Feds award $31.8M for 2nd Twin Cities-Chicago train
The Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of transportation have announced a $31.8 million federal grant to fund station and rail segment improvements aimed at doubling passenger-rail service and increasing freight efficiency along the corridor that connects the Twin Cities, La Crosse, Milwaukee and Chicago. The Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Intercity Passenger Rail Project (TCMC) will add a second daily passenger-rail round-trip along the 411-mile corridor shared by Amtrak Empire Builder and Hiawatha Service trains. [progressiverailroading.com]
CDC to ease mask mandate on trains and other transit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is developing guidance that will ease the nationwide mask mandate on trains, planes, buses and other mass transit next month, according to a U.S. official, but the existing face covering requirement will be extended through April 18th. The requirement, which is enforced by the Transportation Security Administration, had been set to expire on March 18th, but was extended by a month to allow the public health agency time to develop new, more targeted policies. The requirement extends to transportation hubs as well. [apnews.com]
Developers unveil new look for Montreal transit project
Back from the drawing board, developers behind Montreal’s proposed REM de L’Est project unveiled a revamped look for the proposed $10-billion light rail system. After receiving criticism and concern, CDPQ Infra has unveiled plans for what it calls a future landmark for Montreal. The new proposal comes after an independent report by an expert advisory committee raised a number of concerns. The committee’s job is to ensure the rapid transit project is well integrated with the city. According to CDPQ Infra, 80 per cent of the issues flagged by the committee have been resolved. [globalnews.ca]
Tri-Rail ridership increasing as gas prices skyrocket
Rising gas prices have South Florida commuters pondering alternative forms of transportation to save money. Tri-Rail says ridership dropped by as much as 80 percent at the height of the pandemic. The number of riders using the train, which serves from Mangonia Park to Miami International Airport, has been slowly returning, peaking at about 10,000 riders a day in recent months. However, the recent fuel prices have caused Tri-Rail ridership to increase. Now they are surpassing more than 11,000 riders a day for the first time since March 2020. [wptv.com]
