Transit Briefs: SacRT, APTA, BART, MARTA

(SacRT)

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project's second train crossing; construction begins on BART’s Lake Merritt Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Indian Creek TOD project following rezoning approval.

SacRT

SacRT on May 30 announced that two of the 20 new Siemens Mobility S700 low-floor light rail vehicles that have been delivered for the agency’s Light Rail Modernization project, have completed 1,000 miles of testing and are officially deemed ready for passenger service.

The 1,000-mile testing process, SacRT says, is the final step of testing that is required to ensure all safety and quality standards are met before the train can operate on SacRT’s tracks when service of the new low-floor trains begins later this summer. The other 18 vehicles are currently in different phases of testing.

“Ensuring the safety and reliability of our trains is our top priority,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “I commend our dedicated team for their hard work and commitment throughout the rigorous testing process. These new low-floor vehicles will enhance accessibility and comfort for all our passengers, and we are excited to place them in service on the Gold and Green lines later this summer.”

The Light Rail Modernization project is a major capital project in the Sacramento region that includes the purchase and rollout of new accessible low-floor light rail vehicles, modifications to station platforms to meet the height requirements of the new vehicles, and the addition of a passing track to allow for 15-minute frequency at all four Folsom area stations.

The first phase of station platform construction on the Gold Line is nearly complete, and SacRT says it will begin phase two of construction on Blue Line stations this fall.

More information is available here.

APTA

APTA recently announced that it is now accepting nominations for its annual awards program, which recognizes excellence in the public transportation industry.

Called the “best of the best” of the public transportation industry, the APTA Award winners are “outstanding role models of excellence, leadership, and innovation whose accomplishments have greatly advanced public transportation.”

• All nominees must be APTA members in good standing.
• Each submission must be fully complete, must include facts and statistics in telling the story of the nominee’s achievements, and all nominations must include how the nominee demonstrates APTA core values of Leadership, Integrity, Excellence, Diversity, Inclusiveness, Fairness, Equity, Teamwork, Professionalism and Accountability.
• If submitting in more than one category, separate applications must be submitted.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 28, 2024, at noon EST.

More information is available here.

BART

BART’s Link21 Program recently completed an analysis of the different benefits that standard-gauge (Regional Rail) and broad-gauge (BART) train technologies can provide to the region through this project.

This program milestone, the agency says, “will determine which technology should operate in the new crossing as an important step toward defining a project that will provide riders with enhanced and more reliable travel options.”

Through the spring and early summer, Link21 is on an informational roadshow sharing analysis findings that demonstrate how the two technologies provide similar benefits and where they differ in terms of service, equitable outcomes, connections, and operations.

“Link21 will make investments to offer more train service for future generations to thrive, connect, and flourish in our vibrant Megaregion,” said Link21 Program Director Sadie Graham. “The community and stakeholder engagement we do now and the decisions we make will help ensure the project delivers accessible, reliable, and environmentally conscious transit solutions that will benefit our communities for years to come.”

More information is available here.

Separately, the agency recently announced that starting in 2024, the area around the Lake Merritt BART station will begin to be developed.

New affordable and market-rate housing, office, and retail space will be developed over several phases. Phase 1.1 (Bldg. B on the illustration below) is currently scheduled to break ground in mid-2024, with the construction of a 97-unit senior affordable housing building on BART’s existing surface parking lot.

To accommodate this TOD project, BART will no longer offer Reserved Parking starting June 1. Daily Fee parking will still be available on a first-come, first-served basis until construction formally begins, when the parking lot will be permanently closed. Customers can check bart.gov/parking for updates on Daily Fee parking availability, as well as signage at the two entrances to the Lake Merritt parking lot. 

Lake Merritt Station is easily accessible by bicycle and transit. Reserved parking, including Monthly, is available at Fruitvale Station, MacArthur Station, and many other BART locations with parking.

More information on the TOD project is available here.

MARTA

MARTA and DeKalb County are advancing a TOD Master Plan for the Indian Creek rail station on the East/West Line following approval from the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners to rezone the area to support mixed-use TOD.

Rezoning the 64 acres that encompass Indian Creek Station to MU-4 (mixed-use high density) aligns with the community’s vision for TOD as outlined in the 2050 DeKalb Comprehensive Plan.

The TOD Master Plan, MARTA says, “aims to increase housing density with a focus on affordable housing, walkable areas that support multimodal transportation, and incorporate parks and greenspaces to boost ridership and attract federal funding.” Key elements of the plan include:

• 1,600 apartments
• 20,000 square-foot grocery store
• 20,000 square-foot community center
• 2,500 square feet of food and beverage space
• 300,000 square feet of office space
• 4 acres of parks and greenspace
• 45,000 square-foot bus transfer facility

“We are grateful for the support of the DeKalb County Commission and this vital rezoning designation,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood. “This is a crucial step towards transforming Indian Creek Station into a vibrant community hub, and we look forward to working with our partners to bring this vision to life.”

“This project will significantly enhance community connectivity and access to essential services,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson. “The TOD at Indian Creek is a key milestone in our efforts to create a more vibrant and inclusive community.”

Community engagement for Indian Creek’s Master Plan has been “robust,” according to MARTA, focusing on economic development, affordable housing, job creation, and greenspace conservation. Stakeholders, including neighborhood organizations from Pendley Hills to Rowland Allgood & Durham HOA, and groups with members from Lithonia to Avondale Estates, have expressed strong support through several organized workshops.

More information on the Indian Creek Station Master Plan is available here.