President of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT), Carmen Bianco plans to retire later this year from his position running the largest mass transit system in North America. In his time as president, Bianco transformed the agency’s organizational culture to align management strategies, enhance safety and improve customer service to advance the subways, buses, paratransit and Staten Island Railway in New York City.
Canadian National will invest CA$20-million (US$-16 million) in the expansion of its cold supply chain capacity to help producers and distributors of chilled or frozen foods grow their businesses in 20 North American and overseas markets.
On May 29, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Sarah Feinberg as administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration. Feinberg has been serving as acting administrator since January 9, 2015.
The Transportation Research Board is accepting proposals until September 15, 2015, for the Safety IDEA Program, which supports the development and testing of innovative concepts and methods for improving railroad safety or performance.
Jim Hertwig, Florida East Coast Railway’s (FEC) president and chief executive officer and Juan Kuryla, director and CEO of PortMiami, met with Panama Canal officials and toured the construction site for the canal expansion, which is scheduled to be completed in April 2016.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors has approved a new $5.56 billion FY 2016 budget.
The Surface Transportation Board‘s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed construction and operation of a 43-mile rail line between Levan and Salina, Utah. Approval to construct and operate the line is being sought by the Six County Association of Governments’ (Six Counties), an association of local governments located in central Utah.
The annual Rail Summit, held in Chicago, Ill., at the Union League Club of Chicago, was well attended by transportation executives and decision makers discussing this year’s theme of the supply chain including railroads, waterways and trucking.
Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) presented a proposal to Québec’s Committee on Public Finance that would integrate the light-rail systems of the South Shore and West Island.
A bill to extend current surface transportation funding at MAP-21 levels through July was approved by the Senate on Friday, May 22, and now awaits President Obama’s signature.
The province of Ontario will provide up to CA$1 billion (US$804 million) to build a new light-rail transit (LRT) line in Hamilton as part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history.
Parsons appointed Jannet M. Walker as vice president and deputy eastern sector manager for the corporation’s Rail and Transit Systems Division. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., her primary focus will be growing the rail and transit business in the eastern United States, providing leadership in overall operations and sector management.
California’s Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority held a community open house and dedication for the Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus.
Safety improvements, including the installation of vehicular traffic gates and warning lights, have been completed at a private railroad crossing in the Springdale neighborhood of Stamford where there have been several accidents in recent years involving vehicles striking trains.
Jeffrey Heller and Cary Booth have assumed additional responsibilities in Norfolk Southern‘s intermodal department.
Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council‘s Southwest Project Office is analyzing options for cutting $341 million in costs for the Green Line light-rail extension from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.
Virginia’s Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to endorse the construction of a new Potomac Yard Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority (WMATA) Station and select “Alternative B” as the preferred location. This endorsement now permits the development of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for expected release this winter.
U.S. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX-7) and Houston Metro Board Chairman Gilbert Garcia made an agreement, which they say paves the way for future transportation solutions to address the growing needs of the region.
The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2353, a short-term authorization extension that will provide surface transportation funding through July 31, 2015.
The Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), passed by a vote of 387 – 35 – 1. This extension comes after several weeks of failed negotiations to find approximately $11 billion to fund the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) until the end of the calendar year. House and Senate leaders were unable to reach an agreement on offsets for a bill that would extend the programs through the end of the year, which was intended to give Congress time to form a larger tax reform package to pay for a multi-year surface transportation bill.
In a statement, American Public Transportation Association President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Melaniphy said, “We appreciate the U.S. House of Representatives for passing an extension of the federal program for surface transportation funding. However, this extension does not increase funding for public transportation, roads, bridges and rails, it merely maintains the current funding levels of the program until the end of July. It also avoids the May 31 deadline when the program was set to expire.
“It is our understanding that it is likely this action by the House will lead to an additional extension of the federal program which could last until the end of the year. Congressional leaders note that this extension is intended to provide time to secure funding for a long-term bill.
“APTA strongly believes that Congress should expedite its efforts and find a solution that provides for long-term investment in our public transportation, road and rail network. It is crucial that Congress act with urgency to address the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
“Congress must get focused and use these two months to develop realistic and viable options for a long-term solution to funding the nation’s transportation system.”
Watco Companies purchased two west Texas shortlines from Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC, May 18, 2015. Watco Transportation Services (WTS) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Texas and New Mexico Railway and the West Texas Lubbock and Western Railway.