New York Gov. Hochul Issues RFP for Largest Rail Car Order in MTA History
The MTA has issued an RFP for its largest subway‑car purchase ever, seeking a base order of 1,140 R262 cars to replace the aging R62/R62A fleet on the 1, 3 and 6 lines, with an option for an additional 1,250 cars for the 2, 4 and 5 lines. The total potential order of 2,390 cars will be financed through the $68 billion 2025‑29 Capital Plan and congestion‑pricing revenues, and the contract emphasizes performance‑based specifications and total cost of ownership. New cars must achieve a mean distance between failure of 200,000 miles, more than double the current fleet’s reliability. Proposals are due Sept. 8, 2026, with award expected in early 2028.
New Mid-America Regional Council Report Highlights Benefits of KC Streetcar Main Street Extension Service
The Mid‑America Regional Council released a study showing that Kansas City’s streetcar system, after its 2025 extension to UMKC, doubled the annual pace of new‑construction permits along both the original downtown corridor and the new route. Permit activity surged following...
Metra to Launch Fare Collection Technology Pilot April 6
Metra will begin a pilot on April 6 that requires riders at selected downtown stations to present a launched Ventra QR code or a paper ticket before boarding. The test uses new handheld scanners on off‑peak trains to evaluate speed,...
TransLink Unveils Burrard Peninsula Area Transport Plan to Improve Regional Transit over 16 Years
TransLink has released the Burrard Peninsula Area Transport Plan, a 16‑year blueprint covering Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and UBC. The strategy calls for 59 bus route adjustments, new services such as a Stanley Park loop, and transit‑priority lanes that dovetail with...
City of Los Angeles Awards GMV $43 Million Contract to Continue Partnership
The City of Los Angeles has awarded GMV a $43 million contract to extend its role as the technology partner for the DASH and Commuter Express services through 2030. The agreement will upgrade more than 400 buses with GMV Hub, an...
NJ: ICE Agents Can’t Be Barred From NJ Transit Buses, Trains and Stations
New Jersey’s public‑transport agency, NJ Transit, will continue to permit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on its buses, trains and stations. The decision follows Governor Mikie Sherrill’s executive order, which limits ICE access only to non‑public state property, leaving...
PA: Upgrading PRT's Panhandle Bridge From South Side to Downtown Pittsburgh Will Cost $58 Million
Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) is set to award a $58 million contract to Mosites Construction for a comprehensive upgrade of the historic Panhandle Bridge linking the South Side to Downtown. Although the contract will be signed next week, construction will not...
RideCo Technology Helping to Improve Dispatch Experience for Transit Operations
RideCo showcased its Solver technology in a March 11 webinar, highlighting how advanced dispatch platforms can replace legacy, manual dispatch rooms in public‑transit agencies. The company argues that traditional dispatchers juggle scheduling, GPS, and communications manually, leading to slower disruption response,...
NJ Transit, Amtrak Host Inaugural Ride on New Portal North Bridge Ahead of Launch
NJ Transit and Amtrak held an inaugural ride on the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny, New Jersey, marking the first track’s entry into passenger service on March 16. The two‑track, 50‑foot high‑level bridge replaces a 116‑year‑old swing bridge, eliminating delays...
Hitachi Rail Unveils Next-Generation Fare Validator Designed for Sustainability and Maintainability
Hitachi Rail introduced the BV700, a next‑generation fare validator that expands on the BV600 platform deployed in 10 countries. The new device comes in 5‑inch and 7‑inch touch‑screen formats and supports contactless cards, QR codes, ultra‑wide‑band and facial‑recognition ticketing. Its...
Tolar Manufacturing Delivers New Transit Shelters, Benches to Ark-Tex Council of Governments
Tolar Manufacturing completed delivery of 28 Niagara Series non‑advertising transit shelters and loop‑arm benches for the Ark‑Tex Council of Governments, covering stops in Texarkana and Paris, Texas. The five‑year contract, awarded in September 2024, saw 16 shelters installed in April...
CA: Fresno County Cities Start to Take Sides on Rival Transportation Tax Measures
Three rural Fresno County cities—Mendota, Parlier and Huron—have officially endorsed the Better Roads, Safe Streets initiative, a 30‑year, $7.4 billion transportation tax proposal. The plan competes with the Fix Our Roads 20‑year, $3.9 billion measure, and both must collect 22,000 signatures to...
MDOT MTA Aims to Improve On-Time Performance by Empowering Bus Operators with Real-Time Information
MDOT MTA partnered with Swiftly to equip bus operators with the Onboard App, delivering real‑time schedule comparisons via GPS‑enabled tablets. A 15‑day pilot in late 2025 boosted on‑time performance by 25 % and cut early arrivals by 37 %. The agency targets...
Public Transit to Return to Chenango County March 9
Public transit in Chenango County, New York, will resume on March 9, 2026 after a year‑long suspension. The county has partnered with Cathay Express Transportation to operate the service, emphasizing safety, reliability, and accessibility. To encourage ridership, the first day of...
BC Transit to Launch OnDemand Transit Service in Powell River
BC Transit is rolling out an OnDemand transit service in Powell River, British Columbia, beginning March 23. The app‑based system lets riders request pickups in real time to destinations such as Marine Drive shops, the hospital, and transit hubs, operating Monday‑Saturday...
People on the Move: NCRTD, Denver RTD, Metro Transit Minneapolis, NMDOT, ENC
Major transit agencies announced a wave of leadership changes. NCRTD Blue Bus named Bryan Walck as deputy executive director of operations, while Denver RTD appointed Kellie Irving to head its civil‑rights division. Metro Transit promoted Katie Roth and Miles Turpin...
Op-Ed: Transit Tunnel Lighting Standards Need to Catch Up
U.S. transit tunnels, many built before modern fire‑safety codes, rely on NFPA 130 emergency lighting standards that set a minimal 0.25 foot‑candle illumination. Recent incidents—from the 2015 WMATA smoke event to the 2024 BART fire—exposed the inadequacy of these low‑level requirements,...
NC: South End Construction Will Bring Shutdowns for Blue Line, Section of Rail Trail
The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has launched a multi‑phase construction program in the South End, adding a new light‑rail station, a rail‑trail segment, and a railroad crossing. To accommodate the work, the LYNX Blue Line will experience a full...
Latinos in Transit Takes First Place in APTA AdWheel Award for Workforce Development Marketing Campaign
Latinos in Transit (LIT) secured first place in the 2026 APTA AdWheel Awards for Best Marketing and Communications Workforce Development Initiative. The winning campaign, titled “Ignite. Empower. Evolve,” rebranded LIT as a national incubator for transit workforce development, targeting emerging...
L.A. Metro to Begin Service on Phase 1 of D Line Subway Extension May 8
Los Angeles Metro will launch Phase 1 of the D Line subway extension on May 8, adding a 3.92‑mile underground stretch from downtown to Beverly Hills. The project introduces three new stations—Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega—delivering a single‑seat, 20‑minute ride without transfers. Funded...
Micromobility Commission Issues Recommendations to Better Regulate and Expand Use to Massachusetts Legislature
MassDOT submitted the Special Commission on Micromobility final report to the Massachusetts Legislature, outlining a comprehensive set of recommendations to modernize state law and improve safety for e‑bikes, scooters, and other low‑speed devices. The plan introduces a speed‑based classification system,...
People on the Move: Coast Transit Authority, VVTA, San Joaquin RTD, Nashville Department of Transportation
The Coast Transit Authority, Victor Valley Transit Authority, San Joaquin Regional Transit District, and Nashville Department of Transportation announced new leadership appointments. Mike Reso becomes CTA’s executive director, while Rod Goldman will assume the VVTA CEO role in July 2026....
Op-Ed: Transit in the New Age of Experience
The op‑ed argues that transportation is entering an "experiential age" where success is measured by how clear, calm and humane journeys feel, not merely by speed or capacity. Advances in AI, real‑time data and behavioral science enable transit systems to...
MN: Lawmakers Take Aim at High-Cost, Low-Ridership Bus Lines
Minnesota lawmakers are reviewing legislation to trim or consolidate suburban bus routes that require high subsidies and see low ridership. A House Transportation Committee hearing highlighted more than two dozen routes costing up to $201 per passenger, with four suburban...
WI: Dunn County Transit Sees Major Growth with Community Transportation in 2025
Dunn County Transit reported a record‑breaking 20,660 passengers on its Community Route in 2025, a 73% increase over its ten‑year average and up from 16,012 in 2024. The Stout Route also rose 5.7% to 98,747 riders despite a dip in...
U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs, Doesn’t Offer Refund Mechanism
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6‑3 that the president lacks authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs, striking down the 25% duties on Mexico and Canada and the 10‑20% duties on China. The decision left refund...
CDTA Launches New Ambassador Program
The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) has launched an ambassador program to bolster passenger support and community engagement. Trained ambassadors will rotate across select routes, offering visible assistance and fare education while partnering with Tech Valley Security. The initiative marks...
LA: Helena Moreno Announces Picks to Lead New Orleans RTA, Pledges to Take Agency in New Direction
Mayor Helena Moreno announced five of the seven new members for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority board, replacing previous appointees and awaiting City Council confirmation. The picks include business owner Coleman Adler, former state senator Ann Duplessis, YMCA CEO Erika...
Regional Network Management Council Releases New Signage Designs for Bay Area Transit Operators
The Regional Network Management (RNM) Council has approved the first set of wayfinding design guides to standardize signage across Bay Area transit agencies. The Regional Network Identity Design Guide and Transit Stop Signage Design Guide specify colors, symbols, and information...
New Report From Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Details Economic Benefits for Claremount Extension of Metro A Line Light-Rail System
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority released a report quantifying the economic impact of the 2.3‑mile Claremont Extension of the Metro A Line light‑rail system. The study projects more than $1.1 billion in construction‑phase economic output, over 4,700 jobs, and $154 million...
Austin Transit Partnership Selects Austin Rail Constructors for Austin Light Rail Project
The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has chosen Austin Rail Constructors (ARC), a joint venture of Stacy Witbeck and Sundt Construction, as its development partner for the city’s first light‑rail system. Construction is slated to start in 2027 after a design‑build procurement...
WA: Light Rail Carried over 200K Riders on Seahawks Super Bowl Parade Day
Sound Transit’s 1 Line logged more than 200,000 boardings on the Seahawks Super Bowl parade day, setting a new regional transit record. The figure eclipses the previous high of 160,000 rides recorded during a multi‑event weekend in September. Heavy fan participation...
TX: Costs, Crime Rates and Riders: Five Charts that Show How People Use DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is confronting a funding crisis as half of its 13 member cities consider exiting, prompting scrutiny of ridership, costs and safety. Ridership has rebounded to about 78% of pre‑COVID levels, with the newly added Silver...
CA: Long-Sought Coaster Extension to San Diego Convention Center Will Break Ground This Year
North County Transit District (NCTD) will break ground this year on a $33 million extension of the Coaster commuter rail to San Diego’s Convention Center, creating a new downtown station steps from Petco Park, the Gaslamp Quarter and the Rady Shell. The...
PA: Next Stop, Centre County? New Survey Seeks Residents’ Input on Passenger Rail
The Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization, together with Penn State, launched a 10‑15‑minute survey on Feb. 9 to assess resident interest in passenger rail options for the region. Backed by $60,000—$48,000 from the Federal Highway Administration and $12,000 local match—the study...
University of Illinois Chicago Unveils New Study Highlighting Economic Value of Rural Transit
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center released a study quantifying the economic impact of rural public transit. It finds that every $1 invested generates roughly $4 in societal benefits, driven by better health outcomes, higher workforce participation, and...
SFRTA Breaks Ground on Link at Boca TOD Project
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) broke ground on the Link at Boca transit‑oriented development adjacent to the Tri‑Rail Boca Raton station. The eight‑story mixed‑use project, built through a public‑private partnership with 13th Floor Investments and Rockpoint, will deliver...
San Antonio Mayor Asks VIA About Plans for Six-Month Fare-Free Pilot
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has formally asked VIA Metropolitan Transit to draft a written plan for a six‑month fare‑free pilot on the system’s five busiest routes, which carry roughly 25 % of total ridership. The mayor’s letter, dated early 2026,...