Light Rail Transit

Maryland to Restart Planning for East-West Transit Line Through Baltimore
A plan for the Red Line, an east-west light rail line notoriously canceled by former-Governor Larry Hogan in 2015, is back on the table in Baltimore.

New REM Light Rail Launches in Montreal
The first day of public service on the Réseau Express Métropolitain (REM) light rail route was marred by a closure and delays.

Newly Opened Regional Connector Redefines Light Rail Transit in Los Angeles
Three rail lines have become two rail lines in Los Angeles, providing one-seat rides from four corners of Los Angeles County.

Rail Transit Plans Would Connect L.A.’s South Bay to the Regional Rail System
Two new transit extensions promise several new routes for South Bay residents to access the Los Angeles region’s transit system.

Denver’s C and F Light Rail Routes Closed Permanently
The Regional Transportation District in Denver suspended two light rail lines at the onset of Covid-19 in March 2020. The routes have now been permanently discontinued.

$1.9 Billion in State Budget Surplus Requested for L.A. Transit Projects
L.A. transit officials hope the state budget surplus can be used to fund regional transit project, including one highly anticipated light rail project that broke ground on Friday, December 2.

Long Delayed, $1.95 Billion Central Subway Opens in San Francisco
San Francisco’s first north-south subway opened last weekend, extending service on Muni’s T light rail line.

Sooner Rather Than Later: Support Builds for Eastside-Only Light Rail in Seattle
The Eastside Link light rail route, now known as Line 2, is delayed. A Sound Transit board officials is suggesting that some of the route can open soon, while the rest of the route is prepped to open later.

Funding for Two Transit Projects Approved for the Valley in Los Angeles
Local funding for a new light rail line and upgrades to the G Line (née Orange Line) bus rapid transit route have been approved for the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles.

Light Rail Plans Could Become Bus Rapid Transit Plans in Atlanta
Light rail on the Clifton Corridor was once a centerpiece of a $2.7 billion, 40-year transit expansion plans funded by a voter-approved sales tax. Now MARTA is considering using bus rapid transit on the corridor instead.

Memphis Testing Vintage Siemens U2 Trolley Cars—With Service Expected to Open Later This Year
Originally designed for use in Frankfurt, Germany, the Siemens–Duewag U2 was used in Canada and San Diego before now coming to Memphis.

Long Awaited Green Line Extension Opens Today North of Boston
The Green Line Extension project, in the works for decades, is now providing rail transit service from Boston north into Somerville.

$8.5 Billion, 19.3-Mile Light Rail Line Approved to Connect L.A. and Surrounding Cities
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has approved a plan to build a light rail route currently called the West Santa Ana Branch Project.

Light Rail and Buses and More, Oh My!
A light rail bridge proposed for Lady Bird Lake, still pre-design, is causing controversies about whether adding buses to the bridge would be too dangerous for the other non-automotive modes.

Northgate Link Extension—Opening This Weekend—Expected to Transform Seattle in More Ways Than One
The long awaited Northgate Link Extension, which will connect rapidly changing neighborhoods in North Seattle to downtown in 14 minutes, will open to the public on Saturday, October 2.

$158 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding Going to Seattle-Area Light Rail Projects
New Capital Investment Grant funding was announced earlier this month.

Feasibility Study Approved for Pasadena, Burbank Airport Light Rail Extension
$1 million in new state funding will study the feasibility of connecting the Gold Line light rail in Pasadena to the Hollywood Burbank Airport in Southern California.

Major Transit Openings Expected in 2021
All the heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail projects expected to open in North American in 2021.

Big Light Rail Expansion Planned in Montreal
Montreal officials recently announced details of a major expansion of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM).

Cost Estimates Nearly Double for Toronto Light Rail Plan
Cost estimate for Toronto's proposed Eglinton East LRT have ballooned from $2.3 billion to as much as $4.4 billion.
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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research