More Friday morning rail news:
— The planned purchase of new passenger cars for Metro-North commuter rail service in Connecticut will include fewer cars than originally reported, and will not provide replacement cars for the Waterbury and Danbury branches. The Waterbury Republican American reports that, in a State Bond Commission meeting held Thursday, the commission approved a $300 million allocation to purchase 60 cars for the Shore Line East and Hartford Line commuter operations. State budget director Melissa McCaw said meeting agendas had incorrectly stated that 72 cars would be purchased, including cars for the Waterbury and Danbury branches [see “News Wire Digest Second Section for Tuesday, April 7”].
— NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Corbett “is feeling well and maintaining his regular work schedule while currently isolating at home,” NJ Transit officials told the Morris County Daily Record. The CEO of NJ Transit since January 2018, Corbett was last in his Newark office on April 7. According to the most recent figures, more than 100 NJ Transit employees have tested positive for the virus and almost 800 are quarantined.
— Hennepin County, Minn., has approved $81 million in local funds for Metro Transit’s Southwest Light Rail extension project, which will help maintain construction while the $2 billion project awaits an expected $929 million in federal funding. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports a grant from the Federal Transit Administration for the 14.5-mile extension from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, Minn., is expected by June 20.
