Portal Bridge replacement project officially begins
A ground breaking ceremony was held Oct. 31 for the replacement of the Portal Bridge, a two-track 110-year-old swing span structure linking New Jersey and New York City.
Safety
RTD receives FRA approval to finish G Line testing
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has been granted conditional approval from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to conclude testing along the G Line.
TTC Woodbine Station reopens after upgrades
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) upgrades to its Woodbine Station are complete, following an overhaul to make the station fully accessible.
SMART offers free service during wildfires
As wildfires burn in its service region, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) will continue to provide free train service for passengers through Sunday, Oct.15 to assist evacuees and others who need transportation options.
RTA Lee-Shaker Station upgrades complete
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) along with officials of the City of Shaker Heights will participate in a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the newly upgraded Lee-Shaker Station on the authority’s Green Line.
NJ Transit combats slippery rail
NJ Transit is utilizing its two AquaTrack machines to clean fallen leaves off its rails.
NYC Transit’s Enhanced Station Initiative expands to Astoria Line stations
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced plans to expand New York City Transit’s Enhanced Station Initiative to the 30th Av and 36th Av N, W stations.
$67-million CREATE project complete
The intersection improvement project at Irving Park Road (Illinois 19) and York Road, which follows a railroad overpass companion project built on Irving Park Road, is now complete, according to The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
Siemens invests in Wi-Tronix
Siemens has made a “significant strategic equity investment” in Wi-Tronix, a supplier of remote monitoring, video analytics, and predictive diagnostic systems for rail rolling stock and infrastructure and other industrial markets.
LIRR to replace Post Avenue Bridge
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will replace the railroad’s 103-year-old Post Avenue Bridge that carries the Main Line over Post Avenue at the Westbury train station.
MassDOT awards freight grants to 8 rail projects
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has awarded more than $3 million in industrial freight grants to eight projects.
California high-speed project meets ARRA funding deadline
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) says it has met federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 requirements by fully investing the more than $2.55 billion granted to the state since 2009 to build the nation’s first high-speed rail system.
Port Mac rail extension is 75% complete; embankment closed for travel
The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension has reached 75 percent completion, but officials say the 32-mile embankment is closed to travel due to increased rates of vandalism.
Houston Metro launches pilot program for pedestrian safety at rail crossings
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston Metro) is launching a pilot program to test a Bluetooth pedestrian alert system (BPAS) at four locations.
USDOT looks to align FRA, FTA and FHWA environmental regs
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) Sept. 28 that will “harmonize” the environmental review process between the three highway, transit and railroad agencies.
Transit agencies holding events for Rail Safety Week
Transit agencies around the United States are taking part in the first U.S. Rail Safety Week to support the efforts of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), and promote safe behavior around rail property.
Amtrak and OLI “Clear the Track”
Amtrak and Operation Lifesaver Inc. (OLI) kicked off Rail Safety Week this morning with the assembly of its Operation Clear the Track.
Class 1s spread U.S. Rail Safety Week message
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), is spearheading the inaugural Rail Safety Week (RSW) in the U.S. Sept. 24-30. Class 1s are supporting the focus on rail safety with their own efforts throughout the week.
MBTA moves forward with Wollaston Red Line Station project
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) is moving forward with improvements at the Wollaston Red Line Station.
NTSB dockets opened for NJ Transit, LIRR crashes
Dockets for the fatal Sept. 29, 2016, New Jersey Transit commuter rail collision in Hoboken, N.J., and the Jan. 4, 2017, Long Island Rail Road collision at the Atlantic Terminal, Brooklyn, New York, were opened to the public Sept. 21 by the National Transportation Safety Board as part of its ongoing investigations of the two accidents.