Washington state transportation commission OKs improvements at two crossings

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved $40,000 from the Grade Crossing Protective Fund (GCPF) to pay for upgrades at grade crossings in Mason and Kitsap Counties. The crossings are located at the intersection of Old State Route 101 (SR-101) and Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad (PSAP) tracks near the city of Shelton and at the intersection of Provost Road and PSAP tracks near the city of Silverdale.

LOSSAN pedestrian safety project installs rail bridge

A portion of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) coastal rail line between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego, Calif., will be shut down as construction crews work to install a new rail bridge for the pedestrian safety undercrossing at Santa Fe Drive in Encinitas.

City of Indianapolis receives $900,000 for rail relocation

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded nearly $900,000 to the city of Indianapolis, Ind., to relocate freight rail traffic from the CSX Transportation mainline that goes through the heart of downtown Indianapolis to the nearby Indianapolis Belt Railroad. This project will separate passenger and freight rail operations, remove 10-12 existing grade crossings and improve safety while decreasing congestion and emissions.

UTU members ratify pacts on EJ&E, TP&W

United Transportation Union-represented employees of Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway have ratified new five-year agreements.

UP to rebuild Shermer Road bridge

Union Pacific plans to replace the current berm/rail system on Shermer Road south of Willow Road in Glenview, Ill., with a permanent bridge. It is expected to be rebuilt within two years.

Chicago-area commuter rail bridge move a success

A commuter rail bridge, believed to be the largest truss bridge ever moved after assembly, was rolled into place over Torrence Avenue near 130th Street in Chicago, Ill.

KCS to expand supplier diversity program

As part of a continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Kansas City Southern recently expanded the scope of its U.S. Supplier Diversity Program Initiative (SDPI) for suppliers, contractors and professional service providers to include small businesses, as well as disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

Freight Policy Council formed

U.S. Department of Transportation formed the Freight Policy Council, which it says will focus on improving the condition and performance of the national freight network to better ensure the ability of the United States to compete in today’s global economy. The council will develop a national intermodal plan for improving the efficiency of freight movement and will work with states to encourage development of a forward-looking state freight strategy.

Columbia & Cowlitz workers ratify first UTU agreement

Train and engine, mechanical and maintenance-of-way employees on Columbia and Cowlitz Railway in Washington state, all represented by the United Transportation Union, have ratified their first agreement since joining the union in October 2011.

Utilities commissions in Ohio, Washington approve crossing improvements

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Cleveland Commercial Railroad to install mast-mounted and cantilevered flashing lights and gates at the E. 156th Street grade crossing in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County.

Former shortline management team behind new international rail business

International Rail Partners LLC was recently formed to pursue the acquisition and operation of freight railroads outside of the United States, as well as other rail-related support businesses worldwide. In addition to its corporate headquarters located in Boca Raton, Fla., the company also has an office in San Francisco, Calif.

BNSF performs maintenance and capacity improvements in Iowa and Illinois

BNSF plans to invest an estimated $154 million on maintenance and capacity improvements in both Iowa and Illinois this year.

KCS names VP Business Solutions and Marketing

Kansas City Southern appointed Carlos Velez to vice president business solutions and marketing. In this position, he leads the business development, customer solutions, market research and sales force performance functions and reports to KCS executive vice president sales and marketing Patrick Ottensmeyer.

Work begins on new WVFA rail entrance

Project 16 of the West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) Project, a new rail entrance at the Port of Vancouver USA in Washington state, will begin work by the end of August and is scheduled to be completed by February 28, 2013.

CN, UTU reach tentative agreement

United Transportation Union-represented yardmasters employed by Canadian National’s Illinois Central Railroad have reached a new tentative agreement following mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board. A March tentative agreement was rejected by the membership, which will now vote, through September 15, on the new tentative pact.

Negotiations were led by UTU International Vice President Paul Tibbit and UTU General Chairperson Doyle Turner.

“This tentative agreement, as with others negotiated with Class 1 railroads, is intended to bring parity in wages, benefits and work rules to the thousands of employees in the railroad industry, along with the many other protections offered by union membership,” Turner said. “The seniority, scope and discipline rules these members now enjoy are what makes union membership valuable.”

Illinois Central connects Chicago with New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., and also reaches Omaha, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa.

Genesis Energy, L.P. develops crude oil unloading terminal along RailAmerica’s Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway

The Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, a RailAmerica Inc. property, is now serving a new crude oil-unloading terminal developed by Genesis Energy, L.P. The Walnut Hill, Fla., terminal, which started service on Monday, August 13, is designed to receive approximately 100-car unit trains of crude oil via the AGR from various shale regions in the U.S. and Canada.

UP performing $7.4 million in Missouri infrastructure improvements

Union Pacific is enhancing Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing $7.4 million in the rail line that runs just west of Jefferson City and Pleasant Hill. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.

FRA says meeting PTC deadline unlikely, recommends extension

The Federal Railroad Administration issued a report titled Positive Train Control Implementation Status, Issues, and Impacts to Congress this month reporting on progress of the railroad carriers in implementing PTC systems.

CSX Intermodal Terminals, EMH&T win engineering excellence award

CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc., and EMH&T have won the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Ohio “2012 Engineering Excellence Outstanding Achievement Award” for the design of CSX Intermodal Terminal’s Northwest Ohio intermodal terminal.

Watco Compliance Service names VP engineering

Carl Hybinette has joined the Watco Compliance Service Team as vice president of engineering. Hybinette will be responsible for the day-to-day compliance and engineering activities at Watco Compliance Services.

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