Brightline affiliate to build South Florida commuter rail
Brightline is moving forward with plans to build a commuter rail system from downtown Miami through Aventura and Broward County. The company has sold commuter rail access rights for $245 million. The buyer is an affiliate of Brightline. The project will require new track and rail infrastructure, along with new commuter-only stations that won’t be served by Brightline’s intercity service. Up to five new stations built between Miami Central and Aventura, for a total of seven possible stops. The commuter rail service may also have separate branding.[thenextmiami.com]
Subway platform barriers to be tested at NYC stations
For years, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had resisted calls to install platform barriers to block access to tracks, citing the “special complexities” of bringing such technology to a century-old system. Now, more than a month after a woman was shoved to her death in front of a train at the Times Square subway station, the MTA has reversed course and will test such barriers. While the pilot program will be limited to three stations, it could lay the foundation for an eventual expansion elsewhere. [nytimes.com]
Orlando’s SunRail expansion hits speed bump
A contractor’s bid protest is causing a delay in getting SunRail to DeLand. The latest roadblock is questions raised by a construction firm that had submitted one of four bids to build the 12-mile rail-line extension and its related improvements between DeBary and DeLand. The good news is — maybe — all four bids received were below the Florida Department of Transportation’s estimate of $44 million. But whether the estimates hold is yet to be seen. Inflation is driving up the prices of steel and other building materials. [beacononlinenews.com]
The secret subway that could save New York City
New York City’s subway is really good at getting people in and out of Manhattan. But there’s a problem. A lot of people don’t actually need to go into Manhattan, and it’s really hard to get to where they do need to go. Despite millions of people living and working in New York City’s outer boroughs, there’s no subway line that really connects them. At least, not yet. Cue the Interborough Express, the MTA’s latest proposal for a new subway line to connect Brooklyn and Queens via an abandoned freight railway. [theb1m.com]
