Watco hires Greens Port terminal manager

Watco Terminal and Port Services appointed Earon Berotte to terminal manager at the Greens Port Crude by Rail Terminal in Houston, Texas.

Edmonton Rail Terminal to open at the end of 2014

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. and Imperial Oil have entered into a 50-50 joint venture to build a crude oil rail-loading facility in Strathcona County, Alberta, called the Edmonton Rail Terminal.

Eglinton Crosstown RFP issued to two pre-qualified consortia

Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario issued a request for proposals for Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project to the consortia pre-qualified to deliver the balance of the Crosstown project, an integrated system consisting of stations, trackwork, signaling, communications and other required infrastructure.

BART and unions resolve remaining labor contract issue

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manager Grace Crunican says all contract issues have been settled between BART and its two largest labor Unions. She will recommend the ratification of a final collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 1021 and ATU Local 1555 to the BART Board of Directors as soon as possible.

NTSB issues urgent safety recommendations to protect ROW workers

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two urgent safety recommendations to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to protect track workers.

Sound Transit board approves $1.1 billion 2014 budget

The Sound Transit Board approved a $1.1-billion 2014 budget that continues major light-rail expansions, carries more than 31 million riders next year and continues work to update the regional transit Long-Range Plan. The overall budget is relatively unchanged from 2013.

SEPTA unveils new capital improvement plan

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) presented a new capital improvement plan for addressing some of the transit system’s most pressing needs, including critical infrastructure upgrades and equipment replacement.

Newly elected BART board president seeks changes to future labor negotiations

Newly elected Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board President Joel Keller will seek changes to the agency’s labor negotiations process during his term as board leader. Director Keller was elected board president on Dec. 19 by a unanimous vote, the third time his fellow board members have chosen him to lead the board since he was first elected to represent District 2 in 1994.

SMART receives funds; adds station at Sonoma County Airport

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved $16.7 million in funds to extend Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) passenger rail service to the site of SMART’s Operations & Maintenance Facility near the Sonoma County Airport.

Five teams vie for California HSR Phase 2 construction contract

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) received five qualified bids for the next 60-mile phase of high-speed rail construction from Fresno south to the Tulare-Kern County line near Bakersfield, a contract worth $1.5 to $2 billion.

Parsons Brinckerhoff designing rehab for Pennsylvania viaduct

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff for preliminary engineering, final design and construction-phase services for the rehabilitation of the Mahoning Avenue Viaduct in New Castle, Pa.

Port of Kalama awards contract to double rail capacity at Temco site

The Port of Kalama awarded Railworks Corporation a contract for significant rail expansion and relocation at the Temco LLC site in the state of Washington.

Granite awarded grade separation project in Southern California

Granite Construction Incorporated has been awarded a $21 million contract by the city of Coachella, Calif., to construct a new grade-separated crossing junction.

Senators push for additional FRA funds to hire more rail inspectors

U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are asking for additional funding for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) saying that it is “woefully underfunded” and unable to fully evaluate existing and future rail safety programs across the nation’s freight and passenger railroads.

Sen. Schumer continues call for shortline tax credit extension

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) launched his push for the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2013 while visiting Saratoga Train Station in New York.

Pacific Imperial Railroad names chief commercial officer

Pacific Imperial Railroad is moving forward with plans to provide freight rail services to the Tijuana-Tecate region of Baja California by naming Charles Patterson as chief commercial officer.

Results of NRC/RTS/Commercial Insurance Associates Safe Railroad Contractor of the Year announced

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) released the winners of the 2013 NRC/RT&S/Commercial Insurance Associates Safe Railroad Contractor of the Year contest. Enthusiastic participation in the contest continued this year, with a record 54 rail contracting companies preparing entries.

Wabtec signs contract to provide PTC Equipment/Services for Sound Transit

Wabtec Corporation signed a $34-million contract with Sound Transit, in the Seattle, Wash., region, to design, install, test and commission a Positive Train Control (PTC) system.

Harsco signs distribution agreement with Protran

Harsco Rail signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Protran Technology on December 5, 2013.

Port of Montreal railway union ratifies six-year agreement

In Montreal, QB, Canada, a Port of Montreal railway union ratified a six-year agreement December 12 that will govern labor relations until December 31, 2018.

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