Washington state to improve 98 crossings through Grade Crossing Protective Fund grants
Washington state regulators have approved nearly $18,000 for rail safety upgrades at 98 railroad crossings in Grant, Franklin, Adams, Yakima and Benton counties.
Safety
PUCO approves upgrades at five rail crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved funding authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing rail crossing warning device upgrades at five crossings.
FASTRACK returns to Manhattan and Queens Nov. 3
On November 3, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK program returns to the E, F, M and R lines in Manhattan and Queens for four consecutive weeknights. E service will be suspended between Roosevelt Av. and World Trade Center; F service will be suspended between Roosevelt Av. and 21 St-Queensbridge; M service will end early between 71 Av. and Essex St. each night and R service will end early between 71 Av. and 36 St. in Brooklyn each night.
Transport Canada addresses safety issues linked to Lac-Mégantic
Transport Canada is implementing measures to address the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s (TSB) recommendations stemming from its final report on the Lac-Mégantic train derailment.
Pennsylvania awards funds to 86 multimodal projects
Pennsylvania has awarded $84 million to fund 86 multimodal projects in 35 counties in the state, including nine rail-specific projects.
NTSB cites poor safety management in five Metro-North accidents
In its investigation of five Metro-North accidents, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified several recurring safety issues, including inadequate and ineffective track inspection and maintenance, extensive deferred maintenance issues, inadequate safety oversight and deficiencies in passenger car crashworthiness, roadway worker protection procedures and organizational safety culture.
MTA marks 110 years of New York subway service
October 27th, 2014, marks the 110th anniversary of the New York City Transit subway system. The first train ran north from City Hall to 145th Street and Broadway. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) notes that the New York City Transit system that now benefits 5.8 million daily customers sprang from a single line that didn’t leave the confines of Manhattan.
Foothill Gold Line completes work at 14 crossings ahead of schedule
On the heels of last week’s completion of all light rail track installation for the Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has achieved another major milestone for the project – completion of all 14 grade crossings for the 11.5-mile light-rail extension, three months ahead of schedule.
Elecnor, Cobra short-listed for Caltrain Modernization Program
Elecnor, in a joint venture with Cobra, has been short-listed for the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP), a key component of the Caltrain Modernization Program in California. The project worth nearly $1.23 billion and scheduled to be implemented by 2019.
NCDOT Secretary Tata pledges commitment to rail safety
N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Secretary Tony Tata visited the BeRailSafe booth at the North Carolina State Fair to sign a pledge stating his commitment to rail safety.
FRA issues Metra safety recommendations
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released the findings and recommendations on Oct. 16, 2014, from its focused safety assessment of Metra, the Chicago area’s suburban rail service.
Caltrain gets FRA approval for PTC system
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has given Caltrain the green light to proceed with the installation and testing of its Positive Train Control (PTC) technology.
AECOM completes acquisition of URS Corporation
AECOM completed its acquisition of URS Corporation on Oct. 17, 2014, following approval of the merger agreement by URS’ stockholders and the stock issuance proposal by AECOM’s stockholders at each company’s respective special stockholder meetings held on Oct. 16, 2014.
FEIS, ROD issued for CREATE’s 75th Street CIP
The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program partners and the Federal Highway Administration announced the availability of the combined Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (75th Street CIP).
Fairfax County approves streetcar funds
Fairfax County in Virginia approved funding preliminary engineering designs for the planned Columbia Pike Streetcar, a joint project with Arlington County, which serves as the lead partner for the project.
CN officially opens Illinois training facility
Canadian National (CN) opened a new employee training center in suburban Chicago. The 55,000-square-foot facility will host up to 250 CN students from across the United States every week, with hands-on training for all key railway jobs.
SEPTA, BLET reach tentative five-year agreement
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), representing 200 rail engineers at Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), have reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract with the transit agency that will cover workers through July 2015.
Metra unveils $2.4 billion modernization plan; 2015 budget includes 10.8 percent fare increase
Chicago’s Metra released a long-term, multibillion dollar modernization plan focused on replacing the agency’s aging rail cars and locomotives and addressing the ongoing critical need to maintain safe and reliable service for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters.
RailComm provides its DOC system to Ferromex
Ferromex railroad has chosen RailComm to provide yard automation to 80-plus newly-installed switch machines, which will be controlled via the RailComm Domain Operations Controller (DOC) in Torreon City, Mexico.
Bentley Systems names Be Inspired finalists
Bentley Systems, Inc., a company dedicated to providing software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has announced the project finalists in the 2014 Be Inspired Awards competition.