SEPTA to begin modernization project next week

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) will begin a modernization project on its Route 101/102 (Media/Sharon Hill) trolley lines June 15.

AAR: Freight railroads making measurable strides toward PTC implementation

Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward R. Hamberger said that America’s freight rail industry is making progress on positive train control (PTC) and remains committed to ensure all is being done to safely reach the goal of nationwide interoperability.

CHSRA picks “Rail Delivery Partner” for new phase of program

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board of Directors approved a Rail Delivery Partner (RDP) contract, led by Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc., which CHSRA says takes an expanded approach to the planned high-speed rail program.

HART awards contract to build three rail stations

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit awarded a $78.9-million construction contract to Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company to build three rail stations in the Waipahu area at West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College.

Former FRA Administrator Szabo named executive director of CMAP

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will soon have a new executive director, Joseph Szabo.

NTSB says evidence does not point to phone use in Amtrak 188 accident

The National Transportation Safety Board says analysis of phone records of the locomotive engineer operating Amtrak 188, Brandon Bostian, did not indicate the phone was in use at the time of the accident, which occurred on May 12.

Metro-North, LIRR say they’re in compliance with FRA safety advisory

As a result of work completed in March 2014 in response to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Emergency Order 29, Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Metro-North Railroad are already in compliance with the recommendations made recently to all U.S. passenger railroads by the Federal Railroad Administration in its Safety Advisory 2015-03.

NTSB issues recommendation to address WMATA third rail power supply

In its ongoing investigation of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) train accident at L’Enfant Plaza on January 12, 2015, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators found problems with certain electrical connections in WMATA’s system that require immediate action and issued a safety recommendation.

FRA issues safety advisory to prevent speeding passenger trains

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a safety advisory recommending actions that passenger railroads take to prevent trains from speeding. The advisory is the latest in a series of steps FRA has taken to keep passenger railroads safe for the traveling public.

Mobile app giving first responders real-time dangerous goods info continues roll out

AskRail™, the mobile application developed as an added safety tool for first responders, continued its industry-wide roll out with a demonstration at BNSF‘s Chicago (Corwith) Intermodal Facility on June 8.

Railway Interchange exhibits sell out

Railway Interchange 2015 host associations say they are gearing up for the biggest event to-date. With four months to go before the event, indoor and outdoor exhibition space is sold out and 60 percent of available hotel rooms have been reserved.

Aecon consortium selected as Eglinton Crosstown preferred bidder

An Aecon Group Inc. consortium, Crosslinx Transit Solutions, has been selected by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario as the preferred proponent for the development of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit project in Toronto.

Jerome Marullo joins Simmons-Boardman Railway Division

Jerome Marullo has joined the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Railway Division as Eastern Regional Advertising Sales Manager, with responsibility for Railway Age, Railway Track & Structures and International Railway Journal. He replaces Mark Connolly, who retired on May 22, 2015 after nine years with the company.

USDOT: No policy change following release of technical reports on truck size and weight

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a series of technical reports on truck size and weight for peer review and public comment as a step toward the completion of the comprehensive study required in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).

Maryland applies for Maglev funds as governor rides Japan’s system

In support of private-sector efforts to explore building high-speed rail in Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan joined executives from the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and the Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail LLC (BWRR) to ride the 27-mile-long Yamanashi Maglev Line located outside of Tokyo, Japan.

MBTA, Massachusetts develop winter resiliency plan

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has prepared a $82.7-million Winter Resiliency Plan, which includes investments this summer and over the next five years in snow removal equipment, infrastructure upgrades and operations during harsh weather to improve service reliability.

Valley Metro’s Mesa extension to open seven months early

Beginning August 22, Valley Metro Rail will be traveling to new destinations along Main Street into downtown Mesa, Ariz. With service beginning seven months earlier than scheduled, the Central Mesa extension will soon take riders beyond Sycamore to Mesa Drive.

TEX Rail receives FTA approval to enter engineering phase

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) has received approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to advance TEX Rail into the engineering phase that immediately precedes the start of construction.

Bianco retires from MTA NYCT

President of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT), Carmen Bianco plans to retire later this year from his position running the largest mass transit system in North America. In his time as president, Bianco transformed the agency’s organizational culture to align management strategies, enhance safety and improve customer service to advance the subways, buses, paratransit and Staten Island Railway in New York City.

Boardman says Amtrak committed to PTC in 2015

At a hearing concerning the May 12 accident of Amtrak 188 in Philadelphia, Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman reiterated the railroad’s commitment to implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) by the end of 2015.

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