TTCI’s Stabler highlights crude by rail safety training program at Senate hearing

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation with local emergency responders and an commitment to preparedness, Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), President Lisa Stabler testified before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia about the railroad industry’s continuing safety efforts.

PUCO approves upgrades of eight rail crossings throughout Ohio

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved eight highway-rail grade crossing projects in Lucas, Seneca, Stark and Wood counties.

DART accelerates opening date for DFW Airport Station

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will connect North Texas commuter to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport) four months early and under budget with the opening of DFW Airport Station August 18.

Caltrain to host safety themed AMA discussion

With Caltrain‘s ridership continuing to surge and the Bay Area population growing, Caltrain is hosting a rail safety themed Reddit – Ask Me Anything (AMA) discussion to encourage an open dialogue about safety near railroad tracks.

Metro-North signal upgrades completed ahead of schedule

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad has completed permanent changes to its signal system to ensure automatic speed enforcement at five critical curves and five moveable bridges in New York and Connecticut, more than five months ahead of schedule.

CTC allocates funds for ACE grade separation project

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated $334 million in funding to 53 projects, including $48 million to the Alameda Corridor East – Construction Authority (ACE) Puente Avenue Grade Separation Project.

NCDOT begins series of PIP rail improvements between Salisbury and Kannapolis

On March 24, the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin a rail project to add 11 miles of second track to the Norfolk Southern line between Salisbury and Kannapolis. The work will involve upgrading some railroad crossings and permanently closing others, extending Kimball Road from Main Street to Center Avenue and constructing a bridge carrying the North Carolina Railroad tracks over Kimball Road.

TTCI hosts Senate and House Appropriation Committee members for facility tour

On March 18, members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committee toured the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC), near Pueblo, Colo., to learn firsthand about the activities being performed at the site.

ASLRRA names 2013 safety winners

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) named the winners of its Safety Awards for 2013. ASLRRA says the Safety Program enables the association to recognize the continued efforts of its members to maintain a high level of safety.

RTD FasTracks breaks ground on North Metro Rail Line

Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) FasTracks broke ground March 20 on the North Metro Rail Line, a new passenger rail service that will improve transit options for Denver’s northern communities when it opens in 2018.

MTA moves forward with cameras on trains

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is moving forward with the installation of video cameras on trains.

NJ mayors band together for light rail extension

Englewood, N.J., Mayor Frank Huttle III, along with 11 other mayors in the state have formed a mayors’ commission to spearhead a plan to extend the northern portion of New Jersey Transit’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Line through Bergen County.

Study puts price of New Orleans to Baton Rouge passenger train at $262 million

A study by HNTB Corp. indicates that a passenger train linking New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., on existing freight tracks, with stops in between, could begin two daily trips, ultimately growing to regular service with a possible station near the New Orleans International Airport.

CREATE keeps Chicago rail moving

In it’s 11th year, the CREATE program continues its capacity and safety enhancements to secure Chicago’s place in a strong national rail network.

NRC Conference proves to be anything but dry

Good weather, but better information, could be found at the 2014 National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Annual Conference.

Amtrak says FY2015 budget request protects NEC infrastructure

In its FY 2015 budget request to Congress, Amtrak is seeking a change in federal investment and says that continuation of current funding levels will leave the Northeast Corridor (NEC) infrastructure “vulnerable to a bigger, costlier and far more damaging failure than anything yet seen.”

Unique equipment used to install catenary on Denver’s Eagle P3 project

Denver Transit Partners (DTP) is using a unique wire stringing train to assist in the installation of overhead power lines on Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) FasTrack’s Eagle P3 project.

UNITRAC, NRC host Rep. Duncan for Knoxville facility tour

U.S. Rep. John Duncan, Jr. (R-TN-02), joined representatives from UNITRAC Railroad Materials, the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), the Gulf & Ohio Railway and Nisus Corp. for a tour of UNITRAC’s manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tenn., on March 17.

Schumer wants feds to look at LIRR safety

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) urged the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to begin a formal examination of Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) overall safety regime.

Giulietti: Safety must come first at Metro-North

On March 14, 2014, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad President Joseph Giulietti responded to findings of a report by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) looking into Metro-North’s safety record and said the report is troubling and raises real concerns.

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