House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act. The initiative is a five-year, $260 billion infrastructure bill that reforms transportation programs and promotes increased domestic energy production to create American jobs.
The Association of American Railroads said the bill designed to fix the nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure will actually accelerate road and bridge damage and trigger an increase in taxpayer subsidies to the trucking industry, allowing for 20 percent heavier trucks and triple trailers.
Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle presented a proposed solution to further strengthen the financial plan of Honolulu’s rail project, remain on target for its successful completion and obtain full funding in the amount of $1.55 billion from the federal government.
GO Transit’s new Allandale Waterfront Station in Barrie, ON, Canada, has opened for service. The new station allows GO Transit to extend service further into downtown Barrie, which will improve access and increase ridership on the Barrie line.
The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads in Virginia selected William Harrell as the new president and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit. The vote was unanimous.
For the first time in its history, Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service between Chicago and Milwaukee, has a ridership that surpassed 800,000 in 2011. The year-end numbers put ridership at 823,163. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, that is a nearly four percent increase from 2010 when ridership totaled 792,848.
United Transportation Union-represented engineers and conductors employed by Apache Railroad in Arizona have ratified a new three-year agreement providing for wage increases, certification pay, improvements in disability and life insurance benefits, an increase in the employer match for a 401-k plan, substantial improvements in the healthcare insurance plan and a reduction in the employee contribution.
United Transportation Union engineers, conductors and collectors employed by Chicago South Shore & South Bend, an electric-line passenger operation between Chicago and South Bend, Ind., have ratified a new two-year agreement.
Port San Antonio in Texas and Watco Companies, L.L.C., plan to launch a new rail service at the Port’s East Kelly Railport.
Canada’s Evergreen Line in Vancouver, B.C., is taking a major step forward with pre-construction beginning in the next couple of weeks, bringing new jobs and improved transit options for residents of Metro Vancouver.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proposed a significant change in the way major transit projects compete for federal funds by streamlining the process and making decisions more responsive to local needs.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s PATH rail system reported record ridership in 2011, with 76.6 million commuter trips made during the year, the highest number since the agency took over operation of the system in 1962.
Jon Ryan has been named president of The Wood Energy Group, Inc., owned by Banyan Rail Serivices Inc.
CSX Corporation appointed Oscar Munoz as executive vice president and chief operating officer and Fredrik Eliasson as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately.
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Metro-North Railroad provided 82 million rides last year, up 1.4 percent over 2010, with ridership gains on all lines and in all markets from traditional morning inbound commutation to nights, weekends, middays and holidays.
The General Excise and Use Tax (GET) surcharge collected this past quarter for Honolulu’s rail project came in significantly higher than projected, marking the third consecutive quarter that revenue has surpassed projections, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation reported.
L.B. Foster Company appointed Robert Bauer as president and chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, effective February 1, 2012. Bauer joins the company from Emerson Climate Technologies where he previously served as president of the Refrigeration Division, a business of Emerson Electric Co. Bauer also served as president of Emerson Network Power’s Liebert Division.
Axion International plans to increase its production capabilities in 2012. In June of 2011 Axion signed a contract manufacturing agreement with Coll Materials to expand the company’s output and to do so at Coll’s southwest location in order to strategically service Axion’s growing customer base.
Canadian National and Canadian Pacific reached separate 10-year agreements with Canpotex Limited to transport potash volumes that Canpotex ships to export martkets.
By a nearly 4-to-1 margin, members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak. Ballots were counted and the final tally was 77.5 percent in favor and 22.5 percent against.