The Northlander returns to Ontario. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) launches systemwide upgrades in 2026; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) New River Valley project is on track for a 2027 launch; and EMBARK officials kick off OKC Streetcar’s free fare pilot program.
In addition to moving freight, Norfolk Southern (NS) has also “played an industry-leading role” in hosting new and existing passenger services, working with passenger rail partners to find solutions that “balance the needs of the company’s freight network and the customers it serves with those of its communities,” the Class I recently reported.
Amtrak Virginia closes the state’s fiscal year with record ridership. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) releases rider survey results, showing improvements in overall satisfaction across subway, commuter rail and bus service, and is adding customer service centers to 15 subway locations; Trinity Metro in Texas is offering one week of free rides on all local services; and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) “care-based outreach model” is paying off.
Skanska, in a joint venture with FlatironDragados, announced on July 7 that it has signed a $658 million contract with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) to build the Long Bridge North
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) lands $100 million in California state funding for the BART Silicon Valley Phase II project. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) presents its 2025 Rail Safety, Security and Emergency Management Awards; Arizona’s Valley Metro is introducing streetcar fares; and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) marks its fifth anniversary.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) now has a Fiscal Year 2026–2031 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) with investments of $7 billion in public transportation and freight and passenger rail across
Amtrak’s Borealis tops 205,800 guests in its first full year of service. Also, Amtrak Virginia sets another ridership record in April; Zephyr Rail is selected by the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency to provide preliminary engineering and design services for the Ortega Siding project in Carpinteria, Calif.; and Metrolinx issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the first major Hamilton LRT contract.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), joined by Norfolk Southern (NS) and state and local leaders, on April 24 broke ground on the New River Valley Rail Project in Christiansburg, Va. The project is part of VPRA’s Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative and encompasses railroad infrastructure that will allow the Authority to extend its Amtrak Virginia service from Roanoke to Christiansburg and return passenger rail service to the New River Valley for the first time since 1979.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) implements a policy to ban violent and sexual offenders beginning June 2. Also, a new Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) improves the customer experience at the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s (VPRA) Amtrak Main Street Station in Richmond; the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) opens a new station on the TRAX Red Line; Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Daniel Nishigaya orders striking Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) employees back to work; and Dow Constantine is hired as Sound Transit’s next CEO.
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) of Central Oklahoma wins a USDOT grant to evaluate at-grade crossings along a proposed commuter rail corridor. Also, Utah Transit Authority (UTA) finalizes plans for a new TRAX light rail line; the Minnesota governor’s budget proposal reduces support for rail operations at Metro Transit; Chicago’s Metra is reopening one commuter rail station and closing another temporarily for rehab on its Metra Electric Line; and Amtrak Virginia sets an all-time record with 2024 ridership.
