METRO Briefs
Chicago police to monitor buses via live video Ark. proposal pits Amtrak against freight rail Dispute over signal warning hinders Calif. rail line Pittsburgh transit cuts service by 15%
Chicago police to monitor buses via live video
CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority is outfitting buses with radio equipment that transmits short distances so that onboard video feeds can be picked up by Wi-Fi hot spots and nearby police cars. To read the full story, click here.
Ark. proposal pits Amtrak against freight rail
WASHINGTON, Ark. — Amtrak is protesting a proposal to change a 35-year-old law allowing Amtrak priority on tracks owned by freight rail companies. The proposal's writer says too many fully loaded freight trains are left to idle while half-empty passenger trains pass, impacting air quality and traffic congestion. To read the full story, click here.
Dispute over signal warning hinders Calif. rail line
SAN DIEGO — Transit officials say the new 22-mile Sprinter rail line's signal system provides as much or more warning than required by state and federal laws, but engineers in some cities along the route say the system, linked to traffic signals near rail crossings, may not leave enough time to clear pedestrians and cars from the tracks. To read the full story, click here.
Pittsburgh transit cuts service by 15 percent
PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County's public transit system has reduced service as it tries to close a nearly $45 million deficit. Further cuts and a fare hike are possible in the coming months, absent a state bailout or other source of funding, officials say. To read the full story, click here.
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How Transit Agencies Are Using Free Rides to Improve Voting Access
Transit agencies are using fare-free service, trip-planning tools, and targeted rides to improve voting access. See what other agencies can learn from these efforts.
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Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth
The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.
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Chicago, Charlotte Transit Agencies Expand Rider Support Programs
CTA launched crisis intervention teams as CATS prepares to deploy fare ambassadors, expanding customer assistance and security efforts across both systems.
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New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project
Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.
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