Prendergast named chairman and CEO of MTA
Thomas Prendergast has been named chairman and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) by the New York State Senate.
Commuter/Regional
The T awards engineering contract to Urban Engineers and CTC
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (T) in Texas awarded a three-year contract to the Urban Engineers’ team to provide professional engineering services as part of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract.
Hamberger: Nation’s railroads safer than ever, PTC deadline too soon
Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 19 told a Senate Commerce Committee panel that massive private investments in safety-enhancing infrastructure and maintenance on such things as tracks, new equipment, as well as employee training and cutting-edge technologies, have helped make the nation’s railroads safer than ever in their history.
CTLGroup CEO steps down, temporary replacement named
Engineering firm CTLGroup says its President and CEO Jeffrey Garrett, Ph.D., S.E., has resigned and Timothy Tonyan, Ph.D., vice president and group manager of materials consulting practice, will serve as interim president and CEO.
Rep. Lipinski touts CREATE, pushes to complete larger projects
U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), at a special House Rail Subcommittee meeting June 10 on rail issues in Northeastern Illinois, touted the Chicago Regional Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) initiative as a model for a successful public-private partnership
TranSystems names new senior vice president for passenger and transit
Robert Ryan joined TranSystems as senior vice president and market sector leader for its national passenger rail and transit practice areas.
JLP hires former Amtrak construction manager
J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (JLP) hired Harry Steelman as senior construction manager, a former Amtrak construction manager.
Metro-North accelerates trackwork in Bronx through summer
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad plans to accelerate trackwork in the Bronx including drainage improvements, tie replacements, fencing repairs and general cleanup of the wayside for nine weeks from July 1 through Labor Day.
USDOT receives 568 applications for latest TIGER Grants
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that the strong demand for Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants continues, as once again the number of applications has surpassed the available funding.
Reps. introduce Transit Parity Act
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced the Transit Parity Act. The bipartisan bill would maintain tax credit parity for drivers and public transportation users.
LIRR opens public info center at Port Washington Station
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) opened an information center at Port Washington Station to detail the benefits of the LIRR’s proposed track extensions at its Port Washington Train Yard.
Crouch names new VP
Crouch Engineering is expanding, starting with the creation of new departments and a restructuring of its management. The company named Richard Brann as vice president and general manager. Harvey Crouch, founder of Crouch Engineering, will continue his responsibilities as president and CEO, as well as manager of business development.
Gov. O’Malley appoints new secretary of MDOT and new administrator of the MTA
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed James Smith, Jr., as secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Robert Smith as the administrator for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).
Support of public transportation investment increases
A new survey released indicates that there is growing support for expanding public transportation.
SEPTA to perform switch and track crossing renewal project
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has scheduled a switch and track crossing renewal project for the intersection of 49th Street and Woodland Avenue from June 9-22.
MARC trains set ridership record in April
The Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) MARC Train service set a new record for ridership in April 2013.
Szabo pushes for integrated rail systems
In a letter to the United Transportation Union, Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo pushed for more integrated rail systems. In the message, he said:
“We know well the population growth, mobility and environmental challenges revealing a clear need to invest in passenger rail and of passenger rail’s skyrocketing ridership, be it intercity, commuter, light or heavy.
SEPTA defers budget, approves fare increases
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Board has approved a proposal to increase fares and simplify the payment process for customers in preparation for next year’s move to a modernized fare system under the New Payment Technology (NPT) project.
Congressmen form Congressional Public Transportation Caucus
U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Michael Grimm (R-NY) have formed the Congressional Public Transportation Caucus, aimed at addressing issues facing the country’s public transportation systems, including rail, light rail, bus rapid transit and traditional bus service.
USDOT releases additional $3.7 billion to transit agencies for Sandy relief
The U.S. Department of Transportation has released an additional $3.7 billion in disaster relief funds to help the four major transit agencies in New York and New Jersey that sustained the greatest damage from Hurricane Sandy.