NTSB releases preliminary report on UP employee fatality
A Union Pacific conductor was killed in August during a reverse movement on the railroad. The NTSB has released the preliminary report on the accident.
Safety
U.S. DOT announces grant awards for improvement of rail-highway crossings
The U.S. DOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced $59 million in grant awards for rail-highway grade crossings in California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania.
New complication puts strain on Sound Transit project
Crews continue to work connecting the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension to Tacoma Link with round-the-clock and nighttime construction activity.
Del Mar train tunnel plan advanced by SANDAG
RT&S Editor-in-Chief Bill Wilson has reported extensively on the challenges posed by the fragile Del Mar bluffs, and San Diego County’s regional planning agency appears to be ready to take concrete action to address the tenuous situation.
Oregon wildfire impacts Union Pacific operations
Union Pacific told customers in a service announcement that a curfew for train movement has been initiated in the area of Oakridge, Ore., due to the Cedar Creek fire.
Record-breaking CRISI funding will help fuel ‘railroad revolution’
The U.S. DOT has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of over $1.4 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) Grant funding.
MBTA has been responding to FTA’s safety concerns, but more work is on the horizon
The MBTA launched the Quality, Compliance, and Oversight Office to address the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) findings contained in the Safety Management Inspection report.
FTA hands MBTA another list of needed safety changes
Following a safety inspection of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail transit system, the U.S. DOT’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a report of findings and informed both MBTA and the state agency in charge of its oversight—the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU)—of needed safety changes that are in addition to directives FTA announced in June.
Bells & Whistles—Crews are pulling up new track on I-90 floating bridge
The top news stories RT&S was following the week ending Aug. 19.
Huge amount of federal funding en route to rail bridge and tunnel projects; most are on the East Coast
The U.S. DOT has awarded over $233 million to 11 projects in eight states to improve and modernize vital intercity passenger rail service.
Bridge safety concerns continue to halt Greater Cleveland Waterfront Line
Work on this bridge will require Browns fans to find another route to the game.
Brightline will use grant money to up game on grade crossing safety
Brightline and a bipartisan coalition of congressional officials announced a grant award of $25 million from the U.S. DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program.
NTSB releases preliminary report on Amtrak and UP roadway maintenance machine collision
The National Transportation Safety Board released its initial report on a July railroad collision.
WMATA in hot water with WMSC again
The Washington Metrorail Safety Commission issued a statement this week claiming that WMATA “did not follow through on all safety commitments made in April and May 2022.”
MBTA announces month-long Orange Line shutdown
RT&S reported Monday that MBTA had announced that it would reschedule work on the Orange Line planned for next month.
Watch: NJ Transit and Amtrak break ground on Portal North Bridge project
NJ Transit and Amtrak are replacing the century-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey with a higher bridge that will not have to open and close for river traffic.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approves rail crossing upgrades in four counties
Last week, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved safety upgrades at rail crossings in Columbiana, Lorain, Tuscarawas and Union counties.
HART dealing with cracks along rail line
HART is seeing cracks grow on it’s Honolulu rail line.
Transport Canada announces new rail safety measures
This week, the Canadian Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced that the Government of Canada is taking new actions to improve rail safety, in alignment with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s recommendations regarding the derailment in Field, British Columbia, in 2019.
Watch: First NTSB report on Amtrak collision with dump truck in June
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its first report on the collision between Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and a dump truck in rural Missouri.