Last last week, FTA published new bus and rail safety data reports to provide a snapshot of transit industry safety performance from 2007–2018 for rail and 2008–2018 for bus, and focus on patterns and trends in events, fatalities and injuries. Report summaries and full reports are accessible on the FTA website with a list of detailed links below.
FTA will host a webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, to provide an overview of the new reports. Registration is available on the FTA website.

Valley Metro LogoPhoenix-area voters on Tuesday approved a comprehensive transportation plan that would significantly increase public spending on light-rail and other transit projects, city officials announced yesterday.

According to unofficial results, nearly 55 percent of voters approved the measure known as Transportation 2050. 

Listed on the ballot as Proposition 104, the plan calls for a 0.7 percent sales tax that would fund the construction of an additional 42 miles of light-rail throughout the city, late-night bus and Dial-a-Ride services, and the repaving of more than 680 miles of streets, according to a press release from the city.

Read more from Progressive Railroading.

With the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line groundbreaking last week, Los Angeles now has three rail transit projects under construction — an example of how the city is leading the country in a rail renaissance.

The “city that destroyed cities,” as GQ recently described L.A. for pioneering auto-oriented development, has been planning and building a multibillion-dollar rail network, thanks in part to up to $13 billion in local sales tax funds from a successful 2008 measure.

Raed the complete story at the Los Angeles Times.