Commuter Rail

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Commuter Rail

TTA Chooses DART’s Thomas as Outstanding General Manager

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
DALLAS — Gary Thomas, President and Executive Director of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), has received the Outstanding Public Transportation General Manager Award from the Texas Transit Association (TTA). The award, which honors a public transportation manager who has made outstanding contributions to the industry, was presented to Thomas during the 2009 Texas Transit Conference in Austin. Thomas was recognized for leading DART to secure a $700 million Full Funding Grant Agreement, one of the nation’s largest, from the Federal Transit Administration; for beginning construction on the Green Line rail expansion that will lead to a doubling of the
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Commuter Rail

10.7 Billion Trips Taken on U.S. Public Transportation in 2008

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
Despite falling gas prices and an economic recession, increasing numbers of Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2008, the highest level of ridership in 52 years and a modern ridership record, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This represents a 4 percent increase over the number of trips taken in 2007 on public transportation, while at the same time, vehicle miles traveled (VMTs) on the nation’s roads declined by 3.6 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. “Even as gas prices fell for the second half of
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Commuter Rail

CTA to Use ‘Stimulus Funds’ for Slow Zone Project in Dearborn Subway

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority Board approved a $56.6 million contract for renewal of approximately 36,000 feet of track in the Blue Line Dearborn subway. Funding for the work is being provided by “stimulus funds.” The work will remove the existing slow zones and help prevent the creation of new slow zones in the Dearborn subway. In 2007 and 2008, CTA eliminated 6,336 feet of slow zones in the Blue Line subway between the Damen and Clark/Lake stations. “The allocation of stimulus funding comes at a critical time for CTA as the agency needs funding to maintain an aging
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Commuter Rail

Historic Tarrytown Train Station Next for Restoration

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEW YORK — MTA Metro-North Railroad is set to begin restoration of the historic Tarrytown train station building this spring complete with a new slate roof, gutters, canopy supports, and reconstruction of three roof dormers that were removed decades ago. “The railroad is pleased to finally begin restoration of the Tarrytown Station building, a gem that has been in continuous use since it was built in 1890 by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad,” said Metro-North President Howard Permut. “When the job is done the station will be a real asset to the village, to the public and
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Commuter Rail

Metro Moves Ahead with ‘Economic Stimulus’ Projects

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Metro is moving forward with spending nearly $202 million on “economic stimulus projects” that include fixing crumbling platforms, repairing tracks and buying new hybrid-electric buses, the agency said. Metro’s Board approved a revised list of 29 projects and moving ahead with awarding nearly 100 contracts and purchases. The first purchase is expected to be made at the end of April for about 45 new hybrid-electric buses with a manufacturer Metro has already contracted with to make Metrobuses. Metro previously announced $230 million in planned stimulus projects, but the list was pared down after some of the funds went
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Commuter Rail

MARC Train Collides with Metrobus; Minor Injuries Reported

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
RIVERDALE, Md. — A Metrobus was involved in a collision with a MARC train and another Metrobus at about 4:24 p.m. March 26 at Queensbury Road and Lafayette Avenue. According to the preliminary report, Metrobus 6040, which had no passengers on board and was operating an F4 route to the New Carrollton Metrorail station, was traveling eastbound on Queensbury Road and attempting to cross the railroad tracks when it was delayed by a second Metrobus attempting to make a left turn. The second Metrobus, number 9731, operating an F4 route to the Silver Spring Metrorail station, was traveling westbound on
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Commuter Rail

LaHood Signs $900 Million Agreement to Fund Wiehle Avenue Extension of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

March 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this month committed $900 million through 2016 to the $3.1 billion Wiehle Avenue Extension of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. “This project comes at a pivotal point as the Obama Administration begins to make vast improvements to our nation’s top transit systems,” LaHood said. “It will create construction jobs, encourage economic development opportunities, and help Tysons Corner become a more livable community.” The 11.7-mile heavy rail line will be an extension to the existing Metrorail system just east of the West Falls Church station through Tysons Corner to its terminus at Wiehle
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Commuter Rail

MTA Board Approves Service Reductions and Fare/Toll Increases

March 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEW YORK — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board approved a series of resolutions that will allow the MTA to move forward with fare increases of 25 to 30 percent and service reductions that will affect customers throughout its service area. These actions were required to implement the balanced budget passed by the Board in December, which closed an approximately $1.2 billion deficit, the board said. The fare and toll increases will be effective on the following dates: New York City Transit, MTA Bus and Long Island Bus (subway, buses and Staten Island Railway): May 31 Long Island Rail Road and
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Commuter Rail

MTA: Staten Island Railway Ridership Figures Show ‘Impressive Gains’ for 2008

March 25, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEW YORK — Last year, MTA Staten Island Railway (SIR) saw an impressive gain in ridership attributable to a series of factors, including the increase of p.m. rush hour express service and the unprecedented jump in gasoline prices which persuaded many commuters to leave their cars at home. From 2007, annual ridership climbed 6.1 percent to 4.38 million in 2008 while the average number of customers using SIR on an average weekday rose 5.1 percent to 15,713. “We greet these ridership figures with great enthusiasm,” said SIR General Manager John Gaul, who noted that there was no single reason for