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 project, fully funded by a 2020 California Transportation Commission grant, includes an 850‑foot platform, additional tracks for freight, and new bicycle‑pedestrian infrastructure. Construction is slated to begin by the end of 2026 and run about 18 months, with service targeted for late 2027 or early 2028. Officials expect the extension to lift annual ridership beyond the 871,000 recorded in 2024 and ease downtown traffic congestion.
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...

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...

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 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,...