The Metra Board of Directors has formally called on Congress to extend the Dec. 31, 2015 deadline to install Positive Train Control (PTC), agreeing with a staff analysis that in the current regulatory environment, Metra will not be able to legally operate beyond that date.
Battelle has been awarded a $3.1-million contract by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to perform an Independent Safety Assessment and safety certification support for the design and implementation of Interoperable Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) on the Queens Boulevard Line in the New York City Transit system.
RailComm will launch its new smart monitoring and analytics platform, RailComm Insight™, as well as new software and hardware products for yard automation and mainline dispatching at Railway Interchange 2015.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report reviewing the process of Positive Train Control implementation. Bottom line: Most railroads will not meet the deadline.
State and federal officials along with project partners celebrated the opening of TriMet’s MAX Orange Line on Sept. 12 with an Inaugural Ride as part of the daylong festivities.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver and its contractor, Denver Transit Partners, began testing trains along the East Rail A Line on Sept. 11 and 12.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Prendergast is pointing to a Sept. 10 derailment to highlight the need for additional funds to keep the system is a state of good repair.
The Chicago Transit Board approved a contract to begin design work on the Ravenswood Loop Connector Signal Project to replace a 40-year-old signal system on tracks serving the Brown and Purple Line Express between Armitage and Merchandise Mart stations. The modern signal system will enhance CTA’s ability to move trains more efficiently and safely.
The North Carolina Board of Transportation adopted the 2015 Comprehensive State Rail Plan at its meeting on August 5, 2015. The Rail Plan was created to identify near- and long-term freight, passenger and safety projects, in addition to other rail initiatives that will help better serve the state’s communities, businesses and industries.
To highlight the importance of safety around trains, the Caltrain Board adopted a proclamation for Railroad Safety Month.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is soliciting applications for $10 million in competitive grant funding available to states to improve highway-rail grade crossings and track along routes that transport energy products, such as crude oil and ethanol.
The guidelines for the grant applications set by the FRA encourage states to include innovative solutions to improve safety, especially at highway-rail grade crossings. The funding is part of the Railroad Safety grants for the Safe Transportation of Energy Products (STEP) by Rail Program.
“The U.S. Department of Transportation has made increasing safety at highway-rail grade crossings, especially along routes transporting energy products, one of its top priorities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This money allows the department to support innovative ideas and solutions developed at the local level and I encourage states to apply for this funding.”
Highway-rail grade crossings collisions are the second-leading cause of all railroad-related fatalities. Last year, 269 individuals died in these collisions. While the number of fatalities has decreased for the last several decades, this number increased last year for the first time this decade.
FRA notes that highway-rail grade crossing accidents are frequently the result of a driver’s lack of awareness of a crossing or an oncoming train or a driver’s attempt to “beat the train.” Earlier this year, FRA ramped up its campaign to prevent collisions and save lives at highway-rail grade crossings through greater education, stronger enforcement and smarter engineering. To accomplish this, FRA developed key partnerships and has: worked with Google and other technology companies to integrate FRA’s grade-crossing location data to provide audio and visual alerts when using turn-by-turn navigation applications; partnered with local law enforcement agencies to increase enforcement at railroad crossings and supported research on grade crossing technology.
“Most of these deaths are completely preventable and that is why the Federal Railroad Administration has redoubled its efforts to reverse last year’s upward trend. These funds will allow states to take innovative ideas and make them a reality to increase safety and decrease fatalities,” said FRA Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg.
Through the GROW AMERICA Act, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has proposed creating new grant program that would make $250 million available to local communities for highway-rail grade crossings, as well as other critical rail infrastructure projects. In addition, USDOT has proposed continuing Federal Highway Administration’s $220-million per-year dedicated grant program for highway-rail grade-crossing projects.
Earlier this year, USDOT released its rule that raises the bar on the safety of transporting crude oil by rail. The rule requires stronger tank cars and 21st century electronically controlled pneumatic brakes that activate simultaneously on all tank cars, reduce the distance and time needed for a train to stop and keep more tank cars on the track if a train does derail. USDOT has also required that railroads transporting crude oil notify State Emergency Response Commissions of the movement of crude oil through individual states.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) Rail Division recently made crossing safety improvements at an intersection near Kernersville, N.C.
Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) will begin the final stages of its 18-month effort to completely rehabilitate the Ben Franklin Bridge.
As part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (WMATA) investigation into the cause of an August 6 derailment, a technical incident report has been released.
The Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) approved an updated set of rules for transporting hazardous materials by rail. Combined with Oregon Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) addition of four rail inspectors, the rules aim to improve the state’s ability to both prevent incidents and respond to them if they do occur.
The Federal Railroad Administration issued a safety advisory to emphasize the importance of timely repairs of ballast defects and conditions on main tracks.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), along with the departments of Education and Labor, released a joint report, “Strengthening Skills Training and Career Pathways across the Transportation Industry,” which details future employment hot spots in transportation by industry subsectors, occupations, career areas and geographic areas.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has declared the week of Aug. 23-29 as Indiana Rail Safety Week and the Indiana Rail Road (INRD) is participating via a grade-crossing blitz in partnership with the Terre Haute Police Department and Indiana Operation Lifesaver.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will award New Jersey Transit $71 million in Sandy recovery funds to support important repair and resiliency projects.
Union Pacific is working with hundreds of local, municipal and volunteer fire departments in California to prevent fires along its right-of-way following four years of drought.