Paul Wiedefeld named WMATA CEO
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has named Paul Wiedefeld general manager and chief executive officer. Wiedefeld will be formally appointed at WMATA’s next board of directors meeting November 19.
OFF Track Maintenance
Tri-Rail and SMART –UTU ratify agreement
United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation workers (UTU-SMART) represented engineers, conductors and transportation specialists have ratified a tentative agreements with Tri-Rail/Transdev in Florida.
Unimin Energy Solutions opens terminal in W.Va.
Unimin Energy Solutions opened its second unit train capable terminal located in Benwood, W.Va. October 27.
Sioux Falls closes on downtown rail yard purchase
The city of Sioux Falls, N.D., and BNSF closed on the city’s purchase of the downtown rail yard.
UP opens new railport in Texas
Union Pacific‘s new Kinney County Railport in Kinney County, Texas, opened Nov. 3.
SEPTA 40th Street Station receives ADA improvements
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) broke ground on ADA accessibility improvements at SEPTA’s 40th Street Market Frankford Line Station that includes the installation of two elevators to be constructed on the northwest and southeast corners of 40th and Market Streets. In addition to the two new elevators, the $7.4-million construction project includes four new head house entrances and overall station improvements.
Ohio DOT to place 1,000 stop signs at crossings
Over the next few months, the Ohio Department of Transportation (Ohio DOT), in conjunction with the Ohio Rail Development Commission, will replace 1,000 yield signs for stop signs at crossings. The decision was made after Ohio DOT reviewed nearly 2,000 crossings as a result of a change in state law.
TSB highlights Watchlist issues from October 2014 incident
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report regarding an October 28, 2014, incident involving a VIA Rail Canada passenger train passing a stop signal near Newtonville, Ontario.
Brampton City Council rejects LRT planned through downtown
At a special Council Meeting on Oct. 27, Brampton City Council in Ontario voted to terminate the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit (HMLRT) project at Steeles Avenue.
Spring construction scheduled for new Schenectady train station
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll unveiled plans for the new Schenectady Train Station, which will be a modern, fully accessible transportation hub connecting travelers to New York City, Niagara Falls and destinations between and beyond. Station construction is scheduled to get under way in the spring.
Caltrain to replace century old Tilton rail bridge
As part of the San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project, Caltrain will replace the 100-year-old Tilton Avenue rail bridge on the weekend of Nov. 7, 2015.
Senate committee approves Feinberg as FRA administrator
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved Sarah Feinberg to be administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration by a 19-1 vote.
CP names new chief legal officer and corporate secretary
Canadian Pacific has appointed Jeffrey Ellis to chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective December 1, 2015, replacing Paul Guthrie, who will retire in the first quarter of 2016.
FTA advances WMATA rail safety oversight measures
On Oct. 26, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Safety Directive16-1 to the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC) and sent a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board Chair and Interim General Manager detailing the new roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships between the organizations.
Union Pacific marks employee safety milestone
Union Pacific’s employees achieved a 0.92 reportable injury rate through the third quarter, improving 12 percent over the same period in 2014.
Harsco Rail names new VP of international regions
Harsco Rail, a division of Harsco Corporation has appointed Andre Schoen to vice president for international regions.
Amtrak’s Boardman says funding is biggest hurdle to fixing Chicago, New York
Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman was joined by a panel of industry experts Oct. 26 at the National Press Club to highlight the need to make infrastructure planning and investment a national priority.
Former MTA chairman E. Virgil Conway dies
E. Virgil Conway, who served as both Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) chairman and as a member of the MTA Board, died October 21, 2015, in Southampton, N.Y., at the age of 85.
BNSF names Austin Western Railroad its shortline of the year
BNSF has named Austin Western Railroad (AWRR) as its 2015 Shortline Railroad of the Year during its annual Shortline Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
RTD rail service to Denver airport to begin April 2016
Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) received notice from Denver Transit Partners that the University of Colorado A Line commuter rail service from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport (DIA) will be ready for service on April 22, 2016.