Richard Morsches, PE, has been promoted to chief executive officer of TranSystems Corp. He brings to this role more than 30 years of experience and progressive leadership from serving clients locally in the Chicago area, to managing offices throughout the region, to leading the firm’s strategy and sales efforts nationally.
Charles W. Hoppe, who served as Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) 34th President, from April 2, 1990, to August 31, 1994, passed away December 22, 2015.
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) welcomed new members Raul Peralez and Joél Ramos and elected its officers for 2016 at Caltrain’s January meeting.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled on Jan. 5, 2016 the second signature proposal of his 2016 agenda: a comprehensive plan to transform and expand vital infrastructure downstate and make critical investments in the region, including a major expansion and improvement project that would increase service on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) between Floral Park and Hicksville. Cuomo outlined these initiatives at an event in Nassau County, where Long Island Association President Kevin Law, MTA Chairman Thomas F. Prendergast and LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski joined him.
As the third largest transportation agency in the nation, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is responsible for transporting millions of passengers safely and efficiently to their destinations every day. Additionally, the agency manages one of the largest public works projects in the nation with three major rail lines currently being constructed and another two rail extensions near opening.
In a Fastlane blog post Dec. 31, Greg Winfree, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) assistant secretary for research and technology, recapped 2015’s research endeavors.
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) and representatives from Union Pacific, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Amtrak, Fort Worth & Western Railroad (FW&W) and Regional Rail Right-of-Way Co. on Dec. 28, 2015 signed a shared-use operating agreement for the TEX Rail commuter rail line, slated to begin service in 2018.
Metra says it has had an eventful 2015, with construction and trackwork projects being completed and launched, new safety awareness campaigns and an app, as well as many other accomplishments.
TranSystems has named Alex Houseal regional vice president for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey operations.
Amtrak activated the final stretch of Positive Train Control (PTC) along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) on Dec. 18. The technology is now active on all Amtrak-owned track between Washington, D.C., and Boston.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Amtrak and the Baltimore City Department of Transportation released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the B&P Tunnel Project Dec. 18.
The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed a monster spending bill late last week, which will keep federal agencies funded through the end of September 2016.
Amtrak has concluded negotiations and changed the route of the Texas Eagle train between Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas, to run on the Trinity Rail Express (TRE) corridor.
Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board of Directors adopted the 2016 operating budgets, which will fund Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Metra improvements next year.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver is nearing completion of its 64th Avenue Bridge between Pecos Street and Federal Boulevard. The bridge replaces a portion of the existing 64th Avenue roadway and an at-grade railroad crossing with a grade-separated crossing.
Wabtec Corporation signed contracts worth approximately $45 million to provide equipment and services for a Positive Train Control (PTC) system for Chicago’s Metra commuter rail system. The contracts are with Metra and Parsons Transportation Group.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has adopted 27 projects, valued at nearly $154 million, that it says will support needed upkeep on California’s aging roads and bridges, alleviate traffic delays and encourage use of alternative forms of transportation, including biking, walking and transit. CTC has allocated more than $96 million for rail projects alone.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad has detailed its latest results of a systemwide track reconstruction effort that has rebuilt miles of the railroad in the past two and a half years, delivering smoother, safer and more reliable service to customers.
A dedication ceremony for the 91/Perris Valley commuter rail extension from Riverside to Perris, Calif., was held Dec. 11.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad named Justin Vonashek as the agency’s new vice president of system safety, where he will oversee all efforts to ensure the safety of its customers and employees as it continues to improve work practices and invest in new technology and equipment.