Amtrak named one of “America’s Best Employers”
Amtrak received a spot on the Forbes “America’s Best Employers 2015” list.
Intercity
Secretary Foxx sends long-term transportation bill to Congress
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx sent a six-year transportation bill to Congress.
Uncertainty clouds key rail bills in Senate
Two bills of substantial importance to railroads—Staggers Rail Act revisions as part of reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), and extension of the deadline to implement Positive Train Control (PTC)—took meaningful steps forward March 25, gaining the imprimatur of the Senate Commerce Committee.
All Aboard Florida hires The Vailon Group to implement DBE program
All Aboard Florida has hired The Vailon Group to implement its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in Miami-Dade County.
Rep. Quigley calls for full funding of transit and passenger rail in 2016 THUD bill
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD), submitted a letter to the THUD Subcommittee with 10 members of the Illinois House delegation urging full funding for mass transit and passenger rail in next year’s THUD budget.
RAILS Act would help fund rail safety technologies for five years
Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL-3) and Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) introduced the Reassuring Adequate Investment in Lifesaving Systems (RAILS) Act, which reauthorizes the Rail Safety Technology Grant program to improve the safety of the nation’s railroads.
Proposed TRAIN Act would reform environmental permitting process for rail projects
U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) introduced the Track, Railroad, and Infrastructure Network (TRAIN) Act, which the senators say will reform the environmental permitting process for rail projects in order to facilitate a more efficient way to approve rail infrastructure.
CARTA sells property originally planned for intermodal passenger hub
The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) approved an agreement to sell its property at 4894 Dorchester Road in North Charleston for $6.5 million to Rushmark Properties, LLC.
MnDOT begins Zip Rail environmental study
Several options for high-speed passenger rail service between the Twin Cities and Rochester, Minn., known as Zip Rail, will undergo the first phase of a two-step environmental impact statement review process.
Sen. Leahy: U.S.-Canada agreement brings Vermont-Montreal passenger rail service closer
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) says years of work on the goal of restoring passenger rail service between Vermont and Montreal took a major step forward March 16 as the United States and Canada signed a long-awaited agreement designed to improve cross border travel and security between the two countries.
Amtrak Hoosier State to continue through end of April
The Amtrak Hoosier State service between Indianapolis, Ind., and Chicago, Ill., will continue through the end of April. The announcement follows a Federal Railroad Administration phone call with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Karl Browning, during which Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg committed to reconsider the position that would force the Hoosier State service to end.
U.S. House passes Amtrak funding bill
The House of Representatives approved a bill March 3 that improves the nation’s passenger rail system and reforms Amtrak by reducing costs, creating greater accountability and transparency, leveraging private sector resources and accelerating rail project delivery, according to a release from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
SANBAG clears environmental hurdle to move Redlands Passenger Rail forward
The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) received the Notice of Determination (NOD) of its Redlands Passenger Rail Project Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) in a public hearing and board meeting March 4.
Rep. Denham tours Colton Crossing project in California
U.S. Rep. and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Jeff Denham (R-CA) joined representatives from HDR, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) for a tour of the Colton Crossing Rail-to-Rail Grade Separation Project.
Sound Transit completes new Tukwila Sounder Station
On Feb. 18, Sound Transit completed the permanent Tukwila rail station.
Texas Central Railway narrows focus to Utility Corridor
Texas Central High-Speed Railway (TCR) informed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that it recommends narrowing the consideration of potential high-speed rail corridors between Houston and Dallas to a single preferred corridor known as the Utility Corridor.
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group awarded Railway Interchange 2015 event guide contract and electronic media partnership
Simmons-Boardman Rail Group, which consists of Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures (RT&S) and International Railway Journal (IRJ), has been awarded the event guide contract and emedia partner for Railway Interchange 2015.
Texas Central Railway selects two possible Dallas station locations
Texas Central Railway (TCR) selected two locations as potential candidate sites for the Dallas high-speed rail station. As part of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process, TCR identified seven areas as possible station locations in Dallas.
VIA Rail Canada appoints new GM for eastern Canada
VIA Rail Canada appointed Susan Williams to general manager for eastern Canada. The passenger rail service provider said this will involve adding value to the services offered to communities served in the maritimes and eastern Québec, as well as business development activities intended to build on partnerships that began in 2014 with local community representatives.
Proposed FY16 budget includes six-year surface transportation solution; generous rail funds
President Obama unveiled his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes a six-year $478-billion surface transportation reauthorization proposal that contains rail funding sources through the Generating Renewal, Opportu¬nity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America (GROW AMERICA) Act.