The Center Square

Rail Industry: New Proposed Rulemaking for Rail Regulation has no ‘Plausible Safety Justification’

August 10, 2022 The Center Square

A new proposed rule change to expand railroad regulations without any safety justification “prioritizes politics over sound, data-driven safety policy,” industry experts argue.

Authorities Board Gives OK to Penn Station Funding, Also Voices Caution

July 28, 2022 The Center Square

A key New York board gave its initial authorization Wednesday to a plan for funding the Penn Station redevelopment proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this week.

Capital Investments, Staffing Get Boost in New Jersey Transit System

July 26, 2022 The Center Square

Directors for the board of the New Jersey transit system are pushing $2.64 billion into the coming year’s capital investments, and $10.1 million into additional operational staffing.

70 CTA Employees Made More Than $200,000 in 2021

July 20, 2022 The Center Square

A transit employee in Chicago made more than $300,000 in 2021, making him the highest-paid employee for the system.

Transit Flush With Cash After Federal Pandemic Bailout, but What Happens Next?

July 15, 2022 The Center Square

Data from the Federal Transit Administration sheds light on how the COVID-19 pandemic crippled public transportation in the U.S.

Amtrak Wants to Make Atlanta a Railroad Hub

July 11, 2022 The Center Square

Amtrak is looking to make Atlanta a railroad hub again, but the quasi-federal agency can’t say how much it will cost to run new routes across the Peach State and the region.

All Aboard for Replacing Century-Old Rail Between New York City, Newark

July 7, 2022 The Center Square

Ten miles of rail, $12 billion to upgrade for the 450 trains a day and their passengers.

Federal Funding for Chicago Transit Jumps 5,000% for Operating Expenses

July 7, 2022 The Center Square

The Chicago Transit Authority saw a more than 5,000% increase in federal money for operating funds in 2020, an increase that helped CTA maintain services throughout COVID-19. The bailout by the federal government meant that operating expenses remained flat despite a 60% drop in passenger miles, largely due to the pandemic.

Metra Ridership Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels as Expenses Grow

July 7, 2022 The Center Square

Ridership on Metra, the taxpayer-supported commuter train agency that serves Chicago and its suburbs, continued to remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels in 2021 while the agency’s operating expenses continued to grow.

Lawmakers Frustrated Over Blocked Rail Crossings and Late Passenger Trains

June 22, 2022 The Center Square

The head of the Federal Railroad Administration was put on the defensive regarding poor on-time service by Amtrak trains in Illinois that taxpayers subsidize.