The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) celebrated the opening of Houston Metro’s North Line light rail extension, the first of three new light rail lines that will significantly improve transit options in one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing areas.
The U.S. Department of Transportation is providing $900 million toward construction of two new light rail lines in Houston, including $450 million for the North Line and $450 million for the Southeast Line, which is currently under construction and expected to open in 2014. Funding for both rail lines is provided through FTA’s Capital Investment (New Starts) Grant Program.
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Houston Metro estimates nearly 1,800 jobs have been created during construction of the two new light rail lines. In addition, expanding service to the north and the southeast is part of the city’s sweeping plan to connect Houston’s workforce with major downtown employment centers, the Texas Medical Center, the University of Houston and Texas Southern University.
Combined, the two projects will extend the existing light rail system by an additional 12 miles and provide alternatives to congested Interstate 45 and U.S. Route 59.
With 18 new passenger stops along the way, the expanded light rail will take riders to Reliant Park, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, BBVA Compass Stadium, the Museum District, and the George R. Brown Convention Center/Discovery Green Park. The new light rail lines are expected to carry more than 58,000 riders on weekdays, including more than 13,000 new transit riders a day, by the year 2030.
ABQ RIDE Forward is the first transit system overhaul in more than 25 years. This latest phase marks 15% completion of the 16-phase rollout, which will continue over the next several years.
During the meeting, the board approved a resolution invalidating a previously amended contract and authorized Board Chair Ann Duplessis to negotiate a separation agreement with CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The Pilot Program for TOD Planning helps support FTA’s mission of improving America’s communities through public transportation by providing funding to local communities to integrate land use and transportation planning with a new fixed-guideway or core-capacity transit capital investment.
Transit agencies have moved past pilot projects, but scaling electrification is exposing a harder truth: the real challenge isn’t vehicles, it’s everything around them.
The only new subway opening in the US this year, the D Line Extension represents one of Metro’s top transit priorities and a historic milestone for Los Angeles, with Sections 2 and 3 set to open in 2027.
In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.
The transit agency cites labor disruptions, demographic shifts, and evolving rider needs as it advances safety initiatives, paratransit changes, and major infrastructure projects across its network.
John Hatman, COO of Master’s Transportation, breaks down the priorities, warning signs and common mistakes fleet managers should address now to stay ahead of summer demand.
See how the TTC is testing a new wayfinding system at major subway stations while planning to introduce fare capping to make transit easier to navigate and more affordable for riders.
