The January 2024 Transportation Market Recap is a recap of some of the most interesting and useful transit industry news from the previous month. It contains updates on industry drivers, notable projects, and recent mergers and acquisitions, as well as some interesting reads, and upcoming meetings and conferences.
To learn more about how we are helping transportation industry leaders find new opportunities in their market of interest, schedule a market opportunity workshop.
Industry Drivers
Our data team tracks new and updated industry drivers. Here are some recent drivers we have been following this month:
Colorado SB 24-036: Vulnerable Road User Protection Enterprise
Status: Proposed
Organization: Colorado State Legislature
Summary: On January 10, 2024, the Colorado General Assembly introduced Senate Bill 24-036, which proposes to create a new public vulnerable road user protection enterprise in the Department of Transportation. The enterprise would fund infrastructure improvements and other strategies that reduce the number of fatal severe collisions between motor vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. The enterprise would charge a fee for registering passenger cars and light trucks based on weight and configuration. It would also use the fee revenue to provide grants for eligible projects. Furthermore, the enterprise would publish a 5-year plan, maintain a public accountability dashboard, and prepare an annual report.
Click Here for More Information
Colorado HB 24-1030: Railroad Safety Requirements
Status: Proposed
Organization: Colorado State Legislature
Summary: On January 10, 2024, the Colorado General Assembly introduced House Bill 24-1030, which proposes improving railroad safety by imposing new rules and penalties on railroads operating trains. The bill specifies that:
- Trains must not be longer than 8,500 feet unless they are operated by class II or III railroads;
- Railroads must use wayside detector systems, which are devices that monitor trains for defects and report their locations to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC);
- Trains must not block public crossings for more than 10 minutes unless they are moving or prevented from moving by factors beyond the railroad's control;
- Train crew members may report safety violations, injuries, or deaths to their union representatives, who may investigate the incidents at the railroad's place of operation;
- The PUC may impose fines for violating these rules or denying access to union representatives, and the fine revenue must be paid to the front-range passenger rail district for maintaining and improving the safety of a passenger rail system;
- Railroads that transport hazardous materials must carry insurance coverage in minimum amounts.
Click Here for More Information
Colorado HB 24-1012: Front Range Passenger Rail District Efficiency
Status: Proposed
Organization: Colorado State Legislature
Summary: On January 10, 2024, the Colorado General Assembly introduced House Bill 24-1012, which proposes to make changes to the operations and governance of the Front Range Passenger Rail District. The district plans to develop passenger rail service along the Front Range of Colorado. The bill aims to improve the efficiency and flexibility of the district by:
- Replacing the requirement for annual joint meetings between the district board and other transportation entities with yearly updates that can be electronic and provided by staff;
- Eliminating the need for senate confirmation of board directors appointed by transportation planning organizations;
- Clarifying the terms and roles of board members and prohibiting non voting members from participating in executive sessions on certain matters;
- Establishing that the board can exercise its powers by a majority vote of a quorum of its voting directors and delegate its contracting authority to its officers and employees, except for intergovernmental agreements and public-private partnerships, and
- Changing the name of the district's state-required plan for developing rail service to avoid confusion with a similar federal plan.
The bill is currently under consideration by the House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee.
Click Here for More Information
Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act
Status: Proposed
Organization: Colorado State Legislature
Summary: On January 18, 2024, Congressman Hank Johnson introduced a bill that would provide $20 billion annually for four years to improve public transit service in the U.S. The bill called the Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act, would fund transit systems to increase the frequency and routes of buses and trains, especially in disadvantaged and underserved communities. Key provisions include:
- Authorizing $20 billion per year for federal matching funds.
- Distributing funds to recipients based on operating costs.
- Increasing the federal share of operating expenses for rural transit agencies to 80%.
Click Here for More Information
Notable Capital Improvement Programs
Here are some recent, notable Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs). FirmoGraphs has deconstructed the CIPs into data elements, along with available project descriptions. Please feel free to request a meeting and review the data live in our business intelligence application.
City of Flagstaff, Arizona, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased By 34%
In the CIP covering the 2024-2028 fiscal years, City of Flagstaff, Arizona, detailed plans to spend $844 million on capital projects, an increase of 34% from $629 million in its 2023-2027 CIP. The current CIP has 329 line items, compared to 298 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down City of Flagstaff’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Increase Due to Ongoing and New Projects
Planned spending in the Streets/Transportation category increased by 50% with funding towards ongoing projects and new projects added, including John Wesley Powell / I-17 Bridge, worth $36 million. There are also new projects added under the General Government category, resulting in a 55% increase in the recent CIP.
Nearly $100 Million Programmed For Overpass Project
The City of Flagstaff, Arizona has two notable line items valued at over $50 million and two at over $20 million. The largest line item is the Lone Tree Railroad Overpass, worth $98 million, under the Streets / Transportation category. Other notable line items in this category include JWP Extension - Phase I & II and 4th Street Extension - Phase I & II, worth $23 million and $21 million, respectively. The General Government has also a notable project, the USGS Buildings, worth $56 million.
Click Here to See City of Flagstaff, Arizona, CIP
San Francisco International Airport, California, Planned Capital Program Increased By 42%
In the CIP covering the 2024 fiscal year, San Francisco International Airport, California, detailed plans to spend $11 billion on capital projects, an increase of 42% from $7.8 billion in its 2023 CIP. The current CIP has 46 line items, compared to 72 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down San Francisco International Airport’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Increase Goes to Ascent Program - Phase 1.5 Projects and FY 2023/24 Infrastructure Projects
The recent CIP increased largely by 42% or almost $3.3 billion. The increase goes to existing and new projects or additional budgets. Many of the existing projects increased, with a total amount of $7.3 billion of which $5.7 billion is attributable to the Ascent Program - Phase 1.5 projects and $1.6 billion is attributable to the FY 2023/24 Infrastructure Projects Plan projects. New project budgets total $2.7 billion, of which $1.6 billion is attributable to the Ascent Program - Phase 1.5 projects and $1.1 billion is attributable to the FY 2023/24 Infrastructure Projects Plan projects.
Terminal 3 Projects to Receive Over $2 Billion of Investment
San Francisco International Airport has two notable line items valued at over $1 billion and six valued at over $100 million. The largest line item is the renovation of Terminal 3 West to create a unified Terminal 3 checkpoint, improve circulation and concessions, replace aging building systems, renovate the facade, provide a secure connector at Courtyard 4, refresh the Boarding Area F Checkpoint, and make seismic improvements, worth $2.6 billion. Listed below are the other notable line items:
- Terminal I Projects - worth $1.7 billion to Complete the renovation of Terminal I Center and Terminal I North, including the construction of a new architectural building envelope, complete electrical, Heating, Ventilation and Cooling (HVAC), special systems replacement, new check-in facilities and passenger screening checkpoint, and provide a secure connector to Boarding, Area C and the International Terminal.
- Cargo and Hangar Improvements - worth $688 million for the construction of new cargo and hangar facilities in the West Field area.
- Consolidated Administration Campus - worth $560 million for the construction of a second Consolidated Administration Office Building.
- Courtyard 3 Connector - worth $401 million to construct an office block including an Airport Integrated Operations Center (AIOC) and provide a secure connector between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
- International Terminal Refresh Projects - worth $290 million to upgrade and improve elements of the International Terminal to increase operational efficiency, including new systems and reconfiguration.
- International Terminal Improvements - worth $231 million to replace the International Terminal roof and make upgrades and improvements to the exterior, Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) systems, restrooms, and fire alarm system.
- Superbay Renovation Projects - worth $136 million to renovate the existing Superbay facility to address aging infrastructure.
Click Here to See San Francisco International Airport, California, CIP
What We Are Reading
Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:
- $7.5B Oregon-Washington bridge project wins IIJA funds
- Denver Regional Council of Governments to lead South Boulder Road Study
- Flatiron/Herzog JV to build 2 Amtrak bridges in Maryland
- L.A. Metro awards Vermont Transit Corridor Planning and Environmental Study to Vermont Corridor Partners
- NVTC helping northern Virginia to transition to zero-emission buses
- New York Gov. Hochul outlines proposal to improve access to transit in NYC
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces $623 Million in Grants to Continue Building Out Electric Vehicle Charging Network
- OP-ED: More delay's ahead for $3.1 billion MTA Metro-North Bronx East Penn Station Access
- APTA urges THUD Appropriations Committee leaders to provide funding to improve public transit, passenger rail and infrastructure
- BART Fleet of the Future project to come in $394 million under budget
- Network Rail Consulting receives 73.2 million engineering services contract from CHSRA
- EV charging, hydrogen build-out get $623M from Biden administration
- Navier to launch zero-emission ferry pilot program in March
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces Grants to Upgrade Almost 4,500 Public Electric Vehicle Chargers
- Gilbane breaks ground on $550M Philadelphia Amtrak station
- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPROVES $2.5 BILLION IN PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS ALLOCATION FOR BRIGHTLINE WEST PROJECT
- FHWA Announces $729 Million to Repair Roads and Bridges Damaged by Natural Disasters and Extreme Weather Events
- California’s Brightline West high-speed rail project gets $2.5B in bonds
- MTA awards utility relocation contract for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2
- Sound Transit’s Stride BRT to be part of new regional transportation system to improve I-405 commute
- Austin light-rail project advances in federal process
- Valley Metro celebrates opening of Northwest Phase II extension
- Grand River Transit to roll out zero-emission buses
- FTA awards Seattle DOT $64.2 million for RapidRide J Line BRT
- USDOT and FRA Continue Pressing on Rail Safety, Finalizes Norfolk Southern Railway Participation into Confidential Close Call Reporting System
- MTA to complete 13 Re-NEW-vation station renovations during first quarter of 2024
- Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $240 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Modernize Airports in 37 States
- USDOT awards more than $4.9 billion in funding through Mega and INFRA grants
- U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $31.4 Million Loan to Upgrade Critical Rail Lines in California
- Amtrak cuts ribbon on newly constructed boarding platform at Baltimore Penn Station
- Federal Railroad Administration Issues Final Rule Requiring Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatuses in Trains Carrying Hazmat
- MTC to pursue transportation ballot measure in 2026
Meeting Planner
In this over-digitized age, there is no replacement for face-to-face meetings with your prospects and customers! We track meetings of interest to our customers serving the U.S. transit industry so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines. Additionally, FirmoGraphs has recently implemented a free-of-charge service for tracking notable infrastructure events.
Meetings in February and March 2024
|
Name Organization |
Name Meeting |
Date Start |
Date End |
|
Airport Consultants Council |
2024-03-05 |
2024-03-07 |
|
|
SAE International |
2024-03-12 |
2024-03-14 |
|
|
Aircraft Electronics Association |
2024-03-19 |
2024-03-22 |
|
|
National Asphalt Pavement Association |
2024-03-25 |
2024-03-27 |
|
|
National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association |
2024-03-25 |
2024-03-27 |
Early Bird Registration
- Event: SAE International AeroTech Conference & Exhibition
Dates: March 12 - March 14, 2024
Deadline for Early Registration: February 28, 2024 - Event: AEA International Convention & Trade Show
Dates: March 19 - March 24, 2024
Deadline for Early Registration: February 28, 2024