Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Modernized two 1920s-era subway stations. This project was one of 32 the agency embarked on with $191 million in ARRA funding. The Spring Garden-Girard station was SEPTA's largest stimulus initiative.

The Historic Millwork District multimodal improvement project provides more transportation options and reconstructed the street networks to better serve a broad range of users, including drivers, public transportation, pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors, children and people with disabilities.

The $38.3 million project was completed in preparation for the expansion of Amtrak’s Downeaster line, which will begin serving Brunswick and Freeport, Maine this fall.

The state-of-the-art, energy-efficient John W. Olver Intermodal Center in Greenfield, Mass., will improve access to Amtrak. Meanwhile, the new 350-space parking garage at the North Leominster Commuter Rail Station is one of several improvement projects along MBTA’s Fitchburg Commuter Rail Line.

Montgomery County Ride On’s 12 new hybrid electric-diesel buses and clean-diesel bus were purchased with $6.6 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Agency used ARRA funds to purchase the buses. Manufactured by Gillig, the hybrid-electric vehicles are 40 percent more fuel efficient.

The new Henderson & Downtown Express route and the Boulder Highway Express route were funded in part by ARRA and will provide faster service and enhanced connectivity throughout Southern Nevada. Both routes are scheduled to begin service on Sept. 18.

Manufactured by Gillig Bus, in partnership with Cable Car Classics, each vehicle seats approximately 32 passengers and cost $696,959.50. FTA grants funded the base cost of the trolleys, and ARRA covered the incremental cost of the hybrid propulsion system.

The Illinois DOT will invest the funds in the Englewood Flyover, a grade separation project south of Chicago Union Station that eliminates one of the most delay-prone intersections in the entire Amtrak system. It separates Rock Island District Metra commuter trains from Amtrak passenger trains traveling on the Norfolk Southern corridor.

Environmentally-friendly features include motion-sensor controlled lighting and a 50,000-gallon rainwater harvesting tank for bus wash operations. Agency used $14 million of a $24.5 million Recovery Act grant in building the $57 million facility.