Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, LA Metro, Sound Transit, Jacobs, CTA

Testing a light rail vehicle on the Finch West LRT. (Metrolinx photo)

Metrolinx reaches a major vehicle testing milestone on the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. Also, LA Metro’s Board votes to approve certification of the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 project; Sound Transit introduces a new fare inspection process; Jacobs is selected to provide program management services for Broward County Transportation’s first public transit expansion; and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveils renderings for the rehabilitation of the Western Brown Line Station.

Metrolinx

Metrolinx recently announced that the first test trip by Finch West LRT vehicles across the full alignment has taken place, with trains being able to safely reach speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph).

According to the agency, crews are looking at a wide variety of systems and functions, including how the vehicle moves, how communications systems perform, doors opening and closing properly, overhead electrical connectivity, and power transfers, as well as seeing how the vehicles perform while accelerating and braking.

Additional milestones on the project include:

• The overhead catenary systems providing power to the line along with rail is completed.
• All 116 pedestrian canopies have been installed with the finishing touches being put on each stop.
• The full fleet of 18 light rail vehicles have been delivered to site and are currently being housed at the maintenance and storage facility.

With testing and commissioning ramping up, residents and commuters will notice an increase in light rail vehicle traffic across the Finch West LRT route.

During testing, there will be extra police officers and construction crews to assist with traffic flow to allow the trains to move through intersections safely, as well as assisting with pedestrian traffic.

Progress continues at both Humber College and Finch West stations.

LA Metro

LA Metro’s Board on May 23 voted to approve certification of the final EIS for the Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 project. This action, the agency says, “finalizes the environmental review” for this two-phased project that will extend the Metro E Line nine miles further east from its current terminus at Atlantic Station in East Los Angeles to Lambert Station in the City of Whittier.

As part of Phase 1, which is scheduled to start by 2029, and according to the Initial Operating Segment (IOS), the line will extend from Pomona and Atlantic Boulevards to the City of Whittier via Washington Boulevard.

The Eastside Extension will include three new rail stations with the new Atlantic/Whittier and Commerce/Citadel stations underground and the Greenwood station at street level. Additionally, a new Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) will also be added and located in the City of Montebello.

The Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 rail extension, LA Metro says, will provide commuters in a high travel-demand corridor relief to the limited transportation systems currently available.

The initial segment from East Los Angeles to Greenwood Station in Montebello will include approximately three miles of LRT underground, a half mile of aerial transit and 1.1 miles of track at street level for a total of 4.6 miles of new rail line from the current terminus at Atlantic Boulevard.

LA Metro engaged with communities throughout the environmental study and the agency says the project team will continue to coordinate with cities, property owners, third party utility owners, and other key local, state, and federal agency stakeholders as the project develops throughout the design and re-initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Sound Transit

Sound Transit announced May 23 that it is introducing a new fare inspection process in which Fare Ambassadors will check passengers for proof of payment at Link stations. The first phase of the rollout will begin on Monday, June 3. Fare Ambassadors will continue to conduct fare checks on board Link and Sounder trains.

According to Sound Transit, Fare Ambassadors will conduct fare paid zone inspections within the designated fare-paid areas of Link stations, which may include station platforms. During the first phase, fare paid zone inspections will occur only on the 1 Line, at downtown Seattle stations at different times, and will be expanded in later phases.

Sound Transit relies on fare revenue to operate its services; the Sound Transit Board approved fare paid zone inspections as part of the updated fare compliance policy in 2022.

The new process, the agency says, “seeks to increase fare inspections during peak ridership times and make it easier for Fare Ambassadors to help people obtain fares or services.” Sound Transit expects platform checks to improve fare collection rates by enabling Fare Ambassadors to provide passengers found without proof of payment with options to pay rather than issuing a citation.

The first phase of the new program will run through August. During this phase, Fare Ambassadors will test several methods of platform inspections before the August 30 opening of the 1 Line expansion to Lynnwood.

When Lynnwood Link opens, Sound Transit says it expects heavy ridership and crowded trains during peak periods. Fare Ambassadors on platforms will be able to help new riders navigate the system and will ease the fare check process.

During the first phase of the rollout, Sound Transit will collect passenger feedback about the experience through an online survey. Survey results will influence refining the fare inspection process for the second phase, set to begin in September.

Sound Transit developed the new fare compliance approach in partnership with communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of fare nonpayment. The agency will track the program’s performance to ensure equity goals and inspection targets.

More information is available here.

Jacobs

Jacobs announced May 22 that it has been selected to provide program management services for Broward County Transportation Department’s first public transit expansion.

The 30-year, $4.4 billion program will “transform the county’s transportation infrastructure into a multimodal transit system with a new light rail route connecting Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Port Everglades in Florida,” according to the company.

Leveraging experience from similar complex infrastructure programs, Jacobs says it will manage all program services under its five-year, $17.5 million contract with the county—from developing design criteria for the initial rail transit project to identifying ways to optimize system maintenance and operations. In addition to light rail, the program includes bus rapid transit (BRT) and commuter rail, as well as transit-oriented development (TOD) and affordable housing. In 2018, county residents approved a 1% transportation surtax to fund the program.

“Public transit systems can do more than move people. They connect communities and stimulate economic development,” said Jacobs Senior Vice President Chrissy Thom. “Expanding these complex systems in a dense urban area like Broward County is challenging but critically necessary to meet South Florida’s growing population and immense tourism industry.”

In the past 14 years, more than 100,000 new residents have moved to Broward County making it one of America’s largest counties, according to Jacobs. By modernizing transit infrastructure and developing mixed-use spaces with affordable housing options, the county “hopes to further stimulate growth while making it easier for residents and visitors to travel not only from the airport to the port but throughout the region.”

CTA

CTA recently unveiled renderings and plans to modernize the Western Brown Line Station and bus turnaround, bringing the station back to a state of good repair for the Lincoln Square community.

In finalizing the scope of the project work, CTA engaged with the community to get residents’ feedback. As the project continues, CTA says it will continue to hold community meetings. The next community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 29 and will be held virtually. During this meeting CTA will provide scope details based on feedback provided by the community as well as solicit feedback based on progress made so far.

“This project represents a $19 million investment in the Lincoln Square community that relies on our bus and Brown Line services to make vital connections to the rest of the city,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “As we continue the work of increasing ridership systemwide, our goal is to make capital improvements that will be appreciated by current bus and rail customers and encourage new riders to utilize the system.”

As part of the rehabilitation, new ADA doors will be added to the main entrance on Western Avenue. This summer, crews will begin work on track structure painting, platform rehabilitation, and roof replacement.

The station will also feature a new bus boarding island and canopy structure for customers to use while waiting for one of the several routes that connect through the station. Sidewalks will be replaced in front of the station and lighting will also be upgraded along the walkway between the station and Lincoln Avenue. Upon completion of the project, CTA says riders will have smoother access to the station thanks to the replaced sidewalks.

The rehabilitated station interior will also feature new accent lighting that highlights a segment of the Berlin Wall on display. CTA will also be refinishing the floors and interior walls as well as replacing the elevator cabs, stair treads and risers, as well as a constructing a new customer service assistance kiosk.

On the platform level, the concrete platform edge will be replaced. Repairs will also be made to the existing concrete platform, handrail, and platform canopy.

To perform this work, occasional weekend day line cut cuts between Kimball and Western will be required. There will also be temporary bus stop relocation while the bus turnaround is being rehabbed. Details of any service impacts will be shared with customers once details are finalized. Work is anticipated to continue through late 2025.

According to CTA, the Western Brown Line station provided nearly 700,000 annual rides last year, and offers connections to the following five bus routes: #11 Lincoln, #49 Western, #49B North Western, #X49 Western Express and #81 Lawrence.

Established as part of the original construction of the Ravenswood branch in the early-1900s, the current Western Brown Line station was rebuilt in 1920 and underwent a major renovation in 1979-1981 to be made fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Since this station was already fully accessible to those who use mobility devices, this was the only Brown Line station to receive modest upgrades and repairs under the Brown Line Capacity Expansion project (2004-2009).