Texas Central expands leadership team, hires three executives

Texas Central Partners, LLC, developers of a high-speed rail project between North Texas and Houston, has expanded its executive ranks, adding Holly Reed, Doug Jones and Lori Willox to its leadership team.

VIA Rail acquires Brockville Sub in Ontario

VIA Rail Canada has acquired the Brockville Subdivision, consisting of 45 kilometers (28 miles) of single track between Smiths Falls and Brockville in Ontario.

OnTrackNorthAmerica partners with Lautala, Jin on transportation research

OnTrackNorthAmerica (OTNA), a non-profit action think tank, will partner with Dr. Pasi Lautala from Michigan Tech University and Dr. Mingzhou Jin, director of the Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Engineering lab at the University of Tennessee on better transportation planning and investment.

Baltimore Maglev project approved for passenger railroad franchise

Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and The Northeast Maglev (TNEM) say that the Maryland Public Service Commission has approved BWRR’s application to acquire a passenger railroad franchise previously held by the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad Company. The railroad franchise was abandoned in 1935.

SNC-Lavalin realigns rail and transit business


SNC-Lavalin realigned its business processes, brands and market strategy to offer a larger portfolio of rail and transit expertise and provide an end-to-end client service offering.

Agreement reached to fund Hudson River Tunnels; establishes management entity

New York and New Jersey leaders have reached an agreement on funding commitments and a governance structure that will allow the Gateway Tunnel Project to move forward.

FRA releases DEIS for NEC investment

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE, FRA’s long-term investment framework for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Mass.

Maryland SCMaglev awarded federal grant

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $27.8-million grant to the state of Maryland for preconstruction and planning costs for the potential development of a Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (SCMaglev) train between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md.

Hammer named NJDOT commissioner

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tapped New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) veteran Richard Hammer as the agency’s acting commissioner and will formally nominate him to succeed Jamie Fox.

Tri-Rail and SMART –UTU ratify agreement

United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation workers (UTU-SMART) represented engineers, conductors and transportation specialists have ratified a tentative agreements with Tri-Rail/Transdev in Florida.

TSB highlights Watchlist issues from October 2014 incident

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report regarding an October 28, 2014, incident involving a VIA Rail Canada passenger train passing a stop signal near Newtonville, Ontario.

Spring construction scheduled for new Schenectady train station

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll unveiled plans for the new Schenectady Train Station, which will be a modern, fully accessible transportation hub connecting travelers to New York City, Niagara Falls and destinations between and beyond. Station construction is scheduled to get under way in the spring.

President Obama signs H.R. 3819; PTC extension now official

President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3819 the “Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015” on Oct. 29.

Add another $60M in rail related projects that will benefit from TIGER awards

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released official information surrounding the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2015 program, which will provide $500 million for 39 transportation projects in 34 states.

Senate committee approves Feinberg as FRA administrator

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved Sarah Feinberg to be administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration by a 19-1 vote.

Congress passes three-year PTC deadline extension

A blanket three-year extension to the Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation deadline has passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislation also gives railroads the option to seek a waiver granting an additional two years to install PTC.

House passes H.R. 3819, extends PTC deadline

The House of Representatives on Oct. 27, 2015 approved H.R. 3819, The Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015, legislation that funds and extends the authorization for federal highway and transit programs through Nov. 20, but more important, extends the deadline for implementation of Positive Train Control by at least three years. The bill now goes to the Senate, which has two days to consider it—with Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) vehemently opposed.

Rail projects to receive more than $170 million in TIGER grants (so far)

Elected officials sounded their victory horns as the notification process of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) VII awards began.

Amtrak’s Boardman says funding is biggest hurdle to fixing Chicago, New York

Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman was joined by a panel of industry experts Oct. 26 at the National Press Club to highlight the need to make infrastructure planning and investment a national priority.

Trio of Illinois Congressmen urge passing of PTC extension

On Oct. 21, U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), a member of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations subcommittee, Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), a member of the House Agriculture Committee and Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03)

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