• June 21, 2013
• Shortline/Regional

Pacific Imperial Railroad and JLP enter into bridge management agreement

Pacific Imperial Railroad, Inc. (PIR), has entered into a Services Agreement with J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc., (JLP).

Under the agreement, JLP will provide a bridge management program, inspect 57 bridges, inspect 17 tunnels and provide a track inspection of the Desert Line. Additionally, JLP will provide oversight during the test train operations in compliance with PIR’s agreement with the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.

Ernie Dahlman, CEO of PIR, stated, “Once these inspections are implemented, we are prepared to immediately commence reconstruction activities on the Desert Line.”

• June 21, 2013
• Commuter/Regional

The T awards engineering contract to Urban Engineers and CTC

The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (T) in Texas awarded a three-year contract to the Urban Engineers’ team to provide professional engineering services as part of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract.

• June 21, 2013
• Shortline/Regional

GWI subsidiary recognized for safety

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) subsidiary, Rail Link, Inc., received the Wyoming Governor’s Safety Award for Large Mine Contractors for 2012 and the Wyoming State Mine Inspector Safety Award, both for the third consecutive year.

• June 21, 2013
• Bridges/Tunnels

TranSystems hires Western Region vice president

TranSystems has hired Ayman Salama as the Western Region vice president. Salama will be based in the company’s Santa Ana, Calif., office.

• June 19, 2013
• Class 1

Hamberger: Nation’s railroads safer than ever, PTC deadline too soon

Association of American Railroads President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 19 told a Senate Commerce Committee panel that massive private investments in safety-enhancing infrastructure and maintenance on such things as tracks, new equipment, as well as employee training and cutting-edge technologies, have helped make the nation’s railroads safer than ever in their history.

• June 19, 2013
• Intercity

Illinois Lawmakers unite in TIGER grant application

A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers have united in support of the application for federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding submitted earlier this month by the city of Springfield, Ill.

• June 19, 2013
• OFF Track Maintenance

HART to hold community meetings to discuss station designs

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) will hold a series of community meetings starting next week to discuss rail station designs.

• June 18, 2013
• Yards & Terminals

ND Pioneer Project receives $20 million in financing

An affiliate of World Fuel Services, the parent company of Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc.‘s, joint venture partner in New Town, N.D., is providing a term loan with up to $20 million in available funds that will finance a portion of Dakota Plains’ share of the Pioneer Terminal expansion project.

• June 18, 2013
• Class 1

CSX releases 2012 CSR Report

CSX unveiled its 2012 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report outlining the company’s operations, environmental, social and financial performance.

• June 18, 2013
• Safety

FRA launches app to raise grade-crossing safety awareness

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched an iOS smartphone mobile application, the Rail Crossing Locator, which provides the public with easy access to safety information about the nation’s more than 200,000 highway-rail grade crossings.

• June 18, 2013
• Shortline/Regional

ARRC shuffles senior management

As part of a company reorganization, the Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) recently realigned its top-level management team, which features expanded roles and a few new faces.

• June 18, 2013
• Shortline/Regional

Watco appoints three to new positions

Watco Transportation Services promoted Mike Stickel to vice president sales and marketing, East Region. With the acquisition growth of Watco’s railroads across the company, additional marketing and sales resources are being deployed to ensure Watco is meeting customer’s needs.

• June 18, 2013
• OFF Track Maintenance

CTLGroup CEO steps down, temporary replacement named

Engineering firm CTLGroup says its President and CEO Jeffrey Garrett, Ph.D., S.E., has resigned and Timothy Tonyan, Ph.D., vice president and group manager of materials consulting practice, will serve as interim president and CEO.

• June 17, 2013
• Shortline/Regional

Keolis, VRE’s contractor operator, ratifies a deal with the UTU

Members of the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) employed by Keolis Rail Services ratified a new three-year agreement June 7 to continue service on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains operating between Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Of the ballots returned, 78 percent were in favor of the new pact.

• June 14, 2013
• OFF Track Maintenance

RSAC recommends passenger rail crashworthiness standards to accommodate HSR

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) voted unanimously on implementing new crashworthiness performance standards for next generation high-speed passenger rail equipment that will operate in the United States.

• June 14, 2013
• Intercity

CHSRA granted exemption from STB

The Surface Transportation Board granted an exemption for construction of 65 miles of California high speed railroad right-of-way between Merced and Fresno, Calif., on Thursday, June 13, 2013.

• June 14, 2013
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

BART approves $1.5 billion FY14 budget

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors has approved a $1.5 billion balanced budget for fiscal year 2014 that responds to customer priorities with investments in cleaner stations, new trains and other system improvements.

• June 14, 2013
• OFF Track Maintenance

TranSystems names new senior vice president for passenger and transit

Robert Ryan joined TranSystems as senior vice president and market sector leader for its national passenger rail and transit practice areas.

• June 13, 2013
• OFF Track Maintenance

JLP hires former Amtrak construction manager

J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (JLP) hired Harry Steelman as senior construction manager, a former Amtrak construction manager.

• June 13, 2013
• Rapid Transit/Light Rail

WMATA to implement close call reporting

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is launching a Close Call Transit Safety Reporting System designed to enhance safety by increasing the opportunity for employee reporting of incidents or situations that have the potential for more serious consequences.