The Operations and Maintenance Facility (East) is a LEED Gold certified facility. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Sound Transit)
Commentary

Sustainability: Core Feature of Sound Transit’s Eastside Light Rail Base

With all the environmentally friendly features of the 2 Line at Sound Transit, it seems only fitting that the new light rail service will open during Earth Month.

Mark Lester, Project Director, Associate Vice President, HNTB (left); and Terri Mestas, Deputy CEO, Sound Transit (right).

People News: HNTB, Sound Transit

Mark Lester joins HNTB as a Project Director and Associate Vice President. Also, Terri Mestas joins Sound Transit as Deputy CEO for megaproject delivery.

BART on April 20 will hold a retirement ceremony and final dispatch of its legacy trains that have been in service for more than half a century. The event, “Riding into History: Final Run of the First Fleet,” will take place at Oakland’s MacArthur Station.

Transit Briefs: BART, Denver RTD, Metra, Sound Transit

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) will fully retire its legacy trains next month and is advancing a systemwide fare gates project. Also, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) launches an elevator pilot program and joins the White House’s “Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose” initiative; Chicago’s Metra plans a new layover yard near the McHenry County community; and Seattle’s Sound Transit will test new Link LRV (light rail vehicle) seat material.

MARTA photo

Transit Briefs: MARTA, Minn. Met Council, Brightline/FEC, HRT, SEPTA, Sound Transit, TRE

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) contracts INIT to implement a new fare collection system in time for the FIFA World Cup. Also, Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council transit ridership grows 16%; Brightline and Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) horns will continue in Indian River as County Commission nixes quiet zones; Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) receives Direct Technical Assistance (DTA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) receives $317 million for new Market-Frankford Line cars; Sound Transit’s new app is now available for download; and Trinity Rail Express (TRE) is now making stops at a new station in Fort Worth, Texas.

TriMet’s Gateway North MAX Station, the first new station in nine years, is set to open March 4 as part of the “A Better Red” MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project. (TriMet Photograph)

Transit Briefs: TriMet, Sound Transit, UTA, CTDOT

Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) readies for phase two completion of its “A Better Red” MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project. Also, Sound Transit announces the Link 2 Line launch date for service between South Bellevue and Redmond, Wash.; Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) ReConnect program helps “keep people moving” during unplanned service interruptions; and Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) renews the Transit app premium subscription for public transportation riders statewide.

Sound Transit photo

Transit Briefs: Sound Transit, Amtrak, CHSRA

Sound Transit’s Link 2 Line gets closer to opening on the Eastside. Also, Amtrak completes upgrades at Selma-Smithfield Union Depot; and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) takes home a national honor for the award-winning student engagement “I Will Ride” program.

Bruce W. Gartner, Executive Director, MDTA (left); and Goran Sparrman, interim CEO, Sound Transit (right).

People News: MDTA, Sound Transit

Bruce W. Gartner will serve as the Maryland Transportation Authority’s (MDTA) Executive Director. Also, Sound Transit approves the appointment of Goran Sparrman as interim CEO.

From Left to Right: Tina Beckberger, Chief Commercial Officer, AITX; Earl James, Jr., Global Regulatory & IPMT partner, Hogan Lovells; Jodi Heath, Vice President, Business Development, INRD; and MxV President and CEO Kari Gonzales, LRW's 2023 Railway Woman of the Year.

People News: AITX, Hogan Lovells, INRD, POLB, Sound Transit, LRW

AITX appoints Tina Beckberger as Chief Commercial Officer. Also, Earl Adams, Jr., joins Hogan Lovells’ Transportation Practice as a Global Regulatory & IPMT partner; Jodi Heath joins the Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) as Vice President, Business Development; the Port of Long Beach (POLB) appoints two division directors; Sound Transit considers Goran Sparrman for interim CEO; and the League of Railway Women (LRW) names MxV Rail President and CEO Kari Gonzales the 2023 Railway Woman of the Year.

Metra is changing its fare structure, prices, and purchase channels effective Feb. 1. (Metra Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Metra, Sound Transit, GCRTA

Chicago’s Metra is changing its commuter rail fare structure and closing remaining ticket windows. Also, Seattle’s Sound Transit will consider fare gates this year; and Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) wins a “Healthy Worksite” award.

Wikipedia/Oran Viriyincy

Transit Briefs: RTA, SEPTA, Sound Transit

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan weighs a takeover of the QLINE. Also, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Transit Police ends its strike with a tentative agreement; and Sound Transit receives Moody’s highest-possible bond ratings and moves to a new flat fare structure for its Link light rail.

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