LACMTA ridership increases
Recent Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority system ridership numbers show an increase in weekday boardings during January and February of 2012.
Commuter/Regional
KCS’ Starling recommends focus areas for next generation of railroad industry leaders
In January, Railway Age announced that it had named KCS president and CEO Dave Starling its 2012 Railroader of the Year.
SEPTA proposed FY2012 budget suspends improvement projects
For the third straight year, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority expects to defer critical improvement projects due to funding cuts, according to the authority’s Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Budget proposal.
Metro-North Railroad resumes catenary replacement project
The replacement of century-old catenary wire that powers the New York Metro-North New Haven Line trains will resume on Monday March 19th, on two tracks between Southport and Bridgeport and will continue through the end of November.
Denver RTD to review Kiewit Infrastructure proposal for I-225 rail line
Regional Transportation District in Denver, Colo., has received a proposal for the I-225 Light Rail Project from Kiewit Infrastructure Company.
Thales, Siemens awarded contract for New York MTA test track
Thales and Siemens have been awarded a contract to provide a permanent communications-based train control test track facility for Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit.
MARC sees on-time performance nears record levels
The Maryland Transit Administration’s MARC Train service recorded some of the best on-time performance numbers ever during the month of February.
VTA to receive $900 million for BART Silicon Valley Berryessa project
On March 12, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will receive a $900 million grant commitment from the Federal Transit Administration for the Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project.
Operation Lifesaver notes reductions in 2011 U.S. crossing collisions
Sustained public education efforts, engineering improvements and law enforcement programs have contributed to a nationwide reduction in vehicle-train collisions and pedestrian-train deaths and injuries in 2011, according to Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
Denver RTD recommends ‘hybrid’ approach for FasTracks Northwest plan
The Regional Transportation District in Denver, Colo., staff made its recommendation to the RTD Board of Directors to keep the Northwest Rail Line to Longmont in the FasTracks plan, but to add bus rapid transit service to address transit needs until the full build out of the rail line. The board will make its decision on whether to accept the staff recommendation or move forward in a different direction at a meeting on March 20.
U.S. Mayors press for passage of bipartisan transportation bill
The nation’s mayors renewed their call for enactment of job-creating bipartisan transportation legislation now pending in Congress.
NTSB issues safety recommendations regarding storm water drainage to US DOT
The National Transportation Safety Board made safety recommendations regarding storm water issues that push for greater collaboration between entities affected by these issues. The following recommendation was sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation:
Fry named curator of Barriger National Railroad Library
Nicholas Fry was named curator of the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, the sixth archivist/curator since the creation of the Barriger collections at the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association in the early 1980s.
KONE awarded escalator at Washington, D.C. Union Station
KONE has been chosen by Jones Lang LaSalle and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) to supply 18 new escalators in Washington, D.C.’s historic Union Station. The escalator modernization project was designed by Newmont Elevator Analysts, Inc. of Stone Ridge, N.Y.
Caltrain celebrates renovations and improvements at two stations
San Francisco-area Caltrain and its partners celebrated the completion of a $61 million station improvement project that will allow it to offer more service now and in the future.
Chicago mass transit may get funding boost from proposed gas tax hike
Riders for Better Transit joined with transit riders and advocates from across the Chicago region to propose Transit Fast Forward (SB 3236), state legislation that the group says would improve Chicagoland transit service through increased investment and a dedicated source of funding that would grow over time.
Houston METRO ridership continues climb
Houton, Texas-area METRO’s ridership is on the rise for a sixth consecutive month, recording a 5.2 percent increase to 6,357,131 boardings in January 2012 compared to 6,043,280 in January 2011.
LaHood’s blog reiterates administration’s commitment to HSR
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reemphasized President Obama’s focus on high-speed rail in the United States in his blog, Fast Lane.
Metrolink receives $3.7 million to enhance safety at busy crossing
The California Transportation Commission allocated $3.7 million to fund safety enhancements to one of Metrolink’s busiest crossings, the Broadway/Brazil crossing in Glendale, Calif.
FTA’s Rogoff, Florida officials highlight transit infrastructure investment
Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff joined Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Alcee Hastings at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Tri-Rail Station at Dania Beach, Fla., to highlight the president’s FY2013 budget proposal that calls for greater investment in transit infrastructure as part of an America built to last.