George Smerk, Noted Indiana University Transportation Professor, Has Died
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –– Railway Track & Structures recently learned that Indiana University Transportation professor Dr. George M. Smerk, Jr., died last year.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –– Railway Track & Structures recently learned that Indiana University Transportation professor Dr. George M. Smerk, Jr., died last year.
ATLANTA –– The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last week is having a ripple effect on eastern railroads and supply chains.
NEWARK, N.J. –– NJ TRANSIT has been awarded a federal grant to work with Rutgers University’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) to implement AI-powered safety systems on light rail vehicles at grade crossings.
WASHINGTON –– Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), today announced $200,000 in competitive crossing safety awareness grants to Operation Lifesaver programs in 10 states.
PUEBLO, Colo. – The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has headquartered rail industry research and test activities in Pueblo, Colo. for more than 40 years. Building on this legacy, AAR’s wholly owned subsidiary MxV Rail has transformed the organization and opened a new multi-campus operation to support the railways’ engineering, controlled on-track testing, and laboratory testing needs.
ATLANTA –– Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) announced Wednesday the appointment of John Orr as executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.
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.