The Washington Post is reporting that the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is in negotiations with Hitachi Rail to build 256 8000-Series rapid transit cars, with an option to purchase up to 800.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) have enabled the agency’s SmarTrip AFC (automated fare collection) system on the iPhone and Apple Watch, “giving transit riders a contactless way to pay for their journeys on trains and buses in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. In addition, Cubic and WMATA have launched a SmarTrip app, “the first mobile app for the region.”
Fitch Ratings has placed the ratings of five large U.S. public transit agencies on “Rating Watch Negative.” Fitch said it “expects widespread and sharp declines in transit ridership and fare revenues to create significant near-term stress in the U.S. public transit sector with the [agencies] identified here at the greatest risk. Some transit agencies in major urban areas that have already been impacted by the pandemic are reporting ridership declines of as much as 70% to 90% amid efforts at social distancing, a widespread shift to telecommuting and shelter-in-place orders.”
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, builder of subway cars for U.S. cities including New York and Washington, may exit the business amid mounting losses and an increasingly difficult market.
Washington’s Metro system wants to hold the line on fare hikes while proposing expanded rail service as part of a fiscal 2020 budget proposal.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed veteran railway engineering professional Arthur R. “Rob” Troup as Senior Program Executive of the MTA Long Island Rail Road East Side Access (ESA) project. MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber announced Troup’s appointment on Sept. 24.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has chosen Potomac Yard Constructors as the prime construction contractor for the Potomac Yard Metrorail Station.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has outlined the process by which primary responsibility for federal safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail rapid transit system will transfer from FTA to the Metrorail Safety Commission (MSC).
Washington, D.C.’s rapid transit system is moving ahead with plans to buy more new rolling stock.
The District of Columbia (D.C.) obtained Federal Transit Administration (FTA) certification for its rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Program, becoming the fourth state or entity to be certified.