Amtrak reaches new agreement with UTU

After more than two years of negotiations, the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation (UTU-SMART) general committees representing some 2,300 Amtrak members have reached a deal on a new contract.

BLET readies for 150th anniversary

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) will enter its 150th year on May 8, 2013. BLET notes that it is the oldest transportation labor organization in North America.

Rail shows largest improvement in ASCE infrastructure report card

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its “2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure” on Tuesday, March 19. The report is an assessment of 16 infrastructure categories in the United States that takes place every four years.

CHSRA approves MOU for Bay area rail improvements

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board of Directors approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) to enhance the rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose.

FRA to study Oklahoma-Texas high-speed service

The Federal Railroad Administration has filed a Notice of Intent to prepare a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the Texas Department of Transportation to study potential new and/or improved high-speed intercity passenger rail service

Amtrak Board of Directors elects new chairman, vice chairman

The Amtrak Board of Directors elected Anthony Coscia to be its next chairman and elected Jeffrey Moreland as vice chairman.

Amtrak’s Vermonter sees reduction in travel time due to improvements

Amtrak’s Vermonter service will be running on a revised schedule beginning March 18, between St. Albans, Vt. and Washington, D.C., reducing overall travel time by up to 28 minutes.

Florida East Coast Industries names All Aboard Florida leadership

Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (FECI) appointed Donald Robinson as president and chief operating officer for All Aboard Florida, an intercity passenger rail system that will connect South Florida to Orlando.

FRA approves WSDOT environmental assessment for Point Defiance Bypass project

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has signed off on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) environmental assessment for the Point Defiance Bypass project.

Amtrak covered 88 percent of operating costs in 2012

Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman said that the railroad is leveraging record ridership to reduce dependence on federal operating subsidies.

CHSRA names new CFO

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) appointed Russell Fong as its chief financial officer.

Lawsuit questioning CHSRA environmental compliance dismissed

The Sacramento County Superior Court rejected the town of Atherton’s lawsuit, finding that the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has complied with the environmental review requirements in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

SEPTA and HNTB Corp. honored for Norristown High Speed Line Repair project

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and HNTB Corporation received a 2013 Diamond Award Certificate from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania for the Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) Emergency Slope Repair Project.

NCDOT undergoes organizational changes

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) made organizational adjustments to focus on being efficient, customer-service-focused and dedicated to leveraging infrastructure to create jobs.

Obama renews call for infrastructure investment

President Obama resumed a push for infrastructure investment first outlined in his State of the Union speech. The plan outlines three main points to bring the nation’s infrastructure into a state-of-good-repair and create jobs “that cannot be outsourced.”

2013 capital expenditures keep industry on the fast track

In another record-setting year, North American railroads continue to invest in themselves with capacity expansion and maintenance projects.

Construction begins on Winter Park station for Amtrak, SunRail

On Feb. 13, 2013, the city of Winter Park, Fla., in partnership with Amtrak, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), broke ground for a new $1.2-million depot fronting on Central Park and the shopping and dining district.

Sen. Lautenberg outlines transportation subcommittee priorities, announces retirement

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) outlined his goals in 2013 as chairman of the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, before retiring in 2014.

Amtrak names two to operations positions

Amtrak named Thomas Hall chief of customer services and Jay Commer general manager of state-supported services. Both will report directly to Vice President of Operations DJ Stadtler, effective immediately.

Piedmont Improvement Program grade separation begins with Hopson Road bridge

Work on the $24-million railroad bridge at Hopson Road in Durham, N.C., that will make train and vehicular travel safer and faster while boosting the local economy has begun.

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