The Metro Board of Directors on April 14 approved the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) $4.8 billion capital and operating budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024, which supports the agency’s “increased rail and bus services, simplifies fares for customers, creates a new low-income fare program, caps MetroAccess fares at $4, and enhances safety measures.”
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on April 12 announced concurrence from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission (WSMC) that allows the agency to move to the final phase of its 7,000-series Return-to-Service Plan.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Transit Police leaders graduate from DC Police Leadership Academy (DCPLA). Also, Oklahoma officials want to expand Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer into Kansas.
Charlotte Area (N.C.) Transit System (CATS) addresses its lack of required Operations Control Center staff. Also, Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority, and an Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga partnership submit proposals for intercity passenger rail service through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program; Greater Cleveland (Ohio) Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) selects Siemens Mobility as the likely supplier of its new light rail vehicle fleet; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) publishes a three-year safety improvement plan; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) readies for the spring reopening of its Yellow Line.
Seattle’s Sound Transit identifies the preferred alternative for the Ballard Link light rail extension and will conduct Rainier Valley safety improvements in partnership with the city’s transportation department using a $2 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) police department launches a Body-Worn Camera Program.
Amtrak awards Rail Clearance Management system contract. Also, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) lowers its ridership estimate for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) extension through San José; CapMetro’s Project Connect in Austin, Tex., has five new light rail options; Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is developing a unified, statewide public transit information system for mobile devices; PATH introduces nine-car train service on the Newark (N.J.)-World Trade Center (N.Y.) line; the city of Toronto, Ontario, and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bolster transit system outreach efforts; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) tests new fare gates.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subways reach 3.94 million riders on a single day for the first time since March 2020. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) gets a service boost systemwide amid ridership surge; and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) releases results from Phase 2 of its Transit Workforce Shortage Study and welcomes hundreds of industry professionals to Washington, D.C., for 2023 Legislative Conference.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is making plans to bring back automatic train operation in 2023. Also, Genesee Valley Transportation Co. (GVT) purchases 74-year-old locomotive in hopes of restoring it and returning it to the rails in Scranton for potential passenger excursions; NJ Transit introduces new cash payment option within its mobile app; and Amtrak Downeaster passengers can continue to purchase alcohol as the train passes through New Hampshire on an interim basis.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on Feb. 28 reported that its plan to change the way it presses wheels on the 7000-series rapid transit cars is under development, based on technical data issued the same day by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The safety move could cost approximately $55 million and take up to three years to complete, the Authority said.
Streetcar service is returning to downtown Atlanta, Ga., reports Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will upgrade accessibility at 17 subway stations across all five boroughs; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is eyeing design changes for its new 8000-series rapid transit cars.