Governor Hochul Announces Five-Point Plan to Protect New Yorkers on the Subway
NEW YORK –– While this story is a bit out of our wheelhouse, we decided that this significant step by Governor Hochul is worth reporting.
NEW YORK –– While this story is a bit out of our wheelhouse, we decided that this significant step by Governor Hochul is worth reporting.
ATLANTA –– Long time readers of RT&S are likely familiar with the four award programs we have each year to recognize excellence in engineering.
PHILADELPHIA –– KWY radio reports that one of the contractor’s working on the restoration of Amtrak’s venerable 30th Street Station is facing federal bribery charges.
ATLANTA –– In remarks to the Southeast Association of Rail Shippers, STB Chairman Martin Oberman blasted activist investors for their threat to the stability of the rail industry.
ATLANTA –– The March 2024 edition of Railway Track and Structures is now online.
Fort Worth, Texas –– BNSF announced this week that it was cutting some jobs at mechanical shops located in Nebraska and Kansas. However, no details about the cuts were provided, such as where they took place or the number of people involved. News reports regarding the number of layoffs differed, but it appears that at least 100 positions were cut.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. –– The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor (Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo) are working together on an Orange County Coastal Rail Resiliency Study. The study began in November 2023 and completion is expected in Fall 2025. OCTA is studying rail challenges in south Orange County to assess existing and future environmental risks and issues with operations and maintenance along the LOSSAN Rail Corridor. The study will evaluate strategies to address these challenges.
BALTIMORE – Amtrak has achieved a major milestone for the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program with the selection of a Kiewit/J.F. Shea Joint Venture to build the brand new, state-of-the-art passenger rail tunnel that will serve electrified Amtrak and MARC commuter trains.
CAMPBELLSTOWN, Ohio – Norfolk Southern removed double track and extended siding east to 15,000 feet in Ohio.
PHILADELPHIA – A new era of passenger rail has officially launched in Philadelphia. Amtrak officials gathered today with federal, state and local representatives along with other community leaders to celebrate the construction kickoff for major renovations at William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Portland, Ore.––Construction on TriMet’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability Improvements Project will close the Gateway Transit Center to MAX trains for six weeks starting Sunday, Jan. 14. With the MAX Blue, Green and Red lines impacted, shuttle buses will serve closed stations through the end of the disruption on Feb. 25. TriMet will also use this opportunity to perform reliability improvements to the MAX system along Interstate 84 and just east of the transit center.
NEW YORK ––The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the Scarsdale Metro-North Station has been made fully accessible with the opening of a second elevator, in an enclosed tower, that serves the Grand Central-bound platform. As part of the improvement project, the overpass was raised seven inches to provide greater vertical clearance for Metro-North work trains and was enhanced with new customer amenities.
ATLANTA – The December digital edition of Railway Track and Structures is now on line.
Clemson, S.C. –– Clemson history professor and prolific railroad historian, H. Roger Grant, has died.
Editor’s Note: John E. Bromley was a long-time press representative for Union Pacific. I imagine many readers either knew him or knew of him, either as a professional, an enthusiast, or both.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced that Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad, LLC (FGA) will be a recipient of up to $23.2 million from the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant awards for FGA’s $31.1M Florida Panhandle Rail Resiliency and Connectivity Project.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Amtrak is using stimulus money not only to refurbish its equipment, but its stations, too.
INDIANAPOLIS –– Brent Laing, Vice President of Engineering at Canadian National, was presented with the Railway Track & Structures’ Engineer of the Year Award at the general session of the annual AREMA conference on Monday, October 2.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – HDR has selected Buzz Berger, P.E., as its next railway design leader, a role that functions as the senior technical advisor for the company’s freight rail services.
LOS ANGELES – Union Pacific has finished repairs in its Calexico subdivision after flooding.