What to Expect From Transit Construction in 2019

According to Yonah Freemark's annual preview of transit construction projects, "the construction of major transit networks continues across the country—as well as Canada, Mexico, and the rest of North America."

That despite the continuing decline of transit ridership in the vast majority of U.S. cities. Here, Freemark sums up the current construction activity for transit projects:

In 2019, there will be 89 major heavy rail, light rail, streetcar, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail projects under construction across the continent. These project will add more than 830 miles of new fixed-guideway transit—generally high-quality service that will improve the lines of residents. In total, they’ll cost more than $91 billion to complete—most of which is funded by local governments.

From those 89 ongoing projects around the continent, "two heavy rail lines, seven light rail lines, ten bus rapid transit lines, and six commuter rail lines are expected to open [in 2019," reports Freemark.

Freemark also calls out the BART extension into the Silicon Valley, San Francisco's Central Subway, and Ottawa's Confederation Line for cost extravagance, and provides an additional layer of analysis about which ongoing projects are expected to have the greatest impact on the larger transit system.

For a little historical perspective, see also Freemark's previous annual post on the year in transit construction.