CRC NEWS & EVENTS FROM THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 2, 2026

(Per Politico) USDOT has finalized a rule eliminating “race- and sex-based presumptions” from two federal grant programs: the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs.
In October of last year, DOT began scrutinizing DBE grants for race and sex-based contracting. “Presumptions of social and economic disadvantage” based on race or sex, the Oct. 3 2025, rule said, “violate the U.S. Constitution.”
The DBE program was at the center of an effort by the Trump administration last year to withhold funding for the Gateway tunnel project and Second Avenue Subway extension in New York, as well as for subway improvements in Chicago.
Since then, the Trump administration has released the withheld DBE funding for the New York City subway and the Getaway tunnel after legal challenges.
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy has said the department “has no intention of privatizing Amtrak” as the railroad mulls a major internal restructuring. He added that DOT doesn’t want to disrupt “the long-standing labor protections that are fundamental to the safety and reliability of our national passenger rail network.”
(Per BGOV) The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that the House BUILD America 250 Act would speed up project spending. According to a new analysis, the Act (H.R. 8870) would exempt certain transit-related developments from requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act, while also giving states greater authority to conduct project reviews. CBO estimates these changes would speed spending for roughly 25% of affected transportation accounts by an average of five months.
(Per Politico) But CBO’s projections for the ailing Highway Trust Fund are not good.
CBO projects that if the House’s version of the full surface reauthorization bill is enacted in January 2027, it would actually worsen the prospects for the depleted Highway Trust Fund. Taking various historical and other factors into account, CBO projects the fund’s cumulative shortfalls by 2031 would be $99.5 billion for the highway account, over the current baseline of $86 billion, and $48.2 billion for the transit account, over the current baseline of $45.2 billion.

TEXRAIL MILESTONE

TEXRail is setting new ridership records and raising the profile of passenger rail in North Texas. For the first time since its 2019 debut, ridership has topped 1 million trips in a single year, and Team Trinity Metro was on hand at Fort Worth Central Station to celebrate the moment.

This milestone is the result of Trinity Metro and Herzog team members who work hard every day to deliver world class service. And the cities of Fort Worth, Grapevine, and North Richland Hills are applauded for partnership and investment in Trinity Metro.

Join CRC in Fort Worth next month for the Commuter Rail Summit to learn how Trinity Metro and its regional partners DART and DCTA are working together to move one of the fastest growing regions of the country.

MARYLAND MTA LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE

MARC has launched a direct weekday round-trip connection between the Brunswick and Camden Lines, allowing commuters to travel directly between Montgomery County, MD, and Baltimore’s Camden Station without transferring at Washington Union Station. In a post, MARC director Josh Wolf took the opportunity to recognize the people who made the vision a reality.

“Darrell Smith, MTA’s Director of Statewide Planning, and David "DJ" Johnson, MARC Deputy Director for Operations, imagined what this service could be, studied it, worked through the details and challenges, and helped turn an idea into a train carrying passengers.”

“For me, this is the key takeaway: Give talented people room to think differently, trust them to work through hard problems, and support them when they bring forward good ideas.” - Josh Wolf

FTA RELEASES PROPOSED POLICY GUIDANCE FOR CIG PROGRAM

The FTA request comment on its revised policy guidance for the Capital Investment Grants program. The CIG Policy Guidance provides an overview of CIG project types and the CIG process from project initiation to construction grant award. Per FTA, the proposed revisions are intended to streamline the CIG process, improve accountability of CIG project sponsors, and improve overall readability of the policy guidance. The proposals incorporate suggestions FTA received in response to its Request for Information published on August 19, 2025. The final CIG Policy Guidance, when published on the FTA website, is to be effective immediately; no grandfathering will be allowed for any projects currently in the CIG pipeline. Read the full announcement here. Comments are due November 15.

METROLINK WILL WAIVE FARES FOR CA CLEAN AIR DAY

Free rides, presented by Visit Ventura, provide access to
Metrolink’s full system and the Arrow service, offering a
convenient alternative to driving

LOS ANGELES – With California gas prices averaging well over $6 per gallon, Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail provider, is inviting those looking for relief at the pump to leave the car behind and ride for free on Wednesday, Oct. 7, in recognition of California Clean Air Day. Throughout the day, travelers can board at any station – no ticket needed – and enjoy unlimited access to Metrolink’s 545-mile, six-county system, including the Arrow service between San Bernardino and Redlands.

The Commuter Rail Coalition led a 65-member delegation to InnoTrans last month, giving participants access to the largest international trade fair and high-level discussions with peers from around the world.

Organized by Messe Berlin and held biennially at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, InnoTrans is the premier global platform for mobility innovations, product debuts, and business deals within the mass transit sector.

CRC’s partnership with DB E.C.O. provided delegates an even broader range of opportunities than InnoTrans alone can provide. The possibilities included access to Deutsche Bahn facilities and operations, as well as networking with international peers in both Berlin and Munich (pictures 1 - 4, below).

At the Messe Berlin, the itinerary included stops at myriad CRC member’s booths, including Alstom (pic 11), IVU (pic 8), Tracsis (pic 12), Mott MacDonald, Aon (pic 10), Amsted Rail (pics 6, 7 & 9, with FRA Administrator David Fink, and FTA Acting Administrator Matthew Cahill), Icomera (pic 5), Ensco, Traction Systems, Stadler, Cylus, and Wabtec (pic 13). Off the show floor, evening events took delegates to a variety of venues across the city.

In its 30th anniversary, InnoTrans broke records.

Approximately 175,000 trade visitors from more than 120 countries underscore the event’s high level of international participation.
3,190 exhibitors from 59 countries filled all 42 halls of Messe Berlin.
113 vehicles were on display in the outdoor exhibition unique to InnoTrans.
And with 180 world premieres, InnoTrans underscored its role as the industry’s international meeting place and innovation platform.

WHAT WE’RE READING

Rail Merger Foes File Lobbying Deal Months After Campaign Began (Bloomberg Government)
Gateway Celebrates Start of Tunnel Boring for Hudson Tunnel Project (Gateway Development Commission)
As fuel prices rise, the MBTA's doing just fine (WBUR)
Caltrain weekend ridership climbs past 2019 levels while weekday ridership continues to rise, fueled by Electrification service (CalTrain)

Editors Note: In the September 18th edition of this Bulletin we misidentified Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. We sincerely apologize for this mistake.

Thank you for reading.

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