North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• Caltrain announces increase in cost of Electrification Project, US

  December 8, 2021
  Caltrain has announced that the cost of the Electrification Project has increased to USD2.44 billion. This will require an additional USD462 million over the initial cost estimate of more than USD129 million made by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

• USDOT approves loan for Vine Bus Maintenance Facility Project, US

  December 8, 2021
  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Build America Bureau has approved a USD19.92 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan under its Rural Projects Initiative (RPI) to the Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) for the Vine Bus Maintenance Facility Project.

• PSTA board approves USD80 million for procurement of electric buses, US

  December 8, 2021
  The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s (PSTA’s) Board of Directors has approved USD80 million for procurement of 60 electric buses over the next five years. The first of the 60 buses is expected to be deployed by 2024.

• IO and Metrolinx issue RfQ for Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, Canada

  December 3, 2021
  Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RfQs) for the second Advance Tunnel Contract package on the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension.

• USDOT approves loan for Farley Building Transportation Project, US

  December 3, 2021
  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT’s) Build America Bureau has approved a USD606.7 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to the New York State Urban Development Corporation/ Empire State Development for the construction of the Farley Building Transportation Project or the Moynihan Train Hall.

• Gillig supplies battery-electric buses to Pierce Transit and GARTA, US

  December 3, 2021
  The Pierce County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (Pierce Transit) has added six 40-foot Gillig electric buses to its fleet.

• Gateway Tunnel project secures final regulatory approval, US

  December 2, 2021
  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has issued a permit to allow the construction of a tunnel and tracks through the Meadowlands and under the Hudson River under the Gateway Tunnel project.

• Metrolinx awards contract to Alstom to refurbish 94 railcars, Canada

  December 2, 2021
  Metrolinx has awarded a CAD171 million contract to Alstom to refurbish 94 BiLevel commuter rail cars for GO Transit.

• Funding approved to make MBTA bus routes fare-free, US

  December 2, 2021
  The Boston City Council has approved USD8 million to eliminate fares on three Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus lines.

• Via raises USD130 million in Series G financing, US

  December 1, 2021
  US-based Via has raised USD130 million in a Series G financing round that has given Via a post-money valuation of USD 3.3 billion.

• FlixMobility partners with MTR Western to launch new bus service, US

  November 29, 2021
  FlixMobility has partnered with MTR Western to launch a new bus service. The route will cover the cities of Seattle, Portland, Corvallis, and Eugene. Passenger service is expected to commence in 2022.

• TransLink to deploy Interac Debit cards as contactless payment option, Canada

  November 24, 2021
  TransLink has announced plans to integrate the Interac Debit card in its contactless payment service.

• HPT adds five vehicles to its fleet, US

  November 24, 2021
  Hazleton Public Transit (HPT) has added five vehicles to its fleet. The agency has procured two 29-foot Gillig compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, a 26-foot Ford cutaway bus, and two Ford Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible vans.

• US DOT awards grant to City of Charlotte and New Orleans RTA

  November 24, 2021
  The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded a USD15 million grant to the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, to construct a new multimodal transit centre to replace the existing open-air bus terminal in downtown Charlotte.

• Metra awards contract to VenTek International to supply TVMs, US

  November 24, 2021
  Metra has awarded a two-phase USD70 million contract to VenTek International to supply 650 ticket vending machines (TVM) and to provide maintenance for a period of five years.

• King County Metro awards contract to develop bus electrification infrastructure, US [free access]

  November 24, 2021
  King County Metro has awarded a USD40 million contract to Walsh-Stantec Progressive Design-Build Team to design and build the electrification infrastructure needed to charge and operate up to 120 battery-electric buses.

• PATH board approves contract to deploy contactless payment option, US

  November 24, 2021
  The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) board has approved the award of a USD99.4 million contract to Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. to complete the design and installation of the new contactless PATH fare payment system.

• BSD authorises president to seek funding for upgrades on St. Louis MetroLink, US

  November 21, 2021
  The board of the Bi-State Development (BSD) agency has authorised the president to seek funding for the security upgrade on the St. Louis MetroLink line.

• UTA secures funding to conduct TechLink Corridor Study, US

  November 20, 2021
  The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has secured funding of nearly USD1 million to conduct the TechLink Corridor Study from the federal Department of Transportation, US.

• FTA awards USD158.1 million grant to City of Phoenix and Valley Metro, US

  November 20, 2021
  The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has awarded a grant of USD158.1 million to the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro for the Northwest Extension Phase II Light Rail Project.