METRO Briefs

MBTA to pilot seatless railcars

BOSTON – With demand steadily rising, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will begin a pilot project that will remove most of the seats from two of their Red Line cars, to create more room. For the full story, click here.

NEW YORK – Political leaders and transit advocates are reacting – some positively, some negatively – to a plan released by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority panel, which suggests a regional payroll tax on businesses and the self-employed and tolls on two bridges that are currently free to travel on. For the full story, click here.

Charlotte exec: rail success overshadows problems

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bob Morgan, president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, told local leaders in Norfolk, Va., where a light rail system is being planned, that Charlotte’s rail systems’ woes are being overshadowed by $1.8 billion of new development and ridership numbers that will shatter 20-year projections. For the full story, click here.