RTA board approves $3 billion 2017 regional transit operating budget

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board of directors has adopted the 2017 operating budgets for the RTA, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, totaling $3 billion. 

 

Metra enters three-year partnership with Uber

Metra joined the likes of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Dec. 14 when the commuter railroad announced a three-year agreement with Uber, which will be the agency’s “official rideshare partner.”

 

STB adopts final rule for board-initiated investigations

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced Dec. 14 its adoption of a final rule to establish procedures for board-initiated investigations regarding railroad issues of national or regional influence pursuant to Section 12 of the STB’s Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Reauthorization Act), Pub. L. No. 114-110, 129 Stat. 2228 (2015).

 

Transit expert Art Lloyd dies at 91

Art Lloyd, a long-time board member of the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) and the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) that oversees Caltrain, died Dec. 4 in his California home at 91 years old.

 

CP appoints Jane L. Peverett to board of directors

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) has appointed Jane L. Peverett to its board of directors, effective Dec. 13, 2016. 

 

Union Pacific to replace century-old Steel Bridge electrical system

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) will soon replace the electrical system on its Portland-based Steel Bridge to improve lift bridge redundancies and enhance electrical system access for bridge maintenance staff.

 

MTA’s eTix ticketing app sales surpass $47 million since August launch

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) eTix mobile ticketing smartphone application has seen a successful launch period since its August launch.

 

SEPTA, BLET, SMART-UTU join FRA close call reporting system

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), SMART United Transportation Union-Local 61 (SMART-UTU) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) signed an Implementing Memorandum of Understanding (IMOU) on Dec. 12 to join the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).

 

GWI UK to acquire Pentalver Transport

GWI UK Acquisition Company Limited, a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI), has entered an agreement with a subsidiary of APM Terminals (A P Møller-Maersk A/S) to acquire Pentalver Transport Limited for approximately £87 million (approximately US$110 million).

 

MTA to make Sandy-related repairs to Clark St. Tube

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will begin the next round of Superstorm Sandy-related repairs in spring 2017 with weekend closures of the Clark St. Tube to fix integral components.

 

Ontario providing CA$334M in gas tax funds for transit improvements

Transit systems throughout Ontario are set to undergo improvements in 2017 with CA$334.5 million (US$254.4 million) being allocated to 99 communities through provincial gas tax funding.

 

Canada establishes environmental review panel for CN’s Milton Logistics Hub project

Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and Dr. Scott Streiner, chair of the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), announced this week that a three-member review panel has been formed to review the proposed Milton Logistics Hub Project in Ontario.

 

GE Transportation advances ‘smart rail’ push with Iders acquisition

GE Transportation (GE) has announced the company’s acquisition of Iders Incorporated, an electronic product design and manufacturing company catering to the rail industry.

 

World’s longest rail tunnel ready to begin service

The world’s longest rail tunnel, Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, will launch service Dec. 11. The milestone project will transport passengers through the tunnel running below the Alps in less than 20 minutes, representatives say.

 

Texas Central names new CEO

The Texas Central Partners, LLC (Texas Central) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Carlos F. Aguilar as the new CEO of Texas Central and its subsidiaries, effective Dec. 12.

 

voestalpine Nortrak, KamPa to partner on rail damper and noise control components

KamPa International Inc. (KamPa) and voestalpine Nortrak Inc. (Nortrak) have announced a new partnership to supply North American freight and passenger railroads with noise control components and rail dampers.

 

Modjeski and Masters awarded engineering contract for St. Louis Union Station Tunnel

Bridge engineering firm Modjeski and Masters has been awarded a contract to complete engineering services needed for the rehabilitation and replacement of old portions of MetroTransit’s Union Station Tunnel in St. Louis, Mo.

 

Vehicle testing begins on Ottawa’s Confederation Line

Ottawa’s O-Train Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project team celebrated a milestone last week as its first light-rail vehicle (LRV) assembled in Canada’s capital city began testing on the track between the system’s Blair and Cyrville stations.

 

USDOT awards $300M for UTC grants

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced Dec. 5 that $300.3 million in grants will go to 32 university transportation centers (UTCs) to accelerate research and education programs dealing with the county’s transportation challenges. 

 

FTA says “significant work” remains to improve WMATA

Despite the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (WMATA) recently announced safety enhancement initiatives, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Executive Director Matthew Welbes is calling for more heavy lifting on the transportation authority’s end.

 

LOAD MORE