November 2021 - 8

PEOPLE & PLACES
THE LASTEST INDUSTRY NEWS
26550604| Sborisov | Dreamstime
THE CAPITOL dome in Washington, D.C.
$1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure
Deal signed into law
Called " a monumental step forward as a nation " by President Joe Biden as
he signed the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal into law on Nov.
15, the bill was passed by the House late in the evening of Nov. 5 following
heavy negotiations. The legislation includes $107 billion for transit and $102
billion for passenger rail. American Public Transportation Association
President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas called the package " vital to building
the American infrastructure of the future. " Funding for the transit
industry will allow for additional and more reliable service in addition
to advancing equity issues and aiding in the fight against climate change.
Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn says the bill will allow the passenger railroad to
advance projects on the Northeast Corridor, purchase new equipment and
develop new corridors.
MassTransitmag.com/21246436
Champaign-Urbana MTD unveils
new zero-emission fleet technology
▶ The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit
District (MTD) unveiled a newly commissioned,
on-site hydrogen production
station that is powered by a solar array
that spans nearly 5,500 panels. The
resulting clean hydrogen fuel powers
60-foot hydrogen fuel cell buses for
MTD's transit system, which emit only
water vapor as they serve the cities of
Champaign, Urbana, Savoy and the
third-largest Big 10 University, the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
MTD says the hydrogen fuel cell buses
save more than 50,000 gallons of diesel
fuel per bus each year, and one bus reduces
greenhouse gases up to 135 tons
annually. MTD's zero-emission fleet will
operate alongside diesel electric hybrid
buses, currently 97 percent of the 114bus
fleet, but will be 100 percent low or
no emission in 2022.
MassTransitmag.com/21242275
8 | Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | NOVEMBER 2021
Credit
Office of New York Governor
GOV. HOCHUL discusses her plan for
New York Penn Station.
Groundbreaking ceremony held
for Portal North Bridge project
▶ The Portal North Bridge, the Western
Hemisphere's busiest rail bridge and a
notorious chokepoint on the Northeast
Corridor, is one step closer to its
next chapter that will include greater
reliability and capacity with a ceremonial
groundbreaking of the project to
replace the bridge attended by federal,
state and local officials, including President
Joseph Biden. The Portal North
Bridge is a key project of the Gateway
Program and calls for the replacement
of a swing span that carries about 450
New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains
daily over the Hackensack River. The
new fixed span structure will carry two
tracks more than 50 feet above the river
- eliminating moveable components of
the existing bridge, as well as conflicts
with maritime traffic.
MassTransitmag.com/21243952
Gov. Hochul releases revised
plan for New York Penn Station
▶ New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released
her revised vision for New York Penn
Station, which she says puts commuters
first and will contribute to a more livable
city. The revised plan refines its priority
toward renovating rather than expanding
NY Penn Station. The governor envisions
a four-to-five-year project that will carry
costs between $6 and $7 million. The
proposal's main features include a new
train facility, improved transit access
and shared, pedestrian friendly streets,
affordable housing, social services and
public space. The centerpiece of the plan
will be a 450-foot single level, double
height train hall that will double passenger
circulation space, create clear sight
lines, simplify navigation and add 18
more escalators or stairs and 11 additional
elevators to platforms.
MassTransitmag.com/21245401
http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21245401 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21246436 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21243952 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21242275 http://www.MassTransitmag.com
November 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2021
