Engineering Partnership, Local First Nations to Mitigate Wetland Geotechnical Issues

With roughly 86,486,883 acres of wetland in Ontario, officials face unique issues when managing the operation and maintenance of railway lines.

The city of Decatur will receive a $10 million grant through the Illinois Competitive Freight Program for a grade separation project that will build a Brush College Road overpass at Faries Parkway and Norfolk Southern. (NS Photograph)

Illinois Awards $200MM in Freight Mobility Grants

In Illinois, 22 port, rail and highway projects will share $200 million in grant funding to address bottlenecks, increase mobility, and improve the supply chain up and down the state, Gov. JB

Construction on the Foothill Gold Line light rail project from Glendora to Pomana, Calif., is more than two-thirds’ complete. (Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Photograph)

LA Metro’s Foothill Gold Line Project Marks Milestone

All reconstruction work requiring long-term street closures is now finished for the 21 at-grade crossings along Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LA Metro) Foothill Gold Line light rail project. This is

Conrail is receiving a $5 million grant from the NJDOT for its Garden State Secondary Fluidity Improvements-Phase 1 project. (Conrail Photograph)

MnDOT, NJDOT Award $35MM in Freight Rail Improvement Grants

The departments of transportation in Minnesota (MnDOT) and New Jersey (NJDOT) are investing $6.95 million and $27.8 million, respectively, in projects that will improve freight rail infrastructure.

Alberta Explores Reinstating Shortline Rail in Oyen

The Alberta Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 23 with Oyen Regional Rail Company, Special Areas and Oyen Development Corporation and Canada Infrastructure Bank to support their assessment of whether the rail line between Oyen and Lyalta should be restored.

ICC Approves Annual Crossing Safety Improvement Program; Greenlights Automatic Warning Device Projects

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) announced March 24 that it has approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program (FY 2024-2028) to implement highway-rail safety projects at local roads across the state. More than $476 million dollars from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund (GCPF) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) will help communities and railroads pay for improvements at 424 crossing locations.

MnDOT: $151.4MM Needed to Renew, Expand Minnesota’s Freight Rail System

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has released its 2023-2028 Forecast, focusing on the $151.4 million in funding required to go toward planned local projects needing state support for rail and bridge upgrades, new industrial parks and job creation.

California Allocates $37M to San Diego Transportation Infrastructure Repairs 

The California Transportation Commission announced March 24 that millions of dollars in state funds will be directed to local San Diego governments to restore transportation infrastructure.

South Dakota Approves $6M for Sisseton-Milbank Rail Line

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 16 into law last week, authorizing $6.25 million in state funds for the restoration of a railroad line from Milbank to Sisseton. The appropriation is conditional upon receiving federal grant funds for rail line rehabilitation.

rail bridges

FRA: Safety Device, Human Error Caused Washington Derailment

A safety device intended to prevent trains from tumbling into Puget Sound forced a BNSF Railway train off the tracks last week, causing 3,100 gallons of diesel fuel to spill in Washington state, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association

Watco’s Stefan Loeb Moving to Norfolk Southern, Matt Walsh Named ASLRRA Board Chairman

WASHINGTON –The American and Short Line Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) today announced the progression of Matt Walsh, Executive Vice President, Global Corporate Development, Genesee & Wyoming Railroad Services Inc., to fill the ASLRRA Board Chairman position vacated by Watco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Stefan Loeb, who has accepted a position at Norfolk Southern Railway.  Walsh currently holds the position of Vice Chairman for the ASLRRA.

TSB: Unstable Track Subgrade Indicated in 2020 Derailment Near Ignace, Ontario

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has released its investigative report (R20W0102) regarding the 2020 derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway Company freight train near Ignace, Ontario.

Watch: CSX Completes Nahunta Connector

JACKSONVILLE–CSX is delivering more fluid operations in Georgia thanks to a new line the railroad recently installed to enhance operations.

Florida East Coast Railway Requests To Amend PTC System

Florida East Coast Railway submitted a request for amendment to its Positive Train Control Safety Plan on March 7. The FRA published a notice and is seeking public feedback on the railroad’s RFA to its PTC safety plan because the request could entail a request for FRA approval of planned major modifications to a FRA-certified positive train control system.

MxV Rail: Registration Now Open for 28th Annual AAR Research Review

MxV Rail announced March 20 that registration is now open for the 28th Annual Association of American Railroads (AAR) Research Review, which will take place in Pueblo, Colo., June 26-28, 2023, bringing together MxV Rail experts, leaders from Class I and short line railroads, university students, and suppliers from around the world.

OCTA Identifies Long-Term Rail Stabilization Efforts for San Clemente

The Orange County Transportation Authority announced this week it made a crucial step in identifying ways to protect the coastal rail line that runs through south Orange County.

Altamont Corridor Express Rail Expansion Faces Two-Year Delay

The Altamont Corridor Express’ expansion into Stanislaus and Sacramento counties is expected to be delayed by two years.

Illinois Commerce Commission Approves St. Clair County Highway-Rail Safety Project 

A Stipulated Agreement requiring new automatic warning devices at a highway-rail crossing near New Athens in St. Clair County has been approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

CSX Train Derails, Injuring 3 Workers In New River Gorge

A CSX train derailed during the early morning hours of March 8 in West Virginia’s New River Gorge. No life-threatening injuries or hazardous materials were reported.

Ports of Indiana Commission Approves $20M in New Projects Amid Gains

Ports of Indiana handled 11.9 million tons of cargo in 2022, a 6% rise from 2021 and 42% more than in 2020. The year-end totals were announced March 9 at the Ports of Indiana’s first quarter commission meeting.

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