aprilmay2021 - 8

PEOPLE & PLACES

THE LASTEST INDUSTRY NEWS
TTC celebrates opening of new
bus facility McNicoll Garage
▶ The

Gov. Ralph Northam Facebook stream

OFFICIALS SIGNED agreements for the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative on
March 30 at the Amtrak/VRE station in Alexandria, Va.

Virginia, VRE, CSX and Amtrak sign
expansive rail investment agreement
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, along with transportation leaders from
the commonwealth, as well as leaders from Amtrak, CSX and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, celebrated what Gov. Northam called
a " tremendous project " and signed agreements that will deliver rail improvements across the commonwealth. The $3.7 billion Transforming Rail
in Virginia plan will improve mobility and increase both passenger and
freight rail capacity through a series of infrastructure improvements. Gov.
Northam noted the improvements that will be delivered through the plan
will connect rural and urban Virginia, as well as improve travel up and
down the East Coast of the U.S. During the next 10 years, this partnership
will double Virginia-supported Amtrak trains providing nearly hourly service; increase VRE commuter service by 60 percent; lay the foundation for
a Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor; preserve an existing freight corridor
between Doswell and Clifton Forge for future east-west passenger service;
and create the potential to expand rail to all parts of the commonwealth.
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), created in 2020 through
legislation, will manage statewide passenger and commuter rail service,
as well as administer capital expansion projects, infrastructure and land
acquisitions related to the Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative.
MassTransitmag.com/21216651

Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | APRIL/MAY 2021

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
officially opened its new state-of-the-art
bus facility, McNicoll Garage, located at
Kennedy Road and McNicoll Avenue in
north Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario.
McNicoll Garage, the TTC's ninth bus facility, opened for service March 28, 2021,
and provides the TTC with vital storage,
as well as maintenance space to help
accommodate its expanding bus fleet.
The garage has the capacity to store and
maintain up to 250 vehicles at a time. It
will also be home to 100 maintenance
employees and 600 operators and transportation staff. The development was
funded through the TTC's 10-year capital
budget, as approved by the TTC Board
and Toronto City Council. Built to the Toronto Green Standard, the design boasts
the largest green roof in Toronto and one
of the largest in Canada. It also features
solar panels and a metal transpired solar
wall that harnesses energy to help heat
the building in the winter and keep it
cool in the summer.
MassTransitmag.com/21215538

Palm Tran

LEFT TO right: Commissioner Mack
Bernard, Commissioner Gregg K.
Weiss, Vice Mayor Robert Weinroth,
Commissioner Maria Sachs, Assistant
County Administrator Todd J.
Bonlarron, County Administrator
Verdenia C. Baker and Palm Tran
Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes.

Palm Tran celebrates the grand
opening of its new, stateof-the-art headquarters
▶ Palm

Tran Public Transportation
celebrated the grand opening of its new
headquarters in Delray Beach, Fla., with
a socially-distanced outdoor event on
March 2, 2021. The event, coined " New
Day, New Way, Delray, " also recognized
Palm Tran's historic 50 years in transit
service and the progress that has been
made over the years. The primarily

http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21215538 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21216651 http://www.MassTransitmag.com

aprilmay2021

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