VPRA

FTA earlier this month asked MBTA to revise and resubmit 12 corrective action plans “pertaining to hiring challenges, safety procedures and rail transit operations,” according to a Dec. 8 Sentinel & Enterprise report.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, PANY/NJ, SFMTA, TriMet, VPRA, WMATA

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has asked Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to resubmit 12 corrective action plans addressing required safety improvements. Also, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to replace AirTrain Newark with a new 2.5-mile elevated guideway train system; San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will offer Central Subway system riders wireless connectivity; Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) form a strategic alliance; Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Amtrak celebrated 10 years of service between Norfolk and Washington, D.C.; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) long-awaited Potomac Yard Station is slated to open in May 2023.

Map of the “Transforming Rail in Virginia” initiative

CSX Selects Michael Baker to Lead ‘Transforming Rail in Virginia’ Initiative

Engineering, planning and consulting services firm Michael Baker International announced Nov. 17 that it has been selected by CSX, which operates more than 2,000 miles of track throughout the state of Virginia, to lead program and construction management for significant rail enhancement projects as part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative.

SacRT has teamed with the Sacramento Public Library to launch the area’s first library train. (Photograph Courtesy of SacRT)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak/VPRA, DART/DCTA, Metrolinx, SacRT, Sound Transit

Amtrak’s Virginia route ridership hit record highs last month. Also, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) in Texas are launching a joint rail operations facility; Metrolinx is employing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design on its Finch West light rail transit (LRT) project in northwest Toronto; Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) riders can sit back and read on the new Library Train in California; and the Fare Ambassador program at Sound Transit in Seattle, Wash., is now permanent.

The Western Rail Initiative in Virginia calls for an additional round-trip train to Roanoke (launching July 11, 2022), and an extension of service from Roanoke to Christiansburg in the New River Valley following infrastructure improvements.

Virginia Moves Forward on New River Valley Rail Plan

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) and Norfolk Southern (NS) on June 30 announced the financial closing of a deal that will expand commonwealth-supported Amtrak service from Washington, D.C., to Roanoke and to the New River Valley.

Donald A. (DJ) Stadtler Jr.
  • News

DJ Stadtler Joins Wi-Tronix Board

Longtime rail executive Donald A. (DJ) Stadtler Jr. has joined the Board of Directors at Wi-Tronix, LLC, a Bolingbrook, Ill.-based provider of advanced IoT platforms for the rail industry.

High Profile: VPRA, GCRTA, STV, WSP

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) Board appointed its first Executive Director; Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) named a new Chief of Police and Director of Security; STV, Inc. has promoted two veteran transportation leaders to Senior Vice President roles; and WSP in Canada tapped a new President and CEO.