May/June 2024 - 13

Terminology
NTD Mode
Types
AR: Alaska
Railroad
CC: Cable Car
CR: Commuter
Rail
HR: Heavy Rail
IP: Inclined Plane
LR: Light Rail
MG/AG:
Monorail/
Automated
Guideway
SR: Streetcar
YR: Hybrid Rail
Numbers
reflected in this
report used
information
within the
National Transit
Database for the
modes listed.
Major maintenance projects are also producing operational
gains for rail operators. In April 2024, Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (MTA) returned regular service
to F and M trains following completion of an eight-month
track replacement project. In November 2023, the Massachusetts
Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) launched
its Track Improvement Program, which aims to eliminate
all existing speed restrictions and bring tracks closer to a
state of good repair by the end of 2024. Between November
2023 and May 1, 2024, MBTA removed a total of 104 speed
restrictions following maintenance work on its Red, Orange,
Blue and Green lines.
New and improved services have helped propel ridership
gains on rail modes. The American Public Transportation
Association Quarterly and Annual Totals by Mode ridership
report shows heavy rail, light rail and commuter rail account
for 46 percent of all transit trips taken in 2023. All rail modes
saw an increase in ridership in 2023 compared to 2022, with
heavy rail increasing 14.3 percent, light rail increasing 15.3
percent and commuter rail increasing 18.7 percent. While
year over year ridership increases have slowed slightly, ridership
as compared to year end 2020 numbers show a robust
recovery. Light-rail ridership in 2023 increased 51.3 percent
versus 2020, heavy rail increased 75.5 percent and commuter
rail increased 80 percent. Regarding intercity passenger rail,
Amtrak reports its ridership in Fiscal Year 2023 exceeded
28 million nationwide. The railroad credits this bump to
significant growth on the Northeast Corridor, where ridership
surpassed pre-pandemic levels since early summer 2023.
An April 17 hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation
& Infrastructure Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous
Materials Subcommittee examined the state of the commuter
rail industry and the challenges and solutions found within
Capital Expenses: Existing vs. Expanded Services
% for expanded
% for existing
Guideways
Stations
Adminstrative
Buildings
Passenger Vehicles
Maintenance
Buildings
Other Vehicles
Fare Collection
Equipment
Communication &
Information Systems
Other
NTD 2022 Capital Use
2%
6%
*Values represent percent of total expense for that group
MAY/JUNE 2024 | MassTransitmag.com 13
4%
0%
7%
1%
15%
5%
2%
0%
2%
0%
11%
5%
24%
11%
By the numbers
2,727
Number of
escalators
available within
rail stations
Source: NTD 2022
Transit Stations
2,633
Number of
elevators
available within
rail stations
Source: NTD 2022
Transit Stations
33%
72%
it. Among the topics highlighted at the
hearing was the challenge commuter
railroads face in a hardened insurance
market. Mike Noland, president, Northern
Indiana Commuter Transportation
District and chairman of the Commuter
Rail Coalition (CRC), summarized the
issue by explaining commuter railroads
carry $323 million in excess liability coverage,
which is the federal cap. This cap
will be changed in early 2026 in line
with the consumer price index and a
notice will be published by the U.S. Department
of Transportation (USDOT),
which will give commuter railroads 30
days to secure the additional coverage.
A maximum of $32.5 million per railroad
can be purchased from domestic
insurance carriers, forcing commuter
railroads to use overseas insurance
markets to secure the balance. The
potential outcome for not securing the
additional coverage could be suspension
of operations.
In a column for Mass Transit, CRC
CEO KellyAnne Gallagher called the
state of the excess liability insurance
market " illogical. " CRC is suggesting
a multi-state agreement to share liability,
the federal government offering
a backstop should the excess liability
insurance market fail and extending
the 30-day implementation window to
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May/June 2024

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