New York MTA has received a strengthened credit rating outlook from Moody’s Investors’ Service, which amended the outlook of its A3 rating for MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating to “positive” from “stable.”

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, SacRT

Moody’s Investors’ Service ups the credit rating outlook for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Also, the state of California has awarded Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) $4.4 million for three transportation infrastructure projects.

SkyTrain workers have reached a tentative agreement with BCRTC.

Transit Briefs: WMATA, MARTA, SkyTrain, SacRT

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) launches a new real-time rail service tracking tool. Also, the Maryland Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Police’s Deputy Chief returns from executive training in Israel; SkyTrain workers reach a tentative agreement with the British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC); and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is awarded $35 million in funding for light rail improvements.

Over the next 12 months, Siemens will add a new bearings monitoring system to all light rail vehicle trucks in the CATS Blue Line fleet, according to WCNC, an NBC affiliate in Charlotte, N.C.

Transit Briefs: CATS, LACMTA, MTA Metro-North, SacRT, TriMet

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina will add a new bearing monitoring system to its LYNX Blue Line light rail fleet. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership is up 10%, setting a post-pandemic record; service cuts could be coming to MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven (Conn.) Line; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California extends its fare-free rides for youth program; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) adopts the coming year’s budget and announces a four-month disruption of the MAX Red Line.

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FTA: More Than $700MM to Replace Aging Passenger Railcars in Six States

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s federal Transit Administration (FTA) on May 5 announced the selection of six projects in six states to replace aging passenger railcars, “improving reliability, safety, and accessibility on the nation’s rail transit systems.”

Transit Briefs: LA Metro, VIA Rail, SacRT

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) releases its proposed 2023-24 $9 billion budget. Also, Leger Study names VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) “the most reputable company” in the transportation sector; and the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) begins testing new low-floor light rail trains on the tracks.

Commentary

SacRT Turns 50 This Year

For 50 years, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) has knitted the capital region together, taking millions of riders where they need to go, from downtown Sacramento to old town Folsom, from Elk Grove to Citrus Heights, and to hundreds of points in between.

SacRT’s first new low-floor LRV from Siemens Mobility. (Photograph Courtesy of SacRT, via Twitter)

First Look: SacRT’s New Siemens Mobility S700

Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) this month received the first of 28 light rail vehicles (S700) from Siemens Mobility in south Sacramento, Calif. In April 2020, SacRT and Siemens Mobility started executing

New York MTA’s Metro-North Penn Station Access Project would bring MTA Metro-North commuter rail service to Penn Station and Manhattan’s west side, along Amtrak’s Hell Gate Line on the Northeast Corridor (artist’s rendering shown).

Transit Briefs: Brightline, NYMTA, OCTA, SacRT, SCVTA

Ahead of service to Orlando, train testing of up to 110 mph continues for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, New York MTA’s Metro-North Penn Station Access Project faces delays; Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and Metrolink unveil track and station improvements in Anaheim, Calif.; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California begins station modifications to accommodate new LRVs from Siemens Mobility; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) offers limited-edition trading cards.

Brightline train in Orlando. (Photo by David C. Lester)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, Hitachi Rail, MDOT, Omaha Streetcar, SacRT, Seattle Transit

Ahead of service to Orlando, train testing of up to 110 mph continues for Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, Hitachi Rail publishes a study on attitudes toward public transport across eight global cities; former Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and CEO Paul Wiedefeld is tapped as Maryland’s next Transportation Secretary; Warren Buffett speaks out against planned streetcar service in Omaha, Neb.; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) receives the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Gold Standard Award for transit security and emergency preparedness programs; and a new Seattle, Wash., program gives free transit cards to public housing residents.

Transit Briefs: LA Metro, SacRT, MBTA

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Authority (Metro) will offer free rides on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. Also, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) will offer free rides to active and retired military service men and women on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11; and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) will install an $80 million underground cable network to prevent train collisions and launches online “Find Your Polling Location” tool ahead of Election Day.

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