The Long Bridge Rail Partners joint venture of Trumbull Corp. Fay, S&B Construction, and Wagman Heavy Civil Inc. has been selected for the Long Bridge Project-South Package. (Long Bridge Project Map Courtesy of VPRA)

Transit Briefs: VPRA, TriMet, Santa Clara VTA, SEPTA

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) selects a construction partner for the Long Bridge Project-South Package. Also, Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) rolls out its first two Type 6 MAX system light rail vehicles; Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is scheduling light rail rehabilitation projects for 2025; and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) reports the largest one-year drop in serious crimes in its history.

Bohr Electronics Secures Contract With VRE for Magnetic Transfer Switches

Bohr Electronics has been awarded a contract by Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to supply 80 magnetic transfer switches, which will support ongoing maintenance of VRE’s locomotive fleet at its Crossroads Maintenance Storage Facility in Fredericksburg, Va.

VRE, VPRA Mark $27.5MM Quantico Upgrade

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) have completed a $27.5 million improvement project at the Quantico rail station “designed to improve safety, service and rail capacity” on

“Hey, Virginia and Rail Enthusiasts everywhere! We've officially broken ground on the Long Bridge Rail Project,” the U.S. Department of Transportation reported via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 15. (Image Courtesy of USDOT)

Long Bridge Construction Kicks Off

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 15 for the $2.3 billion Long Bridge Project, which is slated to boost passenger rail capacity over the Potomac River between Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C.,

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SCVTA, VRE/MDOT MTA, Amtrak, LIRR

The New York Metropolitan Authority’s (MTA) G Line Signal Modernization Project enters the third phase. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) unifies schedule changes and contracts Econolite Systems for the installation of equipment to detect transit signal priority (TSP) calls at at-grade light rail intersections; Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) celebrate a new collaborative agreement to advance regional connectivity; Amtrak restores full service on the Quincy-Chicago Corridor; and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) highlights the 45-year anniversary of the first-ever, women-only operated train.

Amtrak Launches Program to Improve Washington Union Station Operations

Amtrak on July 29 announced that it is launching a program to “revitalize and improve” operations of Washington Union Station, one of the nation’s most historic and busiest multimodal hubs.

Amtrak has completed accessibility upgrades worth $20.8 million at its Bay Area, Calif., stations, in partnership with the cities of Martinez, Hayward, Fremont and Oakland. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, VPRA, MoDOT

Amtrak debuts accessibility improvements at its four Bay Area, Calif., stations. Also, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Norfolk Southern (NS) discuss a new rail agreement; and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) advances the proposed St. Joseph-to-Kansas City passenger rail project.

Transit Briefs: LA Metro, Amtrak, TTC, VRE

LA Metro launches TAP to exit pilot at its North Hollywood B Line station. Also, Amtrak’s Borealis service makes its inaugural trip between St. Paul, Miss., and Chicago, Ill.; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) provides an update on its ongoing labor negotiations with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATC) Local 113; and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) cuts the ribbon on improvements to Fredericksburg Station.

DRPT photo

Virginia DRPT Releases Draft Six-Year Improvement Program

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2030 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates nearly $6.2 billion for public transportation and freight and passenger rail over the next six fiscal years.

NYMTA photo

Transit Briefs: MTA Metro-North, VRE, Metrolinx, Amtrak

Metro-North’s Scarsdale Station becomes the second station to be made fully accessible this year. Also, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget receives approval; Metrolinx’s GO Expansion—On-Corridor Works project is ranked second on ReNew Canada’s Top100Projects report; and construction on a new Brattleboro Amtrak station is set to begin in March.

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