Sound Transit’s Link has record-breaking ridership surge going into its eighth year

Sound Transit’s Link light rail entered its eighth year of service July 18 amid record-breaking ridership growth following the March opening of new stations serving Seattle’s Capitol Hill and University of Washington areas.

USDOT creates Build America Bureau

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has established the Build America Bureau, which will drive transportation infrastructure development projects in the United States by streamlining credit and grant opportunities while providing technical assistance and encouraging innovative best practices in project planning, financing, delivery and monitoring.

Sen. Stabenow joins Harsco Rail for tour, discussion

On July 19, 2016, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) joined representatives from Harsco Rail and United Auto Workers Local 811 to tour Harsco’s Ludington facility, address its union employees and discuss pressing rail and manufacturing issues.

OmniTRAX affiliate partners with Topflight Grain Cooperative to operate Decatur Central Railroad

A managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc., and an affiliate of The Broe Group and Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc., are entering into a joint venture to operate, drive business to and rehabilitate the rail line currently owned by Topflight Grain. OmniTRAX will manage the newly renamed Decatur Central Railroad, LLC, which links Cisco and Decatur, Ill., commencing in late 2016.

Hunter Harrison readies for a transition

E. Hunter Harrison came out of retirement in 2012 to lead Canadian Pacific out of the Class I basement, where it had languished for several years. The following year, his protégé, Keith Creel, left CN to join his mentor. Next July, Creel will officially fill Harrison’s shoes upon Harrison’s retirement after more than a half-century in railroading.

First Transit, Rio Grande Pacific, CTC, Inc. awarded Denton County Transportation Authority A-train operations and maintenance contract

Rio Grande Pacific Corporation (RGPC), CTC, Inc., and First Transit, Inc., have been awarded an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract from Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA).

FRA; TxDOT outline south Texas HSR options

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have released 10 service and route options for new and improved conventional and high-speed passenger rail service connecting Oklahoma City, Okla., Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and South Texas.

STB rejects Texas Central petition

The Surface Transportation Board announced on July 18 that a proposed, 240-mile, high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, Tex., does not fall under STB jurisdiction and does not require Board approval.

Minnesota establishes council on freight rail

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton issued an executive order, establishing the Governor’s Council on Freight Rail, which will bring together state officials and railroads in a public-private working group to improve communication and enhance safety and economic development in communities.

LACMTA turns to women to build Los Angeles

 

Twenty-one women graduated from the first Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) all-female construction boot camp as part of the Women Build Metro Los Angeles program.

NJ Transit celebrates Broad Street Extension tenth anniversary

It has been 10 years since New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) introduced the Broad Street Extension of the Newark Light Rail system, connecting two of the agency’s busiest train stations to the downtown district in the state’s largest city.

Two arguments on two-person crews

As reported by Railway Age, the Federal Railroad Administration, at a June 15, 2016 hearing regarding the agency’s proposed rule mandating two-person crews, heard two sharply contrasting arguments, one from freight rail management, the other from labor.

INRD opens new transload facility

Indiana Rail Road (INRD) officials hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 14 to officially open the railroad’s new Merom Transload, designed to provide efficient movement of commerce for current and future customers in the Wabash Valley.

OmniTRAX transloads major steel shipment

OmniTRAX Logistics Services, LLC, the transloading, terminal and logistics affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc., recently managed the handling and warehousing of more than 10 million pounds of coiled steel for one of its transload customers in Sand Springs, Okla.

Testing begins on RTD G Line

The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) and its contractor Denver Transit Partners (DTP) are beginning to test commuter rail trains along the entire length of the new G Line through Arvada and Wheat Ridge, Colo.

NC Hopson Road grade separation and track passing project complete

North Carolina state transportation officials gathered in Durham July 12 to celebrate the completion of the Hopson Road grade separation and passing track project, which was designed to enhance rail safety and efficiency.

Ridership up on LA’s new Expo Line

As reported by Railway Age, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported on July 11 that ridership numbers are up for Metro Expo since its extension opened May 20.

PTA taps Jacobs Engineering for airport rail link

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. has been appointed as client-side technical advisor to the Western Australia Public Transport Authority (PTA) for the Forrestfield Airport Rail Link.

Northern Lines Railway extends lease of Minnesota line

Anacostia Rail Holdings (ARH) subsidiary, Northern Lines Railway (NLR), has reached an agreement with BNSF to extend NLR’s lease of rail lines to 2025.

Florida East Coast preps to move first neo-panamax cargo at PortMiami

Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) celebrated with its partners, the arrival Saturday July 9 of MOL Majesty, the first neo-panamax vessel to transit the expanded Panama Canal bound for PortMiami.

LOAD MORE