Tri-City Railroad Company names VP, COO
Tri-City Railroad Company hired John Miller as vice president and chief operating officer.
Shortline/Regional
WSDOT seeks comment on PCC rail system plan
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) seeks public input on a plan for prioritized improvements to the Palouse and Coulee City (PCC) Rail system in eastern Washington. Once finalized, the plan will be used to help develop future funding, policy and planning goals.
Senate bill to extend shortline tax credit introduced
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, which would extend the shortline railroad track maintenance tax credit that expired in 2014.
Quebec government eyes purchase of eastern shortline
The Quebec government has laid out a plan to buy the Gaspé Railway Company line between Matapédia and Gaspé in the eastern part of the province. Ownership of the line currently belongs to four county municipalities that are served by the line.
NCDOT to fund 15 freight and crossing safety projects in 2015
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has programmed approximately $3.7 million to fund 15 projects across the state through the Freight Rail and Rail Crossing Safety Improvement program for Fiscal Year 2015.
GWI to acquire Freightliner Group
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. has agreed to acquire approximately 95 percent of the shares of Freightliner Group Limited (Freightliner) from Arcapita and other shareholders for cash consideration of approximately $755 million and to assume approximately $13 million in net debt and capitalized leases.
OmniTRAX affiliate acquires Illinois line
Peru Industrial Railroad, LLC, a managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc., is purchasing the Peru Rail Line from the city of Peru, Ill. Peru Industrial Railroad will run freight service on three miles of track starting immediately. Terms were not disclosed.
NCDOT to hold public meeting on Murphy Branch Rail Line reactivation
The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold a public meeting to review results of the recent study of reactivating the Murphy Branch rail line between Andrews and Murphy (A2M- Rail Reactivation Study).
Patriot Rail names new CFO and VP sales
Patriot Rail Company LLC promoted Jennifer Whiteman to chief financial officer and added Justin Broyles as vice president sales.
Shortline tax credit legislation enters House
Reps. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) introduced H.R. 721, the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015. This legislation would extend the Section 45G shortline track maintenance tax credit that expired at the end of 2014.
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group awarded Railway Interchange 2015 event guide contract and electronic media partnership
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group, which consists of Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures (RT&S) and International Railway Journal (IRJ), has been awarded the event guide contract and emedia partner for Railway Interchange 2015.
NJDOT provides $4.3-million grant for rail bridge
New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) awarded a $4.3-million grant to replace the rail bridge spanning the Overpeck Creek in Ridgefield Park.
The Western Group adds system director; makes management changes at two railroads
The Western Group, a railroad industry consortium, named Dr. Art Miller as system director, responsible for safety training, as well as standards and regulatory compliance. For almost 30 years, Miller has blended his knowledge of railroad operations with safety management. Since 2009, Miller has served as director of safety and operations standards for Iowa Pacific Holdings.
Port Everglades partners with FEC, state of Florida to strengthen landside cargo connections
Port Everglades in Broward County, Fla., says it is partnering with public and private entities on several multi-million-dollar landside infrastructure improvements designed to improve connections with south Florida’s major highway and railroad systems.
Proposed FY16 budget includes six-year surface transportation solution; generous rail funds
President Obama unveiled his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes a six-year $478-billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal that contains rail funding sources through the Generating Renewal, Opportu¬nity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America (GROW AMERICA) Act.
AAR: Freight railroads to spend a record $29 billion on network; hire 15k in 2015
U.S. freight railroads plan to spend an estimated $29 billion on the nation’s rail network and project to hire about 15,000 people in 2015, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported in its 2015 Outlook. The AAR says these high-paying jobs and record private spending will further strengthen an essential transportation system that is today powering a U.S. economic comeback.
Sen. Sanders wants $1 trillion for nation’s infrastructure
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the Senate Budget Committee ranking member, has introduced legislation to rebuild America’s crumbling network of roads, bridges and transit systems and other infrastructure projects. The five-year plan would invest $1 trillion and create or maintain at least 13 million decent-paying jobs, says Sanders.
Minnesota Gov. Dayton reveals plan to fix state infrastructure
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has proposed a plan to fix Minnesota’s aging transportation systems, which would invest $6 billion over the next 10 years to address the state’s highway funding deficit, invest $2.356 billion in local government transportation projects and provide $2.92 billion for Metro and Greater Minnesota transit systems. The Governor’s proposal would create an estimated 119,000 new jobs and build the infrastructure necessary to meet the demands of a growing population and an expanding state economy.
Potash Ridge, Watco enter agreement on construction and rail service
Potash Ridge Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Watco Companies for activities related to the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) of a loading facility and shortline railroad to service the Blawn Mountain Project in Utah.
CFE takes on track project to improve freight congestion
The Chicago, Ft. Wayne & Eastern Railroad (CFE) is planning a track improvement project enabling 40-mph train speeds across the entire 315-mile rail line from Tolleston, Ind., to Crestline, Ohio.