Transit Briefs: DART, Metrolinx, TTC, TransLink

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) in Texas has been named a Forbes “Best in State Employer.” In addition, Metrolinx’s recent pilot in Ontario that tested transit surfaces for the SARS-CoV-2 virus has received an “all clear” from experts; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has earned an award from the Canadian Urban Transit Association; and Vancouver’s TransLink is beginning a system-wide rollout of free Wi-Fi for customers.

Transit Briefs: BART; TTC/TransLink; SRC

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) has awarded ICF a contract for up to $30 million to provide environmental services for Link21. In addition, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Vancouver’s TransLink are installing antimicrobial copper coatings on high-touch vehicle services as part of a pilot; and the Southern Rail Commission (SRC) will award federal grants to four cities for passenger rail station upgrades in anticipation of Amtrak’s Gulf Coast service restoration.

RFQ Released for Toronto’s Scarborough Subway Extension Project

Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Scarborough Subway Extension’s Stations, Rail and Systems (SRS) package, advancing the $4.5 billion (C$5.5 billion), three-stop project in the Greater Toronto Area.

Commentary

Happy Anniversary, TTC!

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) celebrated its centennial on Sept. 1.

Study: Torontonians Breathe Easier in the Subway

New subway cars with reduced-friction braking and communications-based train control (CBTC) have contributed to improved air quality on Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) trains and platforms, according to a report from the University of Toronto (UofT), Health Canada, and National Research Council Canada.

Transit Briefs: Metra, Metrolink, Valley Metro, Sound Transit, TTC

Chicago’s Metra is offering an onboard rider satisfaction survey; Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has launched a Small Business Partnership Program (SBPP); Phoenix’s Valley Metro has introduced a real-time light rail and bus tracking and trip planning app; Sound Transit has debuted a Northgate Link website ahead of the 4.3-mile light rail extension’s Oct. 2 opening; and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has opened a new Fare Inspector and Special Constable Complaints (FISCC) Office.

Work Under Way for Ontario’s Scarborough Subway Extension

Construction has officially begun on Ontario’s $4.5 billion (C$5.5 billion), three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, following a June 23 groundbreaking ceremony.

For Alstom Canada, Full Railcar Speed Ahead

Now that Bombardier Transportation’s North American assets and operations are fully integrated into Alstom, major customers, particularly those in Canada, apparently are feeling more confident in continuing investments in rail transit rolling stock, as evidenced by an order for 60 Flexity streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and refurbishments of GO Transit bi-level commuter railcars.

Metrolinx Updates Yonge-North Subway Extension Plans

Metrolinx has released an Initial Business Case (IBC) and supplementary analysis for the 8-kilometer (4.97-mile) Yonge North Subway Extension that will bring the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) existing Line 1 subway to the cities of Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill.

Otis Gives Canadian LRT a Lift

One of the oldest names in “people movers” has landed major contracts at three Canadian transit agencies.

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