The first light rail train is pulled along the Green Line Extension near the Southwest Station in Eden Prairie, Minn., to test the tracks the entire length of the line. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Metro Transit)

Transit Briefs: Metro Transit, Sound Transit, Metrolinx, Metrolink, SEPTA, STM

The METRO Green Line Extension in Minneapolis marks a milestone. Also, final testing is under way for Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension in Seattle and is complete for Metrolinx’s Finch West LRT project in Ontario, Canada; Southern California’s Metrolink expands its “smart” crossing technology; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) postpones bus purchases, a station accessibility project, and the Frazer Railroad Facility expansion; and STM (Société de transport de Montréal) pursues mediation to avoid metro and bus driver strikes.

New York MTA on Oct. 15 reported beginning the environmental review process for the planned Interborough Express (IBX) light rail project. (Rendering Courtesy of MTA)

Transit Briefs: MTA, BART, SEPTA

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is beginning environmental assessment of the Interborough Express light rail project. Also, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) ridership is on the rise; and a new quarterly report finds that crime on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) continues to drop.

The new Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), housed in the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute for Urban Research, will be co-led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards, who is the former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and CEO of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. She received a Railway Age Women in Rail Award in 2020. (Photograph Courtesy of SEPTA)

Transit Briefs: R-TRIP, MTA LIRR, Metra, REM

The University of Pennsylvania launches the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), “a new hub for research, innovation, and real-world solutions in transportation.” Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ridership surpasses 300,000 in one day for the first time since the pandemic; Chicago’s Metra commuter railroad will put into service this fall a prototype café car; and the opening of two Réseau express métropolitain (REM) branches in Montreal is delayed again.

(Photograph Courtesy of SEPTA)

Reports: Judge Orders Service Restoration, Allows Fare Hikes at SEPTA (UPDATED 9/8)

A Philadelphia judge on Sept. 4 ruled that SEPTA must “‘immediately reverse all service cuts,’ which began last month as the transit agency faces a significant financial shortfall and the state budget has not yet allocated funds amid a monthslong budget stalemate,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

(SEPTA Photograph)
Commentary

SEPTA: Drastic Service Cuts Begin, Deeper Cuts Planned for 2026 (UPDATED, 9/2)

Philadelphia has been able to boast many “firsts” in its history, including being the place where the United States was founded almost 250 years ago. Effective Aug. 24 and continuing on Sept.

“On behalf of our Amtrak guests who count on daily Heartland Flyer trains, we thank the Texas Transportation Commission for approving the state’s share of funding of the service from the NCTCOG and its RTC,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Amtrak Executive Vice Presiden, on Aug. 21. (Heartland Flyer Photograph, Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, KC Streetcar, SEPTA, BART, Brightline

The Texas Transportation Commission approves the state’s share of funding to keep Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer running. Also, Kansas City (KC) Streetcar begins full-service simulated testing ahead of the Main Street Extension’s fall launch; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) system-wide ridership in July was up 4% from the same month last year; San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) celebrates the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates at all San Mateo County, Calif., stations; and Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad, partners with Capital One.

Transit Briefs: TTC, SEPTA, REM

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) pursues a single-source contract with Alstom. Also, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will begin 20% service cuts on Aug. 24; and Réseau express métropolitain (REM) service is set to resume after a six-week summer shutdown.

Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx on Aug. 6 awarded a fixed-price contract of C$1.44 billion to North End Connectors to design, build, and finance (DBF) the advance tunneling project for the Yonge North Subway Extension, which will extend the TTC’s Line 1 subway service approximately 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the existing terminus at Finch Station into the City of Richmond Hill. (Photograph Courtesy of Metrolinx)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, Amtrak, SEPTA

Canada’s Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx award a C$1.4 billion contract for the Yonge North Subway Extension project in Toronto. Also, Amtrak adds a new track and platform at Washington Union Station; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) releases reduced-service schedules and sets a deadline to avert cuts.

Transit Briefs: BART, VRE, MARTA, TransLink, SEPTA, NYMTA, MassDOT, LA Metro, Reading & Northern

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) ridership continues to grow. Also, Virginia Railway Express (VRE) adopts its System Plan 2050; the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and Atlanta United release the second edition of the “MARTA Collection” retail line; TransLink frontline workers wear language pins to better support newcomers and tourists; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) ridership in June increases 6% from last year; the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) installs protective platform barriers at more than 50 subway stations; POTUS 47 terminates $327 million for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Allston Multimodal Project; the opening of LA Metro’s LAX Transit Center drives a dramatic increase in ridership on the K Line; and Reading & Northern Railroad’s (RBMN) Passenger Department celebrates its 40th anniversary.

OIG recommends that Amtrak "develop an overarching strategy and analyze the data necessary to measure its service quality."

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, Amtrak OIG, SEPTA, Caltrans

Amtrak celebrates the state-sponsored Borealis trains reaching a quarter-million riders. Also, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies opportunities where the company can improve its service to passengers with disabilities; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) releases its crime report for the first half of 2025; and Caltrans awards the Fresno Council of Governments $700,000 for the “Fresno Metropolitan Light Rail Feasibility Study.”

LOAD MORE