METRO Briefs
Houston’s light-rail leaks electricity MTA considers cell phone service underground CTA faces repairs, possible layoffs
Houston’s light-rail leaks electricity
HOUSTON — A consultant report says that electrical current leaking from Houston’s MetroRail tracks was found at two locations in the Texas Medical Center complex. The report says Metro must control “stray” current to protect area infrastructure. To read the full story, click here.
MTA considers cell phone service underground
NEW YORK — The MTA is moving ahead with plans to bring cell service to all 277 underground subway platforms. Several companies, including a consortium of major wireless providers, submitted bids for the contract. To read the full story, click here.
CTA faces repairs, possible layoffs
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority has announced that it is reallocating nearly $15 million to make repairs to its rapid transit operation. At the same time, the agency is facing job cuts as part of a contingency plan to take place in September if the state legislature fails to increase transit funding. To read the full story, click here.
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Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot
Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.
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California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels
The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.
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STL Metro Transit To Launch Next-Generation Fare Collection and Security Gates
The St. Louis transit agency will begin the phased rollout of gated station access and integrated fare technology to improve security and the customer experience.
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CATS FY27 Budget Prioritizes Safety, Service
New investments in security, service expansion, and rail development aim to improve the rider experience while keeping fares flat.
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Transit Agencies Nationwide Gear Up to Move World Cup Crowds
As millions of fans prepare to descend on host cities, transit leaders are turning a month-long global event into a proving ground for the future of customer experience, mobility, and crowd management.
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OCTA Approves $2 Billion Budget for FY 2026-27, Prioritizing Transit Investments
More than half of the agency’s upcoming spending plan is dedicated to transit as OCTA balances infrastructure investment with fiscal stability.
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Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
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Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI
Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.
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Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet
The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.
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SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
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