North American Transit Projects Reach New Milestones

North American transit projects advanced on several fronts this week as Amtrak, Metra, CTA, Maryland’s Purple Line and Québec City’s TramCité reported new passenger rail milestones.

North American transit projects add trains and safety technology

Amtrak sent the sixth of eight new Cascades Airo trainsets east for testing on July 13 before its planned transfer to the Pacific Northwest. The operator says the Cascades fleet is the first part of a nationwide Airo program covering 83 trainsets, while all eight Cascades sets are expected to complete manufacturing during 2026. 

In Chicago, Metra Police began a pilot using three remotely operated Beyond Visual Line of Sight drones. A $620,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency transit security grant funded the project. The aircraft are based at the 18th Street and Western Avenue yards and can provide high-definition video, infrared imaging and three-dimensional site data over a range of about three miles. 

CTA, meanwhile, opened an Innovation Studio challenge for modern fare-entry equipment. Its existing turnstiles are nearing the end of a 40-year design life. Proposed systems must support Ventra, comply with ADA requirements and withstand indoor and outdoor operating conditions. CTA may select several vendors for 12-month station pilots beginning in early 2027, with first-phase applications due August 24, 2026.

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North American transit projects move light rail programs forward

Maryland’s transit administration expanded energized testing of Purple Line vehicles from the Lyttonsville maintenance facility to Bethesda. Engineers are evaluating track, power systems, acceleration and braking over 2.5 miles. The 16-mile, 21-station project is 90% complete, all track has been installed, and testing is active in four of seven sections. 

In Canada, AtkinsRéalis and Siemens Mobility signed a co-development contract for the systems package of Québec City’s TramCité project. Their Connexion Capitale partnership will cover systems integration, signaling, communications, electrification, testing and commissioning. The progressive design-build phase will refine the technical solution, schedule, pricing and performance requirements before full execution. 

Together, the updates show agencies pairing new rolling stock and infrastructure with practical tools for safety, accessibility, fare collection and project delivery.