Author: jrood

Canada and Ontario financially support preliminary engineering study for commuter rail

The governments of Canada and Ontario announced funding to support a preliminary engineering study on a commuter rail link between Peterborough and Toronto, ON. Dean Del Mastro, member of Parliament for Peterborough and Jeff Leal, member of the Provincial Parliament for Peterborough, were joined by Tony Smith, founding president of the Shining Waters Railway, to confirm the successful negotiation of the funding agreements.

Milestone reached on Dulles Metrorail project

Engineering, project management and construction company, Bechtel, has been building Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project in northern Virginia and has installed the final segment of the elevated Tysons East Guideway, signaling the close out of the heavy civil work needed on the project.

LIRR plans $211.5 million in infrastructure improvements

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Rail Road plans to invest $211.5 million in Main Line infrastructure improvements, including a $55 million facelift for Hicksville Station. Other projects include a new bridge in Westbury and track drainage fix in Mineola.

Watco promotes Towner to assistant vice president of operations

Stu Towner has been promoted to the position of assis¬tant vice president of operations for Watco Transportation Services. Towner will be responsible for the continued development and improvement of safety, service, growth, people and efficiency in all areas of WTS. He will be responsible for and participate in, due diligence and transition of new acquisitions within WTS.

BART to implement last of inflation-based fare increases July 1

Bay Area Rapid Transit near San Francisco will implement the last in a series of inflation-based fare increases when fares increase by 1.4 percent. Because BART fares are rounded to the nearest nickel, some fares will remain the same after the increase, including the minimum BART fare of $1.75, and the average fare will go up by five cents.  Fares last increased in July 2009

MBTA releases See Say smartphone app

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department released the See Say smartphone app. With this iPhone App, riders are able to instantly report suspicious activity on the MBTA to Transit Police. In just a few clicks, riders can share pictures, text and incident location details.

Sound Transit’s deputy CEO to retire

Seattle’s Sound Transit Deputy CEO Celia Kupersmith will retire effective August. 3.

“I have loved every moment at Sound Transit and am pleased by all we have accomplished in my time here but my two-year old grandson is calling so I am moving on to spend more time with him.”

New CP Board appoints Tobias interim CEO

Canadian Pacific Board of Directors appointed newly-elected Director, Stephen Tobias, as interim CEO. Tobias is a 40-year veteran of the railroad industry and former vice chair and chief operations officer of Norfolk Southern. In 2008, Tobias was awarded Railway Age magazine’s Railroader of the Year award.

Iowa Pacific to operate Santa Cruz branch line

The Regional Transportation Commission for Santa Cruz County in Southern California authorized the selection of Iowa Pacific Holdings to operate on the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line. The RTC will enter into an administration, coordination and license agreement with Iowa Pacific to conduct freight and passenger rail service, as well as maintain the line and provide general commercial insurance.

NCRR, CATS and NS reach agreements for LYNX Blue Line extension

The North Carolina Railroad Company, the Charlotte Area Transit System and Norfolk Southern signed lease, construction and operating agreements for the LYNX Blue Line Extension light-rail project along the North Carolina Railroad corridor. The 2.7-mile section begins near East 12th Street and ends a half mile east of Eastway Drive in Charlotte, N.C.

Ohio commission approves crossing work

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission, authorizing Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to install flashing lights and gates at the County Road 35A (001-913V) grade crossing in Wyandot County.

CP’s Green steps down, five directors will not stand for re-election

Fred Green, president and chief executive officer of Canadian Pacific has stepped down, effective immediately. Green leaves the company following 34 years of dedicated service. In addition, Green has resigned as a director and will not stand for re-election at the company’s shareholder meeting.

TTCI elects three to board

Transportation Technology Center, Inc.’s Board of Directors approved three organizational changes. Firdausi Irani was elected to the position of vice president of business development and officer of TTCI, Robert Florom was elected to the position of vice president of engineering and quality services and officer of TTCI and Michael Sherer was elected to the position of vice president of operations and officer of TTCI.