TEXAS

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Austin-based Capital Metro owns the 162-mile Giddings-to-Llano rail line that was purchased in 1986. The line is divided into three subdivisions (East, Central and West) and four industrial leads (Giddings Lano, Scobee and Marble Falls). MetroRail operates commuter-rail service on the Central Subdivision, or Red Line.
Service launched: Commuter rail, 2010.
Route miles: 32
Rolling stock: Capital Metro owns a fleet of 10 Stadler diesel multiple units, each with a 200-person capacity. The cars are on average 6 years old.
Annual ridership: 811,000 (2018)
Annual operating cost: $21,160,113 (FY2020)
Annual capital cost: $18,356,106 (FY2020)
Stations: nine
Major capital improvement projects underway: Capital Metro recently completed construction on four passing sidings. A fifth is under construction and scheduled for completion by the end of this year. The agency also is building a new downtown station at a cost of $37 million, which is scheduled to be completed in 2021. In addition, the agency is installing its EATC positive train control system, a $70 million investment.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit*

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the transit provider for Dallas and 12 other North Texas cities. The agency operates light rail, bus and paratransit services. It co-owns the Trinity Railway Express commuter-rail service with Trinity Metro in Fort Worth, Texas.
Service launched: Light rail, 1996
Route miles: 93 miles, light rail; 34 miles, commuter rail
Rolling stock: 163 light-rail vehicle fleet; 9 locomotives, 17 bi-level coaches, 8 bi-level cab cars, 1 rail diesel car (not in service) for commuter-rail service
Annual ridership: 28.9 million passenger trips (light rail, FY2018); 2 million passenger trips, commuter rail
Annual operating budget: $544.3 million (FY2019)
Annual capital budget: $291.5 million (FY2019)
Stations: 64, light rail; 10 commuter rail
*Information source: dart.org

Metropolitan Transit Authority
of Harris County

The authority, known as METRO, provides transportation for the citizens of Houston, Harris County, using buses, light-rail vehicles and Metrolifts.
Service launched: light rail, 2001
Route miles: 28.3 light rail
Rolling stock: 39 light-rail vehicles, average age 9 years
Annual ridership: 9,144,617 (light rail)
Annual operating cost: $40,706,222 (light rail)
Annual capital cost: $46,209,000 (light rail)
Number of Stations: 41 (light rail)
Major capital improvement projects: 1) Expansion of ROC Rail Yard, adding 2 run-around tracks to yard. Contractors are RailWorks and Shackelford Construction
2) Procuring 14 LRVs that should be delivered in FY2021 by Siemens.

VIRGINIA

Virginia Railway Express

VRE provides commuter-rail service between Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia. Its Fredericksburg and Manassas lines run parallel to Interstate 95/I-395 and I-66, respectively. It leases tracks from CSX (Fredericksburg) and Norfolk Southern Railway (Manassas). VRE runs 32 weekday trains, 16 on each line, with headways of 25 to 30 minutes. Its trains carry 11 percent of peak-hour commuters crossing the Potomac River into the district in the morning and out of the district in the afternoon. VRE stations serve nine Virginia jurisdictions, though passengers hail from 39 municipalities.
Service launched: 1992
Route miles: 82
Rolling stock: 20 MP-36 diesel-electric locomotives, average age 8 years; 21 Gallery IV cab cars, average age 12 years; 49 Gallery IV trailers with restroom, average age 10 years; 30 Gallery IV trailers without restroom, average age 11 years.
Rail cars on order: VRE, in conjunction with Chicago Metra, has issued a request for proposal for new passenger rail cars. The VRE component of the RFP includes a base order of 21 rail cars, with an option for up to 48 additional cars.
Annual ridership: 4,705,552 (FY2018)
Annual operating cost: $89.2 million (FY2020)
Annual capital cost: $64.9 million (FY2020)
Stations: 19
Major capital improvement projects:
• Alexandria Station improvements. This project involves the removal of a wood grade crossing across two tracks, elevator additions to both platforms and adjustment of platform elevations. Cost: $41.3 million. Contractors: HDR for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Final design, 2020; project completion, 2022.
• Broad Run expansion. Project involves increasing parking, expanding the yards, shifting the platform and adding mainline track. Cost: $110.7 million. Contractors: AECOM for preliminary engineering. Contracts to be let: RFP for final design. Project completion, 2024.
• Brooke Station improvements: Project involves the addition of a 700-foot second platform to accommodate 10-car train consists. A new pedestrian overpass with stairs and elevators will give passengers easier access to platforms. Cost: $23.4 million. Contractors: STV for design. Contracts to be let: RFP for final design, IFB for construction. Timeline: Final design, 2020; project completion, 2023.
• Crystal City Station improvements: Project involves construction of a new station with a longer platform serving two tracks. Conceptual plans will align with state plans to add a fourth track between the Potomac River and Alexandria. Cost: $49.9 million. Contractors: NA. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Project completion, 2023.
• Franconia-Springfield Station improvements: Project involves the extension of both station platforms. Cost: $13 million. Contractors: STV for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Timeline: Final design, 2020; project completion, 2022.
• L’Enfant Station improvements: Project involves replacing the existing platform with a wider, longer island platform in order to accommodate 10-car train consists and adding a fourth track. Cost: $70.7 million. Contractors: VHB for preliminary engineering. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Project completion, 2027.
• Leeland Road Station improvements: Project involves the addition of a 700-foot second platform. A new pedestrian overpass with stairs and elevators will give passengers easier access to platforms. Cost: $15.5 million. Contractors: STV for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Final design, 2020; project completion, 2023.
• Lifecycle overhaul and upgrade facility: Project involves construction of a new facility to allow heavy maintenance to be performed onsite. The facility will have 33,000-square feet of maintenance space. Two tracks will be added and a new road will provide construction and emergency access. Cost: $38.2 million. Contractors: STV for design. Project completion, 2021.
• Manassas Park Station parking expansion: Project involves constructing a parking garage, adding a pedestrian bridge, elevators and stairways to connect the station and platform; and lengthening the platform. Cost: $26 million. Contractors: VHB for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Final design, 2020; project completion, 2022.
• New York Avenue midday storage facility: Project involves construction of a permanent midday storage facility in Washington, D.C., with eight tracks, a turntable and a tail track that extends along the Northeast Corridor. Cost: $89.7 million. Contractors: UHB for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Project completion, 2023.
• Quantico Station improvements: Project involves construction of a second platform and extension of the existing platform to accommodate 10-car train consists, and the addition of a third mainline track to reduce conflicts between VRE, Amtrak and CSX trains. Cost: $18.4 million. Contractors: STV for design. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Timeline: Project completion, 2022.
• Rippon Station improvements: Project involves construction of two station platforms north of the existing station to accommodate 10-car train consists. Cost: $16.6 million. Contractors: STV for design. Contracts to be let: RFP for final design; IFB for construction. Final design, 2020; project completion, 2023.
• Rolling Road Station improvements: Project involves the extension of both station platforms in order to accommodate the 10-car train consists and station rehabilitation. Cost: $2 million. Contractors: Dewberry. Contracts to be let: IFB for construction. Project completion, 2020.

WASHINGTON

Sound Transit

Sound Transit builds and operates regional transit service throughout the urban areas of Pierce, King and Snohomish counties in Washington state. With voter approval, Sound Transit is in the process of planning and building the most ambitious transit expansion in the country.
Service launched: Light rail, 2009; commuter rail, 2000
Route miles: Light rail, 22 miles; commuter rail, 82 miles
Rolling stock: 14 locomotives, average age 17 years; 67 rail cars, average age 16 years; 62 light-rail vehicles (LRVs), average age 10 years
Cars/locomotives on order: 152 LRVs ordered, with expected delivery in 2019-2024. Manufactured by Siemens Mobility
Annual ridership: 24.4 million, light rail; 4.6 million, commuter rail
Annual operating cost: $142.8 million for light rail; $54.9 million for commuter rail
Annual capital cost: $2 billion for light rail; $37.4 million for commuter rail
Stations: 16, light rail; 12, commuter rail
Major capital projects underway:
• Northgate Link Extension: Three new stations, 4.3 miles, to open in 2021. Project budget: $1.9 billion. Major contractors: JCM Northlink; JD,
Coluccio, Michaels; Hoffman; Absher; Stacy and Witbeck.
• Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension: Six new and one relocated station, 2.8 miles to open in 2022. Project budget: $217 million. Contractor: Walsh
Construction.
• East Link Extension: 10 new stations, 14 miles, to open in 2023. Project budget: $3.6 billion. Major contractors: Kiewit-Hoffman Joint Venture, Simmick/Parsons Joint Venture, Atkinson Construction, Stacy and Witbeck/
Atkinson, Max J. Kuney.
• Downtown Redmond Extension: Two new stations and 3.4 miles to open in 2024. Budget: $729.2 million. Major contractor: Stay and Witbeck/Kuney joint venture.
• Lynnwood Link Extension: Four new stations, 8.5 miles, to open in 2024. Project budget: $2.7 billion. Major contractors: Stacy and Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman Joint Venture, Skanska Constructors L300 Joint Venture
• Federal Way Extension: Three new stations, 7.8 miles, to open in 2024. Project budget: $2.5 billion. Major contractor: Kiewit Infrastructure West.