CHSRA names Kelly CEO
The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s (CHSRA) Board of Directors named Brian P. Kelly as its new chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1, 2018.
Intercity
Task force to evaluate Alaskan commuter rail
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signed an order establishing the governor’s Commuter Rail Advisory Task Force on Jan. 9.
Parsons’ House to CTF Board
Sunnie House, vice president and Western regional manager for North America Rail for Parsons, has been appointed Chair of the California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Board of Directors.
Amtrak names Hylander as EVP, chief safety officer
Amtrak has appointed Ken Hylander to serve as executive vice president and chief safety officer.
PennDOT aims to put the brakes on human trafficking
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Jan. 9 that it has signed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge.
NTSB preliminary report on Amtrak 501 accident says PTC would have prevented over speed
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the Amtrak 501 accident in Washington state and explains that positive train control (PTC) could have prevented the over speed condition.
Rep. Frelinghuysen wants feds to support Gateway Program
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ-11) wants the federal government to back the Gateway Program and Hudson River Tunnels Project, according to a letter he sent to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams.
Parsons adds Ryan to rail team
Jennifer Ryan, a longtime rail project engineer and winner of Railway Age’s inaugural Women in Rail award, has joined Parsons as a Senior Project Manager, Rail, in the corporation’s Irvine, Calif., office.
Amtrak begins next phase of NY Penn Station work
Amtrak’s next series of track renewal projects in New York Penn Station will kick-off Jan. 5, with updated scheduled train operations beginning on Jan. 8.
Sec. Chao urges swift PTC implementation among US railroads
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao sent a form letter to 47 Class 1, intercity and state and local transit authorities to stress the urgency and importance of implementing positive train control (PTC) by Dec. 31, 2018.
Brightline to begin introductory service next week
BRIGHTLINE, Florida’s new private passenger operator, has announced that it will launch an introductory service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach during the week of Jan. 8.
Feds: What Gateway agreement?
Federal Transit Administration Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams outlined a series of concerns regarding an updated financial plan for the Hudson Tunnel project in a letter to New York State Director of Budget Robert Mujica on Dec. 29.
HSR coming to Illinois
Amtrak should begin high-speed service between Chicago and St. Louis this summer, the result of a $2-billion project that is in the final phase of construction.
Amtrak selects Baltimore Penn Station redevelopment team
Amtrak has selected Penn Station Partners to negotiate a master development deal for Baltimore Penn Station.
Amtrak’s Moorman stepping down
Amtrak’s Charles “Wick” Moorman will step down from the co-CEO position effective Dec. 31 and assume the role of senior advisor, starting Jan. 1, 2018.
New York, New Jersey commit to funding local share of Gateway Project
New York and New Jersey have reached a deal to fund 100 percent the local share of the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project originally laid out in a 2015 framework agreement, which calls on the federal government to fund 50 percent of the project.
New SJJPA video urges safety near tracks
The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), the managing agency for the Amtrak San Joaquins service, has created a new video intended to help boost safety around railroad tracks and crossings.
Texas Central names McLane chairman of the board
Texas Central has announced that Drayton McLane, Jr. has been appointed chairman of its board. McLane is known for his work as a successful businessman and former Houston Astros owner.
NTSB reauthorization bill aims to increase communication, transparency
A bill reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was introduced last week in the Senate and aims to enhance the board’s safety investigations through added transparency.
TSB finds Quebec crash partially due to obstructed crossing signals
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said a key factor in a September 2016 collision between a VIA Rail passenger train and a tractor-trailer in Quebec was an obstructed view of the crossing warning system.