Author: jrood

Sherwood Wakeman appointed BART interim GM

The Bay Area Rapid Transit’s Board of Directors voted 6-3 to appoint a man who retired in July 2007 as BART’s general counsel to be the agency’s interim general manager. Sherwood Wakeman will begin as the interim general manager on April 23, 2011, the day after BART general manager Dorothy Dugger’s resignation becomes effective.

"Mr. Wakeman has complete integrity and a love for BART and will capably guide the agency until a permanent general manager is appointed," BART Board President Bob Franklin said.

Wakeman started with the agency in 1973 as an attorney shortly after train service began. In May of 1987, he became the agency’s general counsel. Wakeman twice served as interim general manager during his 31-year tenure at BART.

"It was important to appoint someone who was outside of, yet familiar with, BART on an interim basis only, to provide stability to the organization during the transition and to not offer a future candidate for the permanent position the unfair advantage of incumbency," BART Board Member Joel Keller said.

Rep. McNerney introduces bill to create new rail project for Altamont Corridor

Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA) introduced legislation to help fund the Altamont Corridor Rail Project, which will expand rail services between the Central Valley and the Bay Area, Calif. H.R. 1504, the Altamont Corridor Rail Improvement Act, invests in a project that will serve thousands of people, create jobs and reduce traffic along some of the region’s most heavily traveled highways.

"The Altamont Corridor Rail Project is an important part of improving both our area’s economic future and our quality of life," said Rep. McNerney.

Currently, the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) runs weekday trains from the Central Valley to the Bay Area and shares tracks with freight trains and Amtrak. Use of these shared tracks limits travel speed and adds delays to the ACE system. The Altamont Corridor Rail Project establishes a dedicated track for passenger rail services. This 85-mile corridor has the potential to carry 35,000 people each way once completed and could cut commute time between Stockton and San Jose, Calif., in half.

H.R. 1504, the legislation introduced by Rep. McNerney, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to provide up to $450 million in grants over the next decade for preliminary engineering, final design and construction of the Altamont Corridor Rail Project.

Scott Haggerty, Alameda County Supervisor, and Brent Ives, Mayor of Tracy, both of who also serve on the San Joaquin County Rail Commission, offered words of support for the project and Rep. McNerney’s legislation.

"The Altamont Corridor Rail Project is a key part of expanding our region’s transportation network, working hand in hand with BART improvements and the development of high speed rail," said Haggerty.

"This project is vitally important to our region and for Northern California in general," said Ives. "Establishing a dedicated rail line that provides service between San Joaquin County and the Bay Area will decrease travel time for commuters and stimulate economic growth in our area. I appreciate Rep. McNerney’s leadership in introducing legislation that will provide funding needed to help make this project a reality."

H.R. 1504 is now expected to be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for further consideration.

CSXT

Mike McMaster has been promoted to assistant vice president of Strategic Development and Execution, reporting to John West, vice president-engineering. He is a 36-year railroad veteran with the last 14 as a CSXT employee.

Kelly Piccirillo has been promoted to assistant chief engineer of Capital Projects replacing Ricky Johnson who was promoted to chief engineer MOW in March 2011.

Greg Mellish moves from the position of division engineer Albany to the assistant chief engineer of Inspection Process Engineering in Jacksonville reporting to McMaster.

Leo Kreisel will report to McMaster as director of engineering standards.

"I am very pleased to welcome Kelly, Greg, Mike and Leo to the leadership team," said West. "They have already proven their abilities so I am confident they will be an asset to the Engineering Department and successful in their new roles."

 

RSSI names new executive director

RSSI has appointed Michael Drudy to executive director of the Board of Directors for RSSI. Drudy is filling the vacancy of Donald Remaley who retired in February after 32 years of service to RSSI as both a board member and executive director.

Drudy brings more than 43 years of experience in the railroad industry with him to RSSI. He started his career in 1967 as a BRS signalman with the Pennsylvania Railroad in Richmond, Ind., and worked with the Penn Central, Conrail and CSX Transportation before joining the sales and marketing department of Safetran/Invensys in 2001.

 

Virginia DOT releases statewide multimodal freight study

The Virginia Department of Transportation completed the Virginia Statewide Multimodal Freight Study – Phase II, which presents findings and recommendations to improve freight movement across the commonwealth.

"This study has enabled us to identify the projects and develop strategies that are most important to moving nearly $2 trillion worth of freight annually throughout Virginia," said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton. "The resulting improvements to our transportation infrastructure would substantially enhance our ability to move freight that supports approximately $350 billion of Virginia’s annual gross state product, contributing significantly to jobs and our economy."

The Virginia Statewide Multimodal Freight Study (Phase II) consists of the following:

• Statewide freight study – Identifies projects from all modes (rail, port, airport and highway) that are most important to freight movement, including both programmed near-term projects and potential long-term projects. It also includes potential policies, actions and initiatives that supplement capital projects.

• Multimodal freight corridor and subregion profiles – Provides concise descriptions of the geography, economic structure, commodity flows, transportation facilities and potential capital projects within each of the 11 multimodal freight corridors and four subregions in Virginia.

• Potential freight strategies – Strategies to be considered have been proposed in several areas, including business information and outreach, intelligent transportation systems, transportation system/demand management, freight planning and funding.


"The findings and recommendations in this report will help shape an effective freight transportation policy," added Connaughton. "We need to work closely with the freight industry to find a comprehensive solution and accurately project the impact or value of each transportation improvement project versus another."

The study was completed under the direction of the Secretary of Transportation’s Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment. The office was established in 2002 to encourage the coordination of multimodal and intermodal planning across the various transportation modes within the commonwealth. Phase I of the study was completed in 2007.

Executive summaries and complete reports for both Phase I and II are now available on The Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment website at http://www.vtrans.org/.

Axion to expand manufacturing facility

Axion International, producer of industrial building products and railroad ties made from 100 percent recycled plastic, will be implementing various expansion initiatives that will effectively double the capacity for Axion’s Recycled Structural Composites (RSC).

Due to the increasing number of contracts and market demand, Axion requested that the expansion at its manufacturing partner, Ultra-Poly Corporation, be implemented and it is expected to be completed by early May. As part of the expansion, the manufacturing facility will be implementing longer worker shifts, adding two additional molding machines, as well as dedicated bale-breakers and grinders to process the incoming bundles of raw recycled plastic material more efficiently for Axion.

"Expanding our manufacturing capabilities has been a major focus for Axion over the past several months," said Steve Silverman, Axion’s president and CEO. "With our sizable recent influx of new domestic and international orders from countries such as Canada, Morocco and Australia, we are quickly adapting to our current sales orders and expect to be increasing our production requirements even further to meet the growing demand."

"We are pleased to work with Axion as we implement various capacity enhancements for their manufacturing process at our facility," said Alan LaFiura, co-owner of Ultra-Poly Corporation. "We pride ourselves on being a ‘one stop’ source for virtually all of our clients’ plastics needs, and look forward to working more with Axion as their technology grows in popularity in the United States and countries around the world."

 

Siemens receives $83 million light rail order from Houston METRO

Houston METRO has awarded Siemens Industry, Inc., an $83-million contract to build and deliver nineteen S70 light rail vehicles including spare parts, training and manuals. The vehicles will be manufactured from start to finish at Siemens’ rail vehicle manufacturing plant in Sacramento, Calif.

Houston METRO currently has 16 stations and eighteen S70 light rail vehicles in operation, with an average daily ridership of 34,600.

"Siemens is proud to provide these light rail vehicles, built right here in the United States and using sustainable manufacturing practices," said Oliver Hauck, president, Mobility Division, Siemens Industry, Inc. "Light rail is a zero-emission transportation option, and it takes cars off the crowded roadways."

The new rail cars will be delivered beginning in October 2012. The S70 has a maximum operational speed of 66 miles per hour. Its low floor design enables passengers to board the train at street level, providing quicker and easier access for people of all abilities.

 

CN acquires 1,000-plus domestic containers

CN has acquired more than 1,000 new domestic containers to better serve manufacturers and distributors of grocery and consumer goods in domestic markets across Canada and grow the railway’s participation in the segment.

Roughly 80 percent of the new containers are heated, ensuring year-round quality service for temperature-sensitive goods; the balance of the boxes are standard dry containers.

Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of CN, said: "CN’s intermodal service is more cost effective than truck while offering customers truck-like transit times and a lower carbon footprint. CN has established a growing business transporting temperature-sensitive goods in long-haul markets across Canada. Our continued investment in infrastructure will benefit the reliability of the supply chains of our grocery, consumer goods and manufacturing customers. Together, we want to grow with them."

Approximately 540 containers will be used to renew CN’s domestic container fleet, while another 520 new containers will increase CN’s overall domestic container fleet to almost 6,000 units.

Craig McLaughlin, vice-president, supply chain, for Kraft Canada, said:"At Kraft Canada, it is important that we work with suppliers capable of investing in their infrastructure in support of enhancing service and enabling our growth. CN’s continuing effort to listen to us as a valued customer and taking action is a key component of the foundation for our strong partnership."

Jens Grellmann, manager, transportation services for Hopewell Distribution Services Inc., which handles warehousing and distribution for Campbell Company of Canada, said: "CN’s acquisition of a significant number of additional containers, specifically heated equipment, will help our supply chain. The new containers will improve equipment supply, allow us to achieve many of our cost-saving initiatives and generate growth opportunities for both companies."

CN’s domestic intermodal business is focused on delivering truck-competitive, cost-effective service. CN Intermodal offers shippers an approximate 24-hour rail advantage from central Canada to Western Canada. At the same time, CN Intermodal is competitive with single-truck-driver service between central Canada and Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver markets.

 

Wabtec signs contract to build locomotives for CBH Group of Australia

Wabtec Corporation’s MotivePower subsidiary has signed a contract to build 22 new locomotives for CBH Group, handler and transporter of grain in Australia. The locomotives are scheduled to be delivered in 2012.

Under the contract, MotivePower will build a combination of standard- and narrow-gauge locomotives that will be among the most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly models in Australia. The locomotives will include components from a number of other Wabtec divisions.

Albert J. Neupaver, Wabtec’s president and chief executive officer, said, "This project will meet our customer’s need for more-efficient locomotives, and will position Wabtec for similar opportunities in Australia in the future. Wabtec has had a meaningful presence in Australia for 20 years, and we continue to expand our operations in this important rail market."

The CBH Group is one of Australia’s leading grain organizations, with operations from grain storage, handling and transport to marketing, shipping and processing. The group receives, on average, 10 million tons of grain each year.

CBH Operations General Manager Colin Tutt said, "The tender process was very competitive with six companies from around the world bidding for the construction task. We are confident that MotivePower’s expertise and experience in building locomotives for freight rail will deliver Western Australia growers the best outcome. MotivePower’s locomotives were the best option for the task of moving grain on our rail lines, have good fuel economy and meet U.S. Tier 2 emissions standards. The locomotives will provide better operational and environmental efficiencies and ultimately greater productivity, as well as being much safer than the existing fleet."

 

Two NRC members pass away

In a letter addressed to NRC members, Chuck Baker, NRC president wrote:

NRC Members and friends,

With deep sadness, I write to let you know that two members of the NRC family, Mark Meyer and his wife Holly, passed away on Friday night April 8 after being involved in a fatal traffic accident in Texas.

Mark and Holly, residents of Weatherford, Texas, were riding tandem on a motorcycle on FM-156 near Alliance Airport, north of Fort Worth, Texas, and close to the Texas Motor Speedway. Around 10 p.m., their motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer cab truck that was making a u-turn on the road.

Mark was the Equipment Director for Balfour Beatty Rail, based in Jacksonville, Fla. Mark was a nationally renowned expert in rail construction and maintenance equipment, and he was actively involved in many industry issues. Mark served exceptionally well as Chairman of the NRC Equipment Auction Committee last year, when the auction was held at Balfour Beatty’s facility in Washington, Penn.

Mark joined Balfour Beatty Rail in 2008 from BNSF, where he worked for 34 years managing railway equipment maintenance, repairs and operations.

Mark’s presence, his personal and professional contributions, his integrity, his competence, and his friendship, will be deeply missed.

We will continue to keep the Meyer family and all of Mark and Holly’s friends and colleagues in our thoughts throughout this very difficult time.

CN, Earth Day Canada sign five-year partnership agreement

Canadian National and Earth Day Canada have announced a five-year partnership agreement under which EDC will support a CN program to encourage environmental values and initiatives among CN employees across North America.

Working at key North American CN offices and yard facilities, the program will:

• Motivate, encourage and enable employees to embrace environmental stewardship and support a cleaner environment;

• Leverage CN and EDC environmental resources, best-practices and programs to increase employee action in yards and office efficiency, reduce natural resource consumption and waste, and

• Recognize and celebrate sustainability gains in the workplace.

"At CN, we are fully committed to reducing our impact on the environment," said Paul Miller, CN’s chief safety and sustainability officer. "Energy efficiency has been a key element of our business model for years, positioning us to increase productivity and reduce energy consumption. We will harness EDC’s support and expertise to enable CN employees to expand their environmental understanding and initiatives to help reduce the impact of local workplaces on the environment."

Jed Goldberg, president of Earth Day Canada, said: "We are thrilled to support CN in their conservation efforts. Efforts on the part of a large sector-leader like CN have the potential to substantially reduce the environmental impact of the transportation service industry and to act as a model that other corporations and communities can emulate."

 

Watco has successful start to Autauga Northern Railroad

Watco Transportation Services, LLC., based in Pittsburg, Kan., has announced the successful start-up of the Autauga Northern Railroad (AUT), which began serving Customers on Saturday, April 9. The AUT is Watco’s third railroad in Alabama continuing a strong partnership with both the state and its busi¬nesses.

In an agreement signed between Watco and Norfolk Southern, Watco holds a 20-year lease with a 10-year renewal option to operate 43.62 miles of track running from Maplesville, Ala., to Autauga Creek, Ala. The line handles ap¬proximately 9,000 annual carloads and will be operated by the AUT on a six-days-a-week schedule. Watco has a long history with this line segment, having provided contract switching services for the AUT’s major customer, Interna¬tional Paper in Prattville, Ala., for more than 20 years.

"This is an exciting opportunity to expand important relationships with our customers," proclaimed Stefan Loeb, vice president of business development. "We look forward to serving the growing freight rail needs of our long-time customer International Paper. Watco is also proud to strengthen its relationship with the NS and continually provide quality transportation value to all its customers in the area."

Watco will invest approxi¬mately $2.39 million in the first year of operations to upgrade the track to Class 2 standards (25 mph). The upgrade will include spending $1.792 million on ties, $443,000 on ballast and $150,000 on bridge repairs.

"Our capital investment commitment shows our belief in AUT’s customers, the state of Alabama, and the continued positive trends of the rail industry," said Loeb. "Improving the infrastructure makes our operations safer and more efficient, but most importantly, the improvements are being made for the benefit of our customers."

MBTA, MBCR to place quiet cars on all lines

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company have decided to expand the Quiet Car pilot program to all commuter rail lines on a permanent basis.

"The MBTA is pleased that the Quiet Car pilot program has provided customers with an enhanced experience onboard commuter rail," said MBTA General Manager Richard Davey. "We are committed to providing customers with the best service possible and programs like Quiet Car go a long way towards fulfilling that obligation."

The pilot program began as a 90-day trial on the Fitchburg and Franklin lines at the start of the new year. Customers gave overwhelmingly positive feedback, with nearly nine out of 10 customers suggesting that the rest of the system would benefit from having quiet cars on their trains. A similar percentage urged MBCR and MBTA to continue offering the service on their lines.

"MBCR is encouraged by the initial customer feedback and will work closely with the MBTA to provide the Quiet Car program to all of our customers," said MBCR General Manager Hugh Kiley.

The program is the result of initial surveys conducted by the MBTA and MBCR in 2010, which indicated significant demand for the service.

Quiet Car service is available on peak-hour trains only. The car closest the locomotive will be designated the quiet car. Customers using it will be asked to refrain from cell phone use; keep pagers, cell phones, laptop and PDA sounds off or on vibrate; as well as keeping voices to a whisper. Riders seated in a quiet car who need to use the phone will be required to move to another car for the duration of their call. Conductors will make normal announcements during the trip. Conductors will be authorized to lift quiet car restriction during times of disruption or severe overcrowding.

Wyoming DOT to review quiet zones

Diagnostic reviews will begin this summer at railroad crossings around the state of Wyoming to determine what improvements are needed to create railroad quiet zones under a program funded by the 2011 Legislature.

Lawmakers appropriated $5 million for improvements at crossings in Wyoming communities most affected by train noise. Those communities were identified by a study completed in 2009.

That study looked at all communities with a population of more than 100 that have more than two trains passing through every day. It identified the top priorities as the Cheyenne Union Pacific corridor, Gillette, the Cheyenne BSNF corridor, Laramie, Torrington, Casper, Sheridan, Newcastle, Evanston, Lusk, Rawlins and Wheatland.

"This is both a quality of life and a safety issue," said Gregg Fredrick, WYDOT’s assistant chief engineer."The community is going to benefit from not having the trains sound their horns at each crossing, but the safety at these crossings will not be diminished."

Among the solutions that will be considered are installing directional wayside horns, two-quadrant gates with medians or four-quadrant gate systems. Those improvements eliminate the need for locomotives to blow their horns as they approach railroad crossings.

Where directional wayside horns are installed, the approach of a train triggers quieter horns directed specifically at traffic on the roads that cross the track. Where more elaborate gate systems and median barriers are installed, no horn is required to sound because the gates prevent traffic from crossing the tracks when a train is in the area.

The 2009 study recommends wayside horns be installed at more than half of the 84 railroad crossings in the top-priority communities. At a third of the crossings it recommends installation of two-quadrant gates with median barriers to prevent vehicles from driving around the gates. At four crossings the study recommends installation of four crossing gates to prevent traffic from crossing the tracks in any direction in any lane.

The diagnostic reviews to decide what improvements should be made will be completed by teams made up of representatives of WYDOT, the railroads, the Federal Railroad Administration and the local community.

Once the reviews are completed and local and railroad agreements are in place, the contracts for the design and construction of the improvements will be awarded.

NCDOT performs work on five crossings

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division has made safety improvements at railroad crossings in the Iredell County town of Mooresville, the Buncombe County city of Canton, the Jackson County community of Balsam, the Stanly County city of Albemarle and the Randolph County city of Archdale.

Mooresville:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the intersection of Williams Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $245,796 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent funding from Mooresville. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between Mooresville and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Buncombe:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Old Wilson Road and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $248,699 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Balsam:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Old Balsam Depot and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $247,643 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

Albemarle:
NCDOT revised crossing signals and installed gates at the intersection of Mountain View Church Road and the Winston Salem Southbound Railroad tracks. This $198,590 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the state and the Winston Salem Southbound Railway Company.

Archdale:
NCDOT installed crossing signals and gates at the intersection of Johnson Street and the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. This $211,380 improvement project was paid for with 90 percent federal funding and 10 percent state funding. Maintenance for the project will be divided equally between the N.C. Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

All five projects are a part of a comprehensive statewide NCDOT program to enhance highway safety by adding or improving signals and gates at public railroad crossings. Automatic warning devices are now in place at more than 2,400 of North Carolina’s over 4,100 public at-grade crossings

 

UP names 79 Pinnacle Award winners for chemical transportation safety

Union Pacific Railroad named 79 companies as annual Pinnacle Award recipients for chemical transportation safety. The award annually recognizes UP customers that implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and achieved a rate of zero non-accident releases for shipments of regulated hazardous materials.

"Chemical transportation safety is critical and this is Union Pacific’s opportunity to acknowledge and thank our customers for their continuing efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars," said Diane Duren, vice president and general manager – chemicals. "Rail is the safest way to haul the chemicals that Americans use every day, whether it is chlorine for drinking water or fertilizer for our farms that help feed the world.

"We work closely with our customers to help prevent a release during transit of chemical shipments and jointly demonstrate a commitment to the safe transportation of hazardous materials."

The award program, which began in 1996, is open to all Union Pacific chemical and petrochemical customers. Criteria include safe-loading techniques, securement of shipments and zero NARs. A non-accident release is an unintentional release of hazardous material during transportation not caused by an accident or train derailment. NARs consist of leaks, splashes and other releases from improperly secured or defective valves, fittings and tank shells and also include improper venting from safety relief devices.

Non-accident releases of hazardous material declined more than 16 percent on UP’s network from 2003 – 2010, due in part to increased inspections by the railroad’s hazardous materials safety field personnel and customers adhering to the Pinnacle Award criteria.

To view the 2011 Pinnacle Award recipients please visit:
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/safety/2011/0411_pinnacle.shtml

McHugh defines five priorities of Amtrak for surface transportation bill

"The development of intercity passenger rail and Amtrak’s national system should be afforded a significant role in the nation’s federal surface transportation programs," said Joe McHugh, Amtrak vice president for government affairs and corporate communications in a written testimony recently provided to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads.

Amtrak believes the rail section of the new federal surface transportation bill now being developed by Congress should include these top five priorities:

• provide dedicated, multi-year funding for intercity and high-speed rail;
• establish a national investment strategy;
• create a clear and leading role for Amtrak;
• ensure coordinated corridor planning and project execution; and
• address liability and insurance issues.

McHugh added that "If our nation’s intercity passenger rail system – and the transportation system of the United States as a whole – is to be developed and sustained, it is imperative that Amtrak and other federal rail programs be integrated into a comprehensive and truly multi-modal surface transportation authorization bill."

RailAmerica to acquire three Alabama railroads

RailAmerica, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of three short-line freight railroads in the state of Alabama for a total purchase price of $12.7 million. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2011 and is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. The three railroads, known individually as the Three Notch Railroad (THNR), the Wiregrass Central Railroad (WGCR) and the Conecuh Valley Railroad (COEH), are currently owned by affiliates of Gulf and Ohio Railways, Inc.

The Three Notch Railroad includes 35 miles of track connecting Georgiana and Andalusia, Ala.; the Wiregrass Central Railroad is a 20-mile railroad that runs between Waterford and Enterprise, Ala.; and the Conecuh Valley Railroad is a 15-mile railroad linking Troy and Goshen, Ala. Each of the three lines interchanges with CSX Transportation and serves customers shipping primarily agricultural and manufactured products. Collectively, the three lines hauled approximately 6,000 carloads of freight during the fiscal year ended 2010.

RailAmerica President and CEO John Giles said, "We are pleased to add these high-quality assets to our existing Alabama rail franchise. Collectively, the railroads have a solid customer base as well as a number of opportunities for further growth. Additionally, the railroads are clustered in close proximity to our existing Alabama operations, which we expect to create significant operating efficiencies. We look forward to partnering with new and existing customers on the line and with the local community to continue growing business on these lines."

Giles added, "We continue to have a strong balance sheet to take advantage of acquisitions that complement our core business. We approach this process with a disciplined focus on investment criteria designed to generate attractive returns and operational synergies."

For the next twelve months, RailAmerica anticipates these railroads will generate approximately $3.7 million in revenue, $1.2 million in operating income and $0.7 million in depreciation and amortization. RailAmerica intends to use cash on hand to finance the purchase.

 

 

Chadron railroad can begin rebuild with $4.9M DOT grant agreement

The City of Chadron, Neb. and the Nebraska Northwest Railroad will soon begin rebuilding its tracks and rail yard thanks to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for a $4.9 million grant.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II program will be matched by $1.2 million from the City of Chadron.

"Under President Obama’s leadership, projects like this one are creating jobs, reinvigorating the economy and building a world-class transportation network that our businesses need in order to compete now and continue to grow in the future," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The project, which will lead to improved freight mobility and safety in the area, includes the replacement of switches, ties, rail and ballast on 7.5 miles of main line track and 1.2 miles within the Chadron Rail Yard. It will rehabilitate an existing car storage track and upgrade 22 timber bridges. When complete, the improved track will allow the railroad to accommodate the standard 286,000-pound cars used by regional construction and building industry and agricultural industry shippers.

"This project will boost our economic competitiveness making it easier and less expensive for businesses to ship their products," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo. "This targeted investment will also increase safety for railroad workers and improve railroad reliability through the replacement of aging infrastructure."

DOT moves $300M in grants from “award to obligation”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced more than $300 million in obligated grants that will enable the expansion of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors from coast-to-coast.

Work can now begin on rail projects that will create new manufacturing and construction jobs, spur economic development in corridors and, in the long-term, develop a national transportation network with world-class railways.

"We have heard the call of the American people to build the safest, fastest and most efficient ways to move people and goods," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Thanks to the leadership of President Obama, communities across the country are already feeling the economic benefits of rail and today we take another step forward, bringing new jobs to our citizens. Through high-speed rail, we are helping America win the future."

The Federal Railroad Administration has been working collaboratively with states to move grants from "award to obligation," ensuring high-speed intercity passenger rail projects can get underway and put American people to work. The more than $300 million invested and released to states this week includes:

California Department of Transportation – Four projects totaling more than $22 million. A $13 million grant will refurbish 15 locomotives and upgrade engines to reduce emissions. An $8.2 million investment will go for several coach cars on the San Joaquin Corridor and Capitol Corridor. $950,000 will provide for preliminary engineering and environmental work on the Pacific Surfliner to Ortega. And $200,000 will provide for planning of the Pacific Surfliner route from San Diego to Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo.

Connecticut – A $40 million investment to upgrade the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail corridor will provide for 10 miles of double track to be installed on the Amtrak-owned, New Haven-Springfield corridor. This will help to decrease delays and improve travel time and reliability for both freight and passenger service along the corridor.

Maryland/Baltimore Tunnel – For one of the largest choke points in the Northeast Corridor, $60 million will fund a preliminary engineering and environmental analysis to study the replacement and augmentation of the 100-year old B&P Tunnel on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. This would seek to eliminate a major bottleneck in performance and reliability for the NEC.

Missouri – Three projects totaling $3.8 million. A $500,000 grant to develop Missouri’s State Rail Plan, establishing priorities that enhance passenger and freight rail services. A $1.4 million investment will improve 13 highway-rail at-grade crossings between Sedalia and Kansas City. $1.9 million will provide for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis to design and construct a second main track from Lee’s Summit to Pleasant Hill delivering faster speeds and increased reliability.

New Jersey/Portal Bridge – This 100-year-old, bridge is one of the most heavily traveled bridges in the country. $38.5 million will provide for the final design of the new bridge to alleviate delays to Northeast Corridor passenger service, increasing capacity and improving reliability.

Washington – A $145 million investment will fund rail corridor improvements and new equipment for the Cascades route from Vancouver to Blain. This will ultimately provide more frequent and efficient passenger rail service between Portland and Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority – $600,000 will provide for a study to examine the feasibility of expanding the Downeaster line with increased service frequency, higher speeds and reduced travel times. The study will also examine expanding the proposed service extension to Brunswick, Maine, as well as Auburn, Maine.

New York – A $3.3 million investment will add track and rail capacity in the congested Upstate New York area for Amtrak’s Adirondack and Ethan Allen Express services near the Village of Ballston Spa.

West Virginia -$1 million will create a State rail plan to establish strategies for rail services that benefit the public and businesses, while guiding priorities for the State’s investments in rail.