The U.S. House of Representatives on Dec. 10, 2015 passed S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015, which among other provisions, will increase the number of STB members from three to five, improving STB’s structure and decision-making processes by allowing, with proper disclosure, board members to speak with one another about cases on which the STB is ruling.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners agreed to partner with the federal government in the development of the vital Gateway Tunnel Project by creating a development corporation to oversee construction of the massive passenger rail project and meet the future needs of hundreds of thousands of riders.
The Regional Transportation District of Denver’s (RTD) North Metro Rail Line will have a total of nine bridges along its 18.5-mile route with construction currently underway on the 104th Avenue Bridge. Crews have mobilized to start the six-month long construction process.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division is collaborating with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) on a rail workforce assessment study.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has new tools at its disposal for the upcoming winter weather, such as high-velocity snow blowers and brining equipment, aimed at combating snowy and icy conditions. SEPTA says this equipment will play a key role in its efforts to minimize disruptions to customers resulting from winter weather events.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has named Peter Burrus chief of rail transportation, a newly created position.
The state of Connecticut and Amtrak reached an agreement to complete Hartford Line that contains guaranteed cost ceilings and a clear timetable for work.
As part of the Eagle P3 Project, Denver’s Regional Transit District and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners have the power lines turned on along the Gold (G) Line between Union Station and the Wheat Ridge – Ward Station and on the Northwest Rail (B) Line to Westminster for testing.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) released its proposed $3-billion Operating Budget that funds critical planning for future growth. The agency also posted a $3.5-billion Capital Budget that funds critical state-of-good-repair to existing transportation facilities and new infrastructure that is needed to sustain and accelerate growth and enhance the overall customer experience.
Winter is Chicago can be quite brutal and to combat its annual battle against cold and snowy weather, Metra has installed covers and supercharged heaters to several of the most critical switches in its system and continues to repair and replace railcar doors that are prone to fail in winter conditions.
Constantine Vorgias, 85, of St. John, Ind., and former employee of E.J. & E Railroad and ESCO, passed away at home on November 9, 2015.
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.
The Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) joint venture between Hatch and Mott MacDonald will be separated and integrated into the parent companies by early 2016.
The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $1.29 million in funding for five rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) Program.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners has been conducting a search for the agency’s first CEO since New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo endorsed the December 2014 recommendation of the Special Panel on the Future of the Port Authority that the bi-state agency appoint a single chief executive officer selected by and accountable to the Board of Commissioners.
Purchasing new snow fighting equipment, creating dedicated snow response teams and centralizing passenger communications are among the actions being taken by Keolis Commuter Services and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to prepare the commuter rail system for winter in order to keep trains operating safely and to minimize impacts to passengers.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) presented its 2016 Final Proposed Budget and its 2016-19 Financial Plan, in which the agency says “a relentless emphasis on cutting costs will allow the MTA to invest $242 million in new service, maintenance and operations initiatives over the next four years, while limiting fare and toll increases to the rate of inflation.”
The Sound Transit CEO Search Committee has recommended Peter M. Rogoff, the federal government’s third-highest transportation official and former Federal Transit Administrator, as its top candidate to serve as Sound Transit’s new leader.
Chicago’s Metra has named Hilary Konczal as its first chief safety and environmental officer. The newly created position puts Metra in line with best practices and Federal Transit Administration recommendations and consolidates safety and environmental units under one officer.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) completed both its Wayne Junction Station and 9th Street Station recently.