Fall Conference recap: AREMA, RTA

The 96th Annual Railway Tie Association Symposium and Technical Conference was held October 14 – 17 in Orlando, Fla., where 307 attendees gathered together to discuss the crosstie industry, as well as the railroading environment as a whole.

SEPTA appoints director of legislative affairs

Pamela Sarne McCormick, a public policy and government relations professional who has long served as the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Harrisburg representative, will join Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) as director of legislative affairs, effective December 29, 2014.

CN and USW union reach tentative agreement

Canadian National has reached a tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers (USW) union Local 2004 to renew the labor contract for approximately 3,000 CN maintenance-of-way employees represented by the USW in Canada. The current CN-USW labor agreement is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31, 2014.

MTA awards contract to repair and harden the South Ferry station

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded a $193.8-million contract to Judlau Contracting, Inc., to rehabilitate the new South Ferry station and include elements that would protect the station from flooding in the event of future damaging storms.

Caltrain releases Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project FEIR

Caltrain released the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the planned electrification of the Caltrain corridor between San Jose and San Francisco, Calif.

Team of 13 California U.S. Representatives look to block HSR funding in 2015 spending bill

Thirteen U.S. Representatives sent a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers and Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey on December 3 requesting that end-of-year appropriations measures include provisions to prohibit federal spending on California high-speed rail (CAHSR).

Unitrac names new president

Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healy Railroad Corporation, promoted Phil Pietrandrea to president. Pietrandrea, who joined Unitrac in 2006, most recently served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

Work begins to replace San Mateo Bridges

Work began December 4 on Caltrain’s San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project, an infrastructure project that will provide seismic upgrades to four aging railway passes on the Peninsula.

LIRR plans signal work for East Side Access Project

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will be performing signal work for the East Side Access project December 5 through December 8, which will require closing two of four East River Tunnels connecting Queens to Manhattan and Penn Station.

FTA promises MBTA Green Line nearly $1 billion

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is pledging nearly $1 billion in funding for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line extension to Somerville and Medford, Mass.

Hoback retiring; Mills named INRD president and CEO

Indiana Rail Road (INRD) Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Hoback will retire, effective June 30, 2015, from the helm of the railroad he has rebuilt from a broken-down branch line into a thriving regional railroad.

First phase of M-1 Rail construction completed

M-1 Rail completed its first phase of construction between Campus Martius Park and Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit.

Safety management and oversight tops TSB’s 2014 Watchlist

Through its updated Watchlist for 2014, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is raising awareness about the safety issues that pose the greatest risk to Canada’s marine, rail and air transportation sectors.

Sound Transit releases SEIS for long-range transit plan

Sound Transit released its final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) that will inform upcoming actions by the Sound Transit Board to update the regional transit Long-Range Plan and develop the next phase of transit investments for the region.

Trimble acquires vehicle lifecycle management firm Nexala

Trimble has acquired Nexala, a provider of enterprise solutions for the rail industry, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

FRA issues safety advisory on roadway worker authority limits

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a safety advisory to the rail industry to better protect rail employees working on rights-of-way under the supervision of a dispatcher.

MTA Transportation Reinvention Commission calls for system improvements

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Transportation Reinvention Commission, a group of 24 experts tasked with addressing challenges facing the regional transportation network,

Met Council shares Kenilworth bridge concepts for Southwest LRT

Three bridge concepts presented for the Kenilworth channel crossing on the Minneapolis Southwest LRT (Green Line Extension) would reinterpret the existing wooden railroad bridge with new, low-profile structures.

Watco names director of transportation safety

Watco Transportation Services appointed Jason Stutzman to director – transportation safety and training where he will work closely with the regional safety managers to develop and improve initial and annual refresher training courses.

CHSRA appoints CAO; issues RFQ for third phase of high-speed rail system

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) named Deborah Harper chief administrative officer, where she will oversee CHSRA’s administrative operations, which include the Office of Human Resources, the Office of Business Services/Facilities and the Office of Information Technology. Her post begins December 1.

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