Last rail being laid for LIRR double track
January will see the final five miles of rail installed as part of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Double Track project.
Passenger
MARTA to spend $1B on new fleet
MARTA, Atlanta’s transit operator, plans to replace its entire railcar fleet, the single biggest item on its to-do list in 2018.
NCDOT’s largest rail infrastructure improvement program wraps up
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is celebrating the completion of the state’s largest program of rail infrastructure improvements after seven years.
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.
Dewberry to provide rail engineering services for NCDOT
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) rail division has chosen Dewberry to provide general rail engineering support.
SCVTA names new Board chair, vice chair
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) Board of Directors has elected its new 2018 chair and vice chair.
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.
HDR to plan Tacoma Dome light-rail extension
Engineering firm HDR has announced it will plan the final extension needed for Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) to complete light-rail service between Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.
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.
FTA approval advances KC Streetcar extension to development phase
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given official authorization to the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA) as well as the City of Kansas City, Mo., (KCMO) to move the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension project into the project development phase.
NJT’s Santoro calling it quits
New Jersey Transit Executive Director Steve Santoro, who has spent 18 years with the agency, submitted his resignation to New Jersey Transportation Commissioner Rick Hammer on Jan. 5. He will be leaving in April and said he is “committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the new administration” of incoming Governor Phil Murphy.
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.
Gov. Cuomo wants a subway in Red Hook
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to study options that would bring a subway to the Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood.
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.
Next round of RTD G Line testing to focus on C&S systems
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., has resumed testing on its G Line as of today, emphasizing the evaluation of its communication and signaling systems.