Amtrak unveiled its second series of installations at New York Penn Station for its Art at Amtrak initiative in September. (Amtrak photo)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, MARTA, USDOT, SkyTrain

Amtrak unveils second series of art installations at New York Penn Station. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) announces another transaction of greater Atlanta transit-oriented affordable housing preservation fund; the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) expands its financing program to help infrastructure projects move forward; and the Province of British Columbia launches a second procurement for the Surrey Langley SkyTrain project.

Sany Zein (pictured) has been appointed President and General Manager of BC Rapid Transit Company, effective Oct. 3.

People News: TransLink, STV

TransLink announces Sany Zein as President and General Manager for BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC). Also, STV welcomes Jacqueline Opal as Chief People Officer.

These two new contracts represent two new key milestones in the almost 40-year partnership between Thales and TransLink covering the entire history of the Metro Vancouver SkyTrain.

TransLink, Thales Confirm Two New SkyTrain Projects

TransLink has awarded two contracts to Thales under the Expo and Millennium Upgrade Program to enable a 22 km (13.6-mile) expansion of the fully automated Metro Vancouver SkyTrain system, with 41 new

TransLink, BC Transit to Share C$204MM in COVID Relief

Metro Vancouver’s TransLink and Victoria’s B.C. Transit will receive a total of C$204 million in COVID-19 relief from the government of Canada and the province of British Columbia (B.C.).

The Green Line Light Rail Transit project’s 11.18-mile (18-kilometer) Phase I will use CAF LRVs to connect southeast Calgary to downtown.

Transit Briefs: Calgary Green Line; Denver RTD; Vancouver SkyTrain

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been released for Phase 1 of the Green Line Light Rail Transit project in Calgary. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) has launched a system-wide fare study and equity analysis; and the Vancouver City Council has endorsed the proposed route and station locations for the Millennium Line SkyTrain extension from Arbutus Street to the University of British Columbia.

An artist rendering of the Toronto Union Station platforms. Improvement work, as part of Metrolinx's Union Station Enhancement Project, is expected to start early this year. (Metrolinx image)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, TransLink, VRE, WMATA

Metrolinx has awarded Toronto’s Union Station Enhancement Project to ONTrack Alliance. In addition, Metro Vancouver’s Transport 2050 plan is now final; the $5 million rehabilitation of Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Fredericksburg station is expected to begin this summer; and Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) has earned a Transportation Security Administration award.

Canada, TransLink Investing C$290MM in SkyTrain Projects

Infrastructure Canada has reported that the government of Canada and Vancouver’s TransLink have committed C$236.7 million (US$188.49 million) to build additional SkyTrain maintenance facilities; the government will also invest C$53 million (US$ 42.2 million) to upgrade SkyTrain’s Burrard Station on the Expo Line and to expand Expo and Millennium line stations to support larger five-car, 85-meter (276-foot) trains.

Vancouver SkyTrain Extension to Receive C$1.3B

The Canadian government will provide up to C$1.3 billion (US$1.04 billion) for the Surrey Langley SkyTrain extension, a more than C$3 billion (US$2.4 billion) project to expand metro Vancouver’s Expo Line 16 kilometers (9.94 miles).

Thales Vehicle On-Board Controllers Selected for Vancouver SkyTrain

Thales will supply 82 SelTrac™ Vehicle On-Board Controllers (VOBCs) as part of TransLink’s SkyTrain fleet expansion in Vancouver.

Vancouver TransLink Ordering 205 SkyTrain Cars

TransLink has selected Bombardier Transportation to supply 205 new SkyTrain cars for the Expo and Millennium lines of its automated rapid transit system in Vancouver. The C$722.6 million contract will be signed in the coming days, the agency reported. Delivery of the first car is expected in 2023; all cars are slated for service by year-end 2027.

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