An innovative trespassing system will be tested on passenger rail tracks in California… a new report says public transit is good for the environment… and a new group of graduates is ready to work on the California high speed rail project.

Welcome to your Transit Unplugged News Minute.

Southern California’s passenger rail, MetroLink, was awarded a DOT grant to develop a first-of-its kind intruder detection system on its tracks. The prototype will use (AI)-equipped cameras and sensors to identify track intrusions, and it will automatically slow or stop trains approaching that section of the rail line. https://metrolinktrains.com/news/metrolink-news/metrolink-receives-federal-funding-for-first-of-its-kind-track-intrusion-detection-system/

A new report from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission confirms public transit is good for the environment. It found public transit reduces up to 160,000 metric tons of C02 emissions in Northern Virginia each year. https://novatransit.org/uploads/studiesarchive/2024%20Climate%20Benefits%20of%20Transit%20in%20Northern%20Virginia.pdf?mc_cid=5b1c7046b5&mc_eid=8a85fd1fd3

And congratulations to the 16 new graduates of the California High-Speed Rail Authority pre-apprenticeship program. They are now trained and ready to work on the high-speed rail project. https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaHighSpeedRail/posts/pfbid0yRAUAufijaepZTsKRKQ7C21pFQz582pwoKC8uCzm3kqr6W4mDfC8kdtVEAHgPFUQl

This Transit Unplugged News Minute is being brought to you by Modaxo.

I’m Julie Gates.