June_2022 - 25

This rebound of rail use isn't
unexpected as rail modes
suffered the most significant
decreases in ridership during
2020. As workers' schedules
fluctuate and continue to move
toward more hybrid plans,
the focus for rail service providers,
particularly commuter
rail, will be on frequency of
service. In Ontario, Canada,
Metrolinx's multi-project GO
Rail Expansion program aims
to provide two-way all-day
service on five core lines. The
largest element of the program,
the On-Corridor Works project,
entered the development
phase in April. The project will
add more than 124 miles of
track, electrify more than 372
miles of track and the route will
be served with a new electric
train fleet. Metrolinx described
the contract as a " single, innovative,
fully-integrated contract "
with construction anticipated
to begin in 2023.
Additional rail projects to mark
recent milestones include
the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation
Authority's Regional Connector
project, which saw the completion
of construction of all
track work and guideway systems
in April 2022 and the
Crenshaw/LAX Line, which
reached substantial completion
of the first two construction
segments of the 8.5-mile line.
On the East Coast, the Portal
North Bridge project, a critical
component of the Gateway
Program, received a Notice to
Proceed in early April, which
will allow heavy construction
to begin. In the Midwest, construction
started in early April
on the 3.5-mile KC Streetcar
Main Street Extension.
In 2021, rail projects opened
in Seattle with the start of service
on the 4.3-mile Northgate
Light Rail Extension, the
Charlotte Area Transit CityLYNX
Gold Line streetcar opened for
passenger service Aug. 30 and
the Mid-Coast Extension of the
UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley
opened in November (story on
page 12).
More ribbon cuttings are
expected in 2022. The first
occurred in March when
the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority
opened the Green Line
Extension Union Square Branch
Capital Expenses: Existing vs. Expanded Services
% for expanded
Stations
Guideways
Adminstrative
Buildings
Passenger Vehicles
Maintenance
Buildings
Other Vehicles
Fare Collection
Equipment
Communication &
Information Systems
Other
2020 NTD Capital Use
2%
0.29%
9%
2%
13%
6%
3%
0.47%
1%
0.3%
12%
3%
1%
4%
*Values represent percent of total expense for that group
JUNE 2022 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 25
139855470 | Macrovector | Dreamstime
% for existing
36%
74%
22%
11%
- the first of two segments
- followed by the May opening
of the Valley Metro Tempe
Streetcar line. The second segment
of the MBTA Green Line
Extension is expected to open
this summer. San Francisco
Municipal Transportation
Agency anticipates opening the
Central Subway this fall and
Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority could open
the second phase of the Silver
Line in late summer.
Investment for
Fleets and Access
Two new rail programs were
created under the Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law and with the
passage of the Fiscal Year 2022
Omnibus Package in March,
FY22 will be the first year these
programs will have an impact
on passenger rail networks.
The Rail Vehicle Replacement
Grants will award approximately
$300 million in each
of the next five fiscal years to
help agencies replace railcars
that are past their useful life
and improve reliability, safety
and accessibility for transit
passengers. According to
By the
numbers
2,111
Number of
escalators
available within
rail stations
Source: NTD 2020
Transit Stations
2,947
Number of
elevators
available within
rail stations
Source: NTD 2020
Transit Stations
Terminology
NTD Mode Types
AR: Alaska
Railroad
CC: Cable Car
CR: Commuter
Rail
HR: Heavy Rail
IP: Inclined Plane
LR: Light Rail
MG/AG:
Monorail/
Automated
Guideway
SR: Streetcar
YR: Hybrid Rail
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June_2022

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