Through a grant from the Indiana Rail Road (INRD), the Coalition for Sustainable Rail (CSR) is initiating research on conversion of used railroad ties into an advanced biofuel, which is a first look into the viability of upcycling used railroad ties.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) celebrated its 25th anniversary April 11. The light-rail system began as a 6.6-mile segment and has grown into 42.2 miles, 62 stations, 21 park and ride lots and a fleet of 104 trains and trolleys.
Koppers Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire the Wood Preservation and Railroad Services businesses of Osmose Holdings, Inc.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled a six-year, $8.6-billion construction program that he says will improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation.
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), launched a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign called See Tracks? Think Train!, which aims to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks by highlighting behaviors that put people at risk.
Harsco Corporation Board of Directors has unanimously selected F. Nicholas Grasbergeras as the company’s president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. The appointment is the first step in a planned transition during which Grasberger will continue his duties as chief financial officer while the search for his successor in that role is conducted, and will become the company’s president and chief executive officer by mid-year 2014 once this process is complete.
Two Illinois state agencies pledged funding for transportation studies covering Decatur and Macon County that will examine how to increase and better handle freight moving through the region. The studies will look for ways to capitalize on growth of multi-modal shipping at the region’s Midwest Inland Port and at the operations of Archer Daniels Midland Co.
IntegriCo Composites is making a $20 million capital investment to establish a manufacturing facility near Springhill, La., that will produce transportation infrastructure components including crossties, rail crossings and industrial mats from landfill-bound plastic waste. The company also will relocate its corporate headquarters from Temple, Texas, to Webster Parish, La.
According to the Metropolitan Council, the Southwest Light Rail Transit staff in Minneapolis, Minn., has recommended building shallow tunnels for light- rail tracks and a bridge over a channel between two lakes for the Southwest Light Rail Transit Green Line Extension. Planners also recommended keeping Mitchell Station as the westernmost station in Eden Prairie.
Service on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) subways will operate 90 minutes longer on its Red, Orange, Blue and Green Line trains, effective immediately.
Late night service will operate as it does during the day, serving customers at the same stations and stops. The last Red, Orange, Blue and Green Line trains will depart downtown stations at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and approximately 1:00 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights. Extended late night service will operate approximately every 15-20 minutes, with more frequent service in the core of the system.
“Our customers are always asking for more service and I am happy that we are able to bring extended weekend hours to them beginning on March 28,” said MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott. “From students to entrepreneurs to service employees, late night service will allow a wide cross-section of our vibrant population to better travel home from both work and play.”
To help cover the cost of the additional service, the MBTA has launched a sponsorship program and has partnered with leading businesses from the Greater Boston area. The Boston Globe, Boston Red Sox, Dunkin’ Donuts, Suffolk Construction and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association have signed on as the first sponsors of the late night service pilot program. In total, sponsors are contributing more than $1.5 million in support to help cover the estimated $16 million cost of late night service.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the Moynihan Station Development Corporation (MSDC) have developed a coordinated transportation resiliency program to help prepare the region for future emergencies, reduce the impact of future storms on vital transportation infrastructure and improve the long-term reliability and resiliency of the public transportation network.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price have announced their support for a high-speed rail route between Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Houston METRO) now has access to the final appropriation of $187.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the North and Southeast Lines.
Trainmen and engineers represented by the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) and employed by Chicago Rail Link have ratified a new six-year agreement, with 95 percent of the affected employees voting in favor of the deal.
The Detroit, Mich., Woodward Avenue streetcar project has been awarded a 10-year, $10 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based loan from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
The Metra Board of Directors in Chicago has approved an $8.1-million contract to construct a pedestrian underpass and related improvements at the Lombard Station along the Union Pacific West Line.
With Caltrain‘s ridership continuing to surge and the Bay Area population growing, Caltrain is hosting a rail safety themed Reddit – Ask Me Anything (AMA) discussion to encourage an open dialogue about safety near railroad tracks.
Watco Transportation Services named Ron Chadwick as general manager of the Ann Arbor Railroad (AA). Ron will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the AA, as well as coordinating efforts between all railroad departments and achieving performance goals with optimum safety, economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) named the winners of its Safety Awards for 2013. ASLRRA says the Safety Program enables the association to recognize the continued efforts of its members to maintain a high level of safety.
Canadian National (CN) has proposed binding arbitration to reach a contract settlement with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference – Conductors, Trainpersons and Yardpersons (TCRC-CTY) after the union advised that the tentative labor agreement negotiated with CN on February 5, 2014, failed to ratify.