MARC decides it’s too risky to operate during most of inauguration week

The Maryland Transit Administration has decided that, given the recent unrest and security concerns in the nation’s capital, MARC train service will be completely suspended on all three of their lines beginning

U.S. DOT grants $40 Million to improve safety at highway-railway crossings 

The U.S. Department of Transportation today provided $40 million in grants to States seeking to improve safety where highways and rail lines cross. The grants, awarded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Metra Board approves purchase of up to 500 modern railcars

The Metra Board of Directors today approved the purchase of up to 500 state-of-the-art railcars from Alstom Transportation Inc., opting for new multilevel cars that will be more comfortable, accessible, reliable and

Amtrak locomotives return to deadly derailment site in state of Washington

Positive Train Control (PTC) could have prevented the Amtrak derailment over I-5 that killed three people in DuPont, Wash. The technology was not yet installed in 2017. It’s there now, and officials

Del Mar residents, officials are against construction of a fence to prevent railroad track crossings by pedestrians

Residents of Del Mar are walking all over a plan by the North County Transit District (NCTD) that would help prevent trespassing on railroad tracks. The NCTD wants to build a 1.4-mile-long,

Price of Sound Transit projects expand more than 50 percent

Location, location, location means more, more and more money for Sound Transit regarding the light-rail line extension to Ballard, Wash., and West Seattle. Sound Transit announced the construction of a line connecting

NS, Comply365 deploy digital T&E Tools

Norfolk Southern’s “digital transformation” initiatives now include rulebooks, bulletins, special instructions, and other “mission-critical documents” that the railroad’s more-than 8,000 T&E (Train and Engine) workers—conductors, engineers and other field operating personnel—are required

FTA announces $14 billion for nation’s public transit systems during COVID-19 emergency

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced a total of $14 billion in Federal funding allocations to continue to support the Nation’s public transportation systems during the Coronavirus

Caltrain extends contract for rail service provider TASI

At its monthly meeting [yesterday], the Caltrain Board of Directors approved a contract extension to the Caltrain Operating Agreement with TransitAmerica Services, Inc. (TASI) to continue providing commuter rail service for the

FTA announces $173 million grant agreement for double track northwest Indiana project

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) [yesterday] announced a $173 million federal grant agreement with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) for the Double Track Northwest Indiana Project,

Charlotte, N.C., committee advances transportation plan, but not without concerns

The city of Charlotte is getting closer to passing a massive transportation plan. A committee voted on Jan. 6 to move forward with an $8-12 billion investment, but some said they wanted

MBTA

MassDOT moves forward with plans for new east-west passenger line

Ridership might be down because of the pandemic, but new transit projects continue to be up across the U.S. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is deciding on where it will put

Controversial Amtrak plan becomes more, well, controversial

In response to a plan that was openly criticized a few years ago, Amtrak is responding with a heavy closing statement. The passenger rail service re-issued a plan for fences and gates

Multibillion-dollar transportation program will create America’s most connected urban center in National Landing

The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) released a new report, Mobility Next, detailing the multibillion-dollar, public-private investment program that is transforming National Landing into the most well-connected downtown in the country.

MBTA

New renewable energy contracts in effect at MBTA

Taking effect this week, two new 100% renewable energy contracts with BP Energy Company and Direct Energy LLC will reduce the MBTA’s carbon footprint and save the T over $3 million per

Sound Transit north commuter rail service halted by mudslide

Sound Transit, the transit agency for the Seattle, Wash. metropolitan area, offers bus, commuter rail and light rail service. The commuter rail service essentially runs from Tacoma, through Seattle and north to

railroad track

Federal Railroad Administration announces landmark achievement with full implementation of Positive Train Control

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced today that positive train control (PTC) technology is in operation on all 57,536 required freight and passenger railroad route miles, prior to

FRA releases NPRM on PTC systems and reporting

With the Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation deadline of December 31, 2020 just three days away, last week the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,” or NPRM to

Rail Group On Air: Commuter Rail Coalition on access, capacity and public convenience and necessity

Jim Derwinski, Commuter Rail Coalition Chair and CEO/Executive Director, Metra; John Cline, CRC Government Affairs Director and Principal, Cline Strategic Consulting; Chuck Spitulnik, CRC Counsel and Partner, Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell; and KellyAnne Gallagher, CRC Executive Director,

Congress agrees on $908 billion relief bill, $45 billion of which is for transportation

After weeks of anticipation and frustration, Congress has finally reached agreement on a stimulus, or relief, bill for $908 billion according to the Washington Post. The bill includes a total of $45

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