NYNJ Port Authority short lists teams for LaGuardia AirTrain project
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) has short listed four teams to submit bids for the LaGuardia AirTrain project. The project will provide a rail transit connection to the final major U.S. airport on the East Coast without one. The Port Authority requested submissions of team qualifications in March 2021 after which a selection committee evaluation resulted in the selection of the four short listed teams. Selected teams will be required to submit their bids by April 2022. The winning team will be announced during the summer of 2022. [masstransitmag.com]
Commuter rail might finally come to Broward County coast
A long-awaited blueprint for commuter rail service on the east side of Florida’s Broward County has emerged, with potential stops in five cities and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Dubbed the Coastal Link, the idea is to hitch a Broward segment along the Florida East Coast Railway line with a proposed leg between Aventura and downtown Miami that’s been endorsed by Miami-Dade County officials. According to a plan outlined by the Florida DOT, the Broward stops would include Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Fort Lauderdale as well as FLL and Hollywood. [masstransitmag.com]
NYC-Scranton Amtrak service would spur regional economic boost
If it’s put into place, proposed Amtrak service between New York City and Scranton, Pennsylvania would provide a $2.9 billion one-time financial boost to the region. That was the conclusion of an Amtrak analysis released this month that provides some basic fiscal information about resuming rail service along the three-state route. The proposal also predicts the route’s three planned daily round-trips, which would serve the region’s universities and tourist attractions, would spur about $87 million in economic activity annually. [nj.com]
China rolls out first LRV for Winter Olympics tramway
CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive has rolled out the first of three light rail vehicles for a tramway being built at the Taizicheng winter sports resort. The resort will host skiing events during 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The LRV has a capacity of 150 passengers plus space for skiing equipment. The 1.6 km (1 mi) tramway is scheduled to open in December. It will have six stops serving sports facilities, shops, an exhibition centre and hotels, and will connect with high speed trains from Beijing at Taizicheng station. [railwaygazette.com]
