.

"Americans deserve to have the best rail system in the world, and the investments we are announcing today will serve to modernize the NEC for generations of passengers," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Dec. 22.

FTA: $686MM to Modernize Transit Stations (UPDATED)

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced 15 grants totaling $686 million in nine states to modernize older transit stations and improve accessibility, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Dec. 19.

Brightline’s two new South Florida stations—Boca Raton and Adventura—will launch Dec. 21. (Pictured, Adventura Station during a November “sneak peak.”)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, LACMTA, MARTA, MBTA, NYMTA, SEPTA

On Dec. 21, two new stations will open for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) celebrates its inaugural Youth Council; the first of the brand-new Stadler-built rapid transit car bodies arrive at Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA); Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) eyes Widett Circle property for a new Commuter Rail layover yard; New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recognizes 51 employees for delivering “exemplary service”; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) launches a mobile ticketing pilot program.

A New Jersey Transit study, released in November, found that a dedicated transit roadway with embedded light rail is the preferred alternative to current Princeton Junction commuter rail service. (Rendering Courtesy of NJT’s Princeton Transitway Study: Preliminary Concept Analysis.)

Transit Briefs: NJT, SEPTA, WMATA

New Jersey Transit (NJT) has released a study of alternative transit modes for the Princeton Branch. Also, Pop-Up Metro is proposed to link Pennsylvania’s West Chester Borough to downtown Philadelphia; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has released a proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, MARTA, TTC

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) approves ZeroEyes artificial intelligence (A.I.) gun detection pilot program. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) updates the high-capacity transit alternative for Clayton County from commuter rail to bus rapid transit (BRT); and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) lifts COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Shutterstock/Manop Boonpeng

WOMEN IN RAIL 2022

RAILWAY AGE, NOVEMBER 2022 ISSUE: Railway Age’s Women in Rail awards program celebrates strong women who excel at leadership, serving the community and contributing to the industry—above and beyond their day-to-day job responsibilities.

The final Brookville LRV to support Sound Transit’s T Line Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension has arrived in Tacoma, Wash. (Photograph Courtesy of Sound Transit)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, NYMTA, SEPTA, Sound Transit, Tri-Rail

Amtrak completes station upgrades in northeastern Missouri. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) holds station operations exercise at Grand Central Madison; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) celebrates “a century of elevation”; the last of five LRV’s has arrived to support Sound Transit’s 2.4-mile extension of the Tacoma (Wash.) Link line; and south Florida’s Tri-Rail commuter railroad moves another step closer to serving MiamiCentral Station.

The Brightline West Cucamonga Station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will be home to the first high-speed passenger rail service in the Inland Empire connecting Rancho Cucamonga, the High Desert and Las Vegas. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Transit Briefs: SBCTA, Metrolink, SEPTA, NJ Transit

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) approves sale of Cucamonga Station property to Brightline West. Also, SBCTA and Metrolink announce ribbon cutting ceremony of Redlands Passenger Rail Project; Metrolink receives first American Public Transportation Association (APTA) certification for sustainability program; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) expands institutional pass program; NJ Transit wins International Data Corporation (IDC) Best in Future of Digital Innovation Award; and NJ Transit breaks ground on Hoboken Connect project.

Brightline will begin testing trains up to a maximum speed of 110 mph, in preparation for opening its $2.7 billion extension to Orlando, Fla., in 2023. (Photograph Courtesy of Brightline)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, MBTA, NYMTA, SEPTA, WMATA

Ahead of service to Orlando, Train testing of up to 110 mph is scheduled for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) reports that an additional $1 billion will be needed to complete Orange and Red line repairs; safety messages from New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell are now playing throughout the subway system; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has released a safety and security plan; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is launching a campaign to deter fare evasion.

BART Add Fare Machines inside stations, which also serve as parking payment machines, now accept credit and debit cards.

Transit Briefs: BART, Amtrak, SEPTA, HART, MTC, NJ Transit

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Add Fare machines undergo major upgrades to improve customer experience. Also, Amtrak trains could be coming into the Miami Intermodal Center; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) breaks ground on new accessibility project at Tasker-Morris Station; the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transportation (HART) and Hitachi Rail run small-scale exercise drills in partnership with the city’s first responders; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopts a new Transit-Oriented Communities Policy to promote commercial development near transit stations; and NJ Transit rolls out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program.

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