FTA Requires New Work Plan from MBTA in Letter
WASHINGTON –The Federal Transit Administration requires the MBTA to submit a new safety work plan that addresses their concerns more quickly than MBTA’s original deadline.
Regulatory
NTSB to Hold East Palestine Investigative Hearing
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced May 24 that it will hold a two-day investigative hearing in East Palestine, Ohio, on June 22-23, as part of the ongoing investigation into the Feb. 3 derailment of
When in ROMA, Do As the ROMAns Do?
CN and the City of Sarnia, Ontario, are in a dispute over who pays for drainage work on CN’s right-of-way. Sarnia is a key U.S./Canada rail border crossing for CN. The matter
ICC OKs Highway/Rail Grade Crossing Projects
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has signed off on stipulated agreements to improve safety at highway/rail grade crossings in Bond, Champaign, Henry and St. Clair counties. Total cost: $3.17 million.
FRA Safety Bulletin Aims to Increase Awareness of Hand-Operated Main Track Switches
Following a train collision that occurred on April 16 involving a misaligned switch, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has released a Safety Bulletin to remind railroads about ways to “ensure safe operation of hand-operated main track switches.”
CARB Passes New In-Use Locomotive Regulation
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on April 27 passed a new rule aimed at reducing emissions from locomotives when they operate within the state. According to CARB, under the In-Use Locomotive Regulation—the
FRA to Railroads: Approval Required for PTC System Outages Under Certain Conditions
Railroads now must seek Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval before temporarily disabling their Positive Train Control (PTC) systems during infrastructure upgrades or capital projects, according to a notification in the Federal Register. A previous provision allowing them to just notify FRA of the disablement has expired.
PUCO Approves Rail Crossing Upgrades in Four Counties
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved $1.6 million in state and federal funds for rail crossing safety upgrades in Clinton, Hamilton, Lucas, and Stark counties.
NTSB Identifies Probable Cause in 2021 Worker Fatality in Texas
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued Railroad Investigation Report 23/04 for the investigation of an accident on Sept. 22, 2021, involving an equipment operator who was struck and killed by a load of steel he was transporting by a roadway maintenance machine near Castroville, Texas.
GDC Revises Hudson Tunnel Project Procurement Strategy
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) on April 18 announced that it has revised its procurement strategy to build the Hudson Tunnel Project, dividing the “Civil Works” construction of the new tunnel from one package to four packages, including additional early works projects.
FRA Awards Automated Track Inspection Program Contract to ENSCO
ENSCO Inc., a provider of railway track inspection and measurement technology, has announced that the Federal Railroad Administration has awarded it a new five-year contract to carry out its Automated Track Inspection Program.
NTSB: Fractured Rail Identified in Fiery BNSF Minnesota Derailment
BNSF railroad is analyzing a section of fractured rail following last month’s fiery derailment that forced evacuations in southwest Minnesota, federal investigators said; however they have not officially concluded that the broken rail caused the crash.
Federal Officials Tour Coastal Erosion in San Clemente, Del Mar
Another top federal official visited Southern California on April 13 to see two places where the vital coastal railroad is threatened by erosion.
U.S. Rep. Nehls Tours Herzog Facility at NRC-REMSA Grassroots Event
NRC and REMSA member Herzog Technologies, Inc. welcomed U.S. House of Representatives Member Troy Nehls (TX-22) for a tour of its Fort Worth, Texas, facility on April 7, 2023.
Ohio Commission Approves Safety Upgrades for 100-Plus Crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) recently approved $1.17 million in safety upgrades at more than 100 rail crossings in 15 counties.
Amtrak Completes Upgrades at Gastonia Station
With the completion of a $3.2 million project at the Gastonia, North Carolina, station, Amtrak travelers now have a more accessible journey.
Transit Partners Appeal Ruling That Denied $100M Claim for RTD’s Unexpected Costs
The contracting group that built three commuter rail lines for the Regional Transportation District appealed a court verdict on March 30 that had denied its request for the transit agency to cover almost $112 million in unforeseen costs.
San Clemente Stabilization Project to Entail San Luis Rey River Habitat Restoration
The railroad stabilization project planned on a coastal hillside in San Clemente will involve the preservation of native habitat near the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside.
Illinois Awards $200MM in Freight Mobility Grants
In Illinois, 22 port, rail and highway projects will share $200 million in grant funding to address bottlenecks, increase mobility, and improve the supply chain up and down the state, Gov. JB
MnDOT, NJDOT Award $35MM in Freight Rail Improvement Grants
The departments of transportation in Minnesota (MnDOT) and New Jersey (NJDOT) are investing $6.95 million and $27.8 million, respectively, in projects that will improve freight rail infrastructure.