North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• Valley Metro secures funding for South Central Light Rail Extension, US

  December 7, 2020
  The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded Valley Metro USD638 million in federal funding for the South Central Light Rail Extension project.

• L.A. Metro Board approves final EIR for East San Fernando Valley LRT, US

  December 7, 2020
  The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) Board has certified the East San Fernando Valley Light-Rail Transit (LRT) project’s final Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

• Mississauga’s MiWay to partner with CUTRIC for electric bus pilot, Canada

  December 7, 2020
  MiWay has announced plans to partner with the Canadian Urban Transit Research & Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC) on a hydrogen fuel-cell electric bus pilot project in 2021.

• Hitachi Rail partners with HyperloopTT

  December 7, 2020
  Italy-based Hitachi Rail has entered into a partnership with Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) to integrate Hyperloop’s capsule travelling system with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).

• CTC approves USD433.6 million for transit projects, US [free access]

  December 4, 2020
  The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved USD433.6 million for three programs, that is, the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP), the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP), and the Local Partnership Competitive Program (LPCP).

• SamTrans adopts zero-emission bus service plan, US

  December 4, 2020
  The San Mateo County Transit District has approved a plan to convert SamTrans’ entire bus fleet to 100 per cent zero-emission buses by 2038.

• Amtrak secures Metrolink operating contract, US

  December 3, 2020
  The Southern California Regional Rail Authority has awarded a contract to Amtrak to operate Metrolink’s commuter rail network.

• Foundational agreements signed for Plank–Nicholson BRT, US [free access]

  November 30, 2020
  A series of cooperative endeavour agreements (CEAs) have been signed between the state, municipal and transit stakeholders that are providing funding for the Plank–Nicholson Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

• FTA awards funds for projects under Real-Time Asset Management Program, US

  November 30, 2020
  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded six projects a total of USD1.37 million in research funding under the Real-Time Asset Management Program.

• BC Transit deploys 15 new buses, Canada

  November 25, 2020
  Three transit systems under British Columbia Transit (BC Transit) have replaced their existing aging diesel buses, nearing the end of their service life, with 15 new 26-foot ARBOC ‘Spirit of Freedom’ light-duty buses.

• Transdev to manage and operate CityLift and CountyLink services, US

  November 24, 2020
  The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD) has awarded a five-year contract to Transdev for the management and operations of GPMTD’s CityLift paratransit service and CountyLink rural transportation service.

• SJCG and Masabi launch mobile ticketing across seven transit agencies in California, US [free access]

  November 23, 2020
  Masabi and the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCG) have launched EZHub, a cashless mobile ticketing and fare payment system incorporated in the Vamos Mobility application (app) from Kyyti Group.

• Greater Dayton RTA partners with T-CETRA to launch mobile contactless experience, US

  November 20, 2020
  The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has partnered with technology service provider T-CETRA to enable cash payments for bus passes at participating T-CETRA retailers in the Dayton area.

• Proterra to supply 12 electric buses to BCT, US

  November 20, 2020
  roward County Transit (BCT) has awarded a contract to Proterra to supply 12 40-foot ‘ZX5’ battery-electric buses.

• Omaha Metro launches ORBT service, US

  November 18, 2020
  The Transit Authority of the City of Omaha (Omaha Metro) has launched its Omaha Rapid Bus Transit (ORBT) service.

• Alstom delivers first four REM light metro trainsets, Canada

  November 17, 2020
  Alstom has delivered the first four trainsets out of a total of 106 two-car trainsets to the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) for the automated metro network in Montréal.

• KCATA partners with Alphapointe to launch transit app for visually impaired passengers, US

  November 16, 2020
  The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has partnered with Alphapointe and Sensible Innovation to develop a wayfinding app to make transit more accessible to blind and visually impaired transit customers.

• Hazleton Public Transit secures CARES Act grant, US

  November 16, 2020
  The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded USD2.5 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to Hazleton Public Transit for supporting operating, administrative, preventative, and maintenance expenses.

• START Bus unveils Wyoming’s first electric bus, US

  November 16, 2020
  START Bus has received its first battery-electric bus, supplied by Proterra.

• Metrolinx announces plans to start open payment system pilot, Canada [free access]

  November 14, 2020
  Metrolinx has announced plans to pilot an open payment system on Toronto’s Union Pearson Express in 2021, with potential to extend the pilot to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in 2023.