• US DOT earlier this month proposed eliminating funding for transit from the highway trust fund and prohibiting flexing formal funds from FHWA, asserting that “highway funds should be spent on highway projects.”

  In response, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) told Politico that the proposal will not be part of the next surface transportation reauthorization. The famously bi-partisan committee’s ranking member, Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) called the administration’s proposal “hairbrained.”

  Per Politico: “When asked whether he wanted to eliminate the mass transit account, Graves responded, ‘No,’ adding, ‘It's been there for 40 years, and I want this to be a bipartisan bill.’”

• Having moved to nix the use of race- and sex-based presumptions of “social and economic disadvantage” for DBE eligibility, US DOT has met pushback from Democrats on the House T&I and Small Business committees. Their response to Secretary Duffy urged caution with the department’s overhaul of its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, saying changes “threaten the survival” of more than 50,000 small businesses. An interim final rule took effect Oct. 3. (Politico)

The Commuter Rail Coalition was thrilled to welcome four aspiring rail leaders — Emma Coale, Matthew Cheruiyot, Miles Davis, and Isabella Williams to this year’s Commuter Rail Summit in Washington, D.C.

Isabella is an engineering intern at Virginia Railway Express, while Emma, Matthew, and Miles are juniors at Morgan State University. All four brought energy and enthusiasm for commuter rail to an already vibrant event. As the Coalition continues its mission to strengthen commuter rail service across the country, it was inspiring to see that the next generation is already deeply engaged in shaping the future of rail.

Miles grew up taking MARTA, Atlanta’s rail system, to and from school. That early experience inspired his interest in understanding how transit systems work behind the scenes. His favorite part of the summit was the networking reception, where he was struck by how connected and collaborative the commuter rail community felt.

Pictured (L-R) Amsted Rail’s Gary Wagner along with students Isabella Williams, Matthew Cheruiyot, Miles Davis, and Emma Coale.

“Everybody seemed really helpful. Whether they worked at the same company or not, everybody knew each other, which is pretty cool.” ~ Miles Davis

Miles especially enjoyed presentations on virtual reality and AI applications for rail safety and operations. Like his peers, Miles used the Summit to make important career connections. He’s currently applying for internships and says he left the Summit with a clearer sense of direction after talking with leaders from WSP and David Dech, CRC Vice Chair and the executive director of the South Florida Regional Transportation. His dream job would keep him close to the action, managing a field team and solving problems on the track to keep trains running safely and efficiently.

For Emma, a civil engineering student from Baltimore, the Summit offered an opportunity to see how what she’s studying in the classroom connects to real-world rail operations. Her favorite part of the week was the tour of the Virginia Railway Express’s Spotsylvania maintenance facility. She also found the presentations engaging, particularly the session on grade crossings, because they focused on key issues railroads are facing right now.

Emma’s path toward transit began with an appreciation for the mode itself.

“I like how efficient it is as a form of transportation — and it’s very safe, too, as opposed to driving, which is very dangerous. I just like to take the train everywhere, and then I thought, maybe I should study this.” ~ Emma Coale

For Matthew Cheruiyot, who also studies civil engineering at Morgan State, the Summit reinforced his growing passion for rail — and for the people who make it move.

“My favorite part was talking to all the professionals,” Matthew said. “I found them all to be so passionate about what they’re doing, from top to bottom. They all seem to be honed in on a single mission of making commuter rail better for everyday people and that passion really showed over the three days.”

Like his classmates, Matthew took full advantage of the networking opportunities, meeting representatives from agencies, consultancies, and operating companies. He noted the importance of getting to know leaders in person, rather than via LinkedIn or Handshake. He discovered several career paths at the Summit that broadened his horizons.

“I really appreciate that people were eager to get all of us involved in the industry.” ~ Matthew Cheruiyot

Matthew’s interest in transit comes from both personal experience and civic engagement. “Whenever I go on the train, I feel so free,” he said. Later, an internship with his county’s planning department deepened that interest when he worked on a project to reopen a dormant rail line for commuter use.

What struck Matthew most about the Summit was the people.

“Everyone here has fire in their eyes,” he said. “They look happy to be doing what they’re doing. That’s so intoxicating for someone who’s still in college.”

Each of the four aspiring rail leaders left the Summit with new connections, new ambitions, and a shared sense of purpose. The Morgan State students expressed gratitude to their professor, Dr. Celeste Chavis, who encouraged them to attend, and to the Commuter Rail Coalition for welcoming them so warmly. The proceeds from the CRC’s golf outing at the Summit underwrote the participation of Isabella and Matthew.

Amsted Rail’s Gary Wagner and Tom Austin of Railhead, who together have coordinated CRC’s golf outing each year, would not let the loss of daylight savings nor the approach of winter in the mid-Atlantic deter their mission. For his part, Wagner called it “an honor” to organize golfers around a cause.

“Sure, it’s great to enjoy a day on the links with friends and industry peers, but more importantly, being able to give back in support of the students is the primary objective. Meeting the students during the Summit and seeing their faces light up with energy and thanks, was certainly a highlight. Hearing about their backgrounds, future goals and desire to pursue a career in transit — it felt awesome to make a positive impact for others! Thanks to all the participants who contributed and we look forward to growing the event in the future.” ~ Gary Wagner

For the Coalition, having these emerging professionals in the room was a reminder of why its work matters. The future of rail is already boarding — and with Emma, Isabella, Matthew, and Miles leading the way, the next chapter of commuter rail is in very good hands.

REMINDER: WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE 2025 COMMUTER RAIL SUMMIT

If you joined CRC in Washington for the 2025 Commuter Rail Summit, please tell us what you liked and what we can do better in 2026. And in exchange we will send along the event presentations.

SURVEY LINK

ALEXANDRIA GROUNDBREAKING

Earlier this month VRE, Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, CSX, Amtrak, and the City of Alexandria, joined together in a groundbreaking at Alexandria Station.

The event was the official kickoff to several rail improvement projects: the Alexandria Fourth Track project, VRE Alexandria Station Improvements, King & Commonwealth Bridges Replacement and the King & Commonwealth Streetscape Improvements. Together, this suite of projects will dramatically improve efficiency, safety, and accessibility in and around the station, and maximize the infrastructure investments made through the Commonwealth's historic Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• MDOT selects development partners for Odenton MARC transit-oriented development (Mass Transit)

• To a T: How Phillip Eng got Boston’s subway system back on track (The Christian Science Monitor)

• Study: TOD near DART generated $18 billion in economic impact (Progressive Railroading)

• Metra Legal Dispute Signals Shifting Rail Dynamics (Railway Supply)

• News report: Metra awarded more than $19 million in suit against Union Pacific (Trains Pro)

• South Florida commuter rail project in limbo after latest ruling on Brightline lawsuit (Miami Times Online)

• TriMet Reduces Administrative Staff, Lowers Spending to Address Budget Gap (Metro)

• DART to invest $24.6 million in safety and cleanliness upgrades (Mass Transit)

• TX: What could transit look like in North Texas as cities consider withdrawing from DART? (Mass Transit)