Wabtec Corporation acquires Track IQ

Wabtec Corporation has acquired the assets of Track IQ, a manufacturer of wayside sensor systems for the global rail industry. Track IQ has annual sales of about $15 million.

UP begins $90 million Port Laredo expansion

Between 2014 and 2040, freight moving in Texas is projected to nearly double, from two billion tons to more than 3.75 billion tons. A state advisory committee warned that such an extreme increase could worsen an already congested state highway system and alternative modes, such as rail, will be more important than ever if the state is to remain economically competitive.

NJDOT leadership change underway

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Commissioner Jamie Fox will make his anticipated transition back to the private sector by the end of the month, when NJDOT Deputy Commissioner Joseph Bertoni will take over as acting commissioner.

P&L trainmen ratify new deal

United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART)-represented trainmen employed by Paducah and Louisville Railway (P&L) have ratified a new five-year agreement.

BNSF installs movable-point diamond in Vancouver, Wash.

BNSF posted video of a project on its website showing employees installing a rare track component to address a bottleneck on the network in Vancouver, Wash.

CSX, DelDOT and Operation Lifesaver promote public safety

CSX, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and Operation Lifesaver worked together this past weekend to improve public safety at railroad crossings and around railroad tracks in Delaware through education and awareness.

UP and BNSF win distinguished Hay Award at AREMA Conference

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) presented the 2015 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence to Union Pacific and BNSF for the Tower 55 Multimodal Improvement Project in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Amtrak’s Chicago Gateway Blue Ribbon Panel offers solutions to rail gridlock

The Amtrak panel appointed to find solutions to rail congestion in the Chicago Gateway recommends co-located dispatchers, improved operating practices and projects to prevent $800 billion in impacts from rail gridlock.

Hurricane Joaquin could be MTA’s biggest test since Sandy

Should Hurricane Joaquin or its remnants track up the east coast, Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s fortification itiative that came into play following the damage Superstorm Sandy wrecked to the system will be put to the test.

Short Line Safety Institute looking for an executive director

The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) is seeking candidates to fill the position of executive director.

Jackson County, KCATA reach funding agreement to purchase Rock Island Corridor

Jackson County and Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) reached a cooperative agreement that will provide the financing necessary for the future acquisition of the 17.7 miles of the Rock Island Corridor in Missouri from Union Pacific.

CP acquires Steelcare Inc.

Canadian Pacific has acquired Steelcare Inc., Canada’s largest steel transload facility, which is located in Hamilton, Ontario.

USDOT unveils Build America Transportation Investment Center

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently unveiled its Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC), which will serve as the single point of contact and coordination for states, municipalities and project sponsors looking to utilize federal transportation expertise, apply for federal transportation credit programs and explore ways to access private capital in public-private partnerships.

PHMSA provides grants to train rural responders on hazmat rail incidents

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is awarding grants totaling $5.9 million to provide hazardous materials training for volunteer or remote emergency responders. The Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) grants will go to three non-profit organizations that will provide training for incidents involving shipments of crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids by rail.

House T&I Committee introduces legislation for three-year PTC deadline extension

The U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership introduced legislation to extend the deadline for U.S. railroads to implement Positive Train Control (PTC).

NCRR, Morrisville to replace Crabtree Creek bridge

The North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) is partnering with the town of Morrisville and will invest $6.9 million to construct a new railroad bridge over Crabtree Creek in Morrisville, N.C., replacing a structure built in 1927.

NS renames Memphis yard in honor of Deb Butler

Norfolk Southern‘s yard in Memphis, Tenn., has a new name and it is “Harris Yard,” in honor of Deborah Harris Butler, the railroad’s executive vice president planning and chief information officer, who is retiring Oct. 1, 2015.

Moorman steps down as executive chairman, NS shifts executive management

Charles Moorman is completing his service as executive chairman of the Board of Directors of Norfolk Southern. Effective Oct. 1, 2015, Moorman will continue to serve as a director and senior advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires until Dec. 31, 2015, when he will retire from both roles.

NCDOT awards contract for grade separation project in Charlotte

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded a contract for the Sugar Creek Road grade separation project, which is designed to improve railroad capacity, efficiency and safety along Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, N.C.

Steps taken at federal level to speed up infrastructure projects

The White House Office of Management and Budget, Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Transportation says the Obama Administration will take steps to accelerate critical infrastructure projects, including an enhanced Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, new guidance to federal agencies establishing metrics for the permitting and environmental review of infrastructure projects.

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