More Rail News: More than $1 Billion Made Available for America's Passenger Rail
Sound Transit Holds Kent Station Groundbreaking
New garage will give Kent Station more than 400 additional stalls for residents to use when utilizing the available transit services.

Sound Transit hopes to expand access to their Sounder Train Lines at Kent Station with their new parking garage.
Photo: Sound Transit
Sound Transit celebrated the advent of heavy construction on the Kent Station Parking and Access Improvement project with their project partners.
The groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction that is estimated to be complete in 2027.
More Parking Availability
The $62 million garage will have 400-plus stalls and serve Sounder S Line passengers and users of the Sound Transit Express and King County Metro services in Kent.
A bus layover facility with electric charging stations will be included as part of the project for King County Metro.
“Giving people more affordable access to regional transit benefits us all,” said Sound Transit Deputy CEO Terri Mestas. “This project helps cement Kent’s role as a regional connection to the destinations where we live, work and play.”
Getting People To and From Seattle
Sound Transit’s Sounder S Line train service gives South King County residents a dependable traffic-free commute to and from Seattle. It takes about 30 minutes to travel between Kent Station and Seattle’s King Street Station.
The service is also offered for select major sporting events and concerts on the weekend.
Additional Growth
Sound Transit added 14 new smart bicycle lockers at Kent Station and funded an improved pedestrian crossing at 2nd Avenue North and James St. which was completed in 2021.
“Given the growth we are experiencing, this project will provide a needed increase in access to Sounder, the region and all the economic opportunities it contains,” said Kent Mayor Dana Ralph. “It’s great to see these investments in transit access begin to come to fruition.”
More Rail

New York MTA Leverages Zoning Program to Advance Station Accessibility
Accessibility enhancements at Nevins St Station will be financed through a development agreement tied to the MTA's Zoning for Accessibility initiative.
Read More →
Virginia's $28.5B Transportation Plan Targets Transit and Rail
Approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, the program supports ongoing infrastructure projects while providing new investments in transit, state of good repair and transportation alternatives.
Read More →
DOT: Brightline Corridor Incidents Fall 30% Following Federal Safety Upgrades
Safety improvements funded through a $25 million federal investment are credited with reducing trespassing and train-vehicle collisions along the Brightline Florida corridor.
Read More →
D Line Expansion Fuels Growth Across LA Metro's Rail System
Weekend rail ridership was especially strong, soaring 18% as riders embraced expanded access to jobs, entertainment, dining, and cultural destinations, said the agency. Total system ridership for May, including bus and rail, was 26,966,657.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling
The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.
Read More →
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.
Read More →
The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow
What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.
Read More →
Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures
The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.
Read More →