Maryland Transit Agency Offers Grants to Help Spur Innovation by Local Systems
The Maryland Transit Administration introduced a new $2 million annual "Statewide Transit Innovation Grant" program for the next two fiscal years, under which local transit agencies and county officials can apply for state funding to help plan, design or build innovative mobility projects. The MTA, which is part of the state Department of Transportation, said some examples of eligible projects are corridor and feasibility studies, bus rapid transit routes, dedicated bus lanes, transit signal...
FTA Announces Certification of State Safety Oversight Programs for Virginia and Colorado Ahead of Important Deadline
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced that Virginia and Colorado have obtained federal certification of their rail transit State Safety Oversight (SSO) Programs, in advance of an important safety deadline. Federal law requires states with rail transit systems in the engineering or construction phase of development or in operation to obtain FTA certification of their SSO Programs by April 15, 2019. In Virginia, the Department...
Washington Metro Area Transit Authority has Contracted ForgeFX Simulations to Produce an Immersive VR Computer Simulation to Enhance Operator Training
SAN FRANCISCO - ForgeFX Simulations is pleased to announce that they’ve been awarded a contract from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to produce a Virtual Reality (VR) simulator to help improve training for Metro operators. Harnessing cutting-edge technology, the WMATA VR operator training simulator will help increase risk awareness and hazard identification, improve proactive problem solving, and greatly enhance equipment operator training. VR-based training simulators im...
PennDOT Completes Implementation of Technology Improving Shared-Ride Transit Services
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has completed a project installing standardized technology at 42 shared-ride transit providers statewide, improving efficiency and service for the Pennsylvanians who use the door-to-door service in the 65 covered counties. "Shared-ride transportation is vital to Pennsylvanians connecting to medical appointments, jobs, and their community," PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. "Their time is valuable, and this techn...
LocoMobi Smart City Gets Smarter With Interactive Transit Systems for Buses and Trains
Toronto, Canada - LocoMobi is pleased to announce our full line of Transit Solutions adding Payment Stations, Cashier Terminals, Turnstile and associated enterprise hardware all interfaced to the LocoMobi Smart City Cloud Portal. LocoMobi realizes that the modernization of today’s transit systems promote usage, alleviate congestion and creates a cleaner, more efficient transportation infrastructure. We have created technology that is easier to use, links users with city infrastructure, and f...
Observations on Federal Funding Support for Positive Train Control Implementation
On March 1, 2018, the Assistant Inspector General for Surface Transportation Audits testified before the Senate on the implementation of positive train control (PTC), an advanced communication-based technology designed to prevent certain rail accidents caused by human error. Congress requires all eligible rail systems to install PTC by the end of 2018, although that deadline could be extended an additional 2 years. The testimony addressed OIG’s ongoing work in this area, specifically (1) the amo...
Wolf Administration Project to Improve Operations, Customer Service at 32 Transit Systems while Adding Jobs at Pennsylvania Company
State College, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) held an event today to announce it has chosen Avail Technologies Inc. of State College, Pa., to implement a Fixed Route Intelligent Transportation System (FRITS) for 32 transit systems that will offer real-time service information for passengers, flexible fare payment options, and enhanced transit planning. The company currently employs 92 people, 81 of whom work at the State College headquarters, and anticipates a 10...
BTS Releases Updated National Transit Map
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released version two of the National Transit Map, a geospatial database containing information from hundreds of transit agencies that provides open, machine-readable data about their stops, routes, and schedules. The national, openly available map of fixed-guideway and fixed-route transit service in America allows USDOT to demonstrate the importance and role of transit in American society and to identify and...
HDR to plan Tacoma Dome Light Rail Extension, New Maintenance Facility Project Will Complete Sound Transit Service Between Seattle and Tacoma
(OMAHA, Neb. ) — HDR will support the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) in planning the final extension needed to complete light rail service between Seattle and Tacoma, Washington. The Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) project will advance a reliable transit alternative to severely congested roadways in the South Sound corridor. Sound Transit’s board of directors authorized a contract with HDR’s team on Dec. 21 to provide planning, preliminary engineering, enviro...
Bus Rapid Transit Represents Increasingly Important Component of Transit Networks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A new HNTB Corporation white paper discusses the expanding use of bus rapid transit in cities across the U.S., citing its emerging role as an important component in overall transit networks. The white paper, “Expanding the use of BRT,” is authored by Mark Huffer, HNTB project director and bus rapid transit practice leader, and Kyle Keahey, AICP, HNTB Central Division transit market sector leader. The white paper discusses two trends that may expand the use of BRT in the fut...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
