DC Metro proposal would see 22 stations closed, rail service reduced as of January 2022
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority would could close 22 Metrorail stations, reduce rail service to 30-minute intervals on all routes, and shut down nightly at 9 p.m. instead of the current 11 p.m. under the rail component of a proposed budget now available for public comment. The proposal is part of a plan that would see DC Metrorail service maintained at current levels (approximately 80% of pre-pandemic service) for the first six months of fiscal 2022, with service cut to about 30% of pre-pandemic levels from January to June 2022. A public hearing is set for March 8, and a public survey on the plan is now available on line. More information is available online.
Virginia budget includes $83.5 million for Amtrak extension to New River Valley
The budget passed by Virginia legislators improves $83.5 million to extend Amtrak service to the New River Valley and the Blacksburg-Christiansburg, Va., area, and funds a study on further extension to Bristol, Va., the Bristol Herald-Courier reports. The funding figure is a compromise between the $50 million originally sought by the House of Delegates and $137 million proposed by the state Senate. Negotiations with Norfolk Southern on the service to the New River Valley are continuing.
BART capital funding removed from virus relief package
Funding for a Bay Area Rapid Transit extension that was to be part of the COVID-19 bill has been removed based on a ruling by the House parliamentarian, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN. KPIX-TV reports the $1.4 billion for transit capital projects would have helped fund a BART extension from San Jose to Santa Clara. The parliamentarian ruled that funding could not be included under the reconciliation rules being used to advance the bill because it funded a pilot program. Also removed was $1.5 million for a bridge project in New York state.
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