Sioux Falls closes on downtown rail yard purchase

The city of Sioux Falls, N.D., and BNSF closed on the city’s purchase of the downtown rail yard.

UP opens new railport in Texas

Union Pacific‘s new Kinney County Railport in Kinney County, Texas, opened Nov. 3.

SEPTA 40th Street Station receives ADA improvements

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) broke ground on ADA accessibility improvements at SEPTA’s 40th Street Market Frankford Line Station that includes the installation of two elevators to be constructed on the northwest and southeast corners of 40th and Market Streets. In addition to the two new elevators, the $7.4-million construction project includes four new head house entrances and overall station improvements.

Ohio DOT to place 1,000 stop signs at crossings

Over the next few months, the Ohio Department of Transportation (Ohio DOT), in conjunction with the Ohio Rail Development Commission, will replace 1,000 yield signs for stop signs at crossings. The decision was made after Ohio DOT reviewed nearly 2,000 crossings as a result of a change in state law.

TSB highlights Watchlist issues from October 2014 incident

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report regarding an October 28, 2014, incident involving a VIA Rail Canada passenger train passing a stop signal near Newtonville, Ontario.

Brampton City Council rejects LRT planned through downtown

At a special Council Meeting on Oct. 27, Brampton City Council in Ontario voted to terminate the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit (HMLRT) project at Steeles Avenue.

Spring construction scheduled for new Schenectady train station

New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Matthew J. Driscoll unveiled plans for the new Schenectady Train Station, which will be a modern, fully accessible transportation hub connecting travelers to New York City, Niagara Falls and destinations between and beyond. Station construction is scheduled to get under way in the spring.

Caltrain to replace century old Tilton rail bridge

As part of the San Mateo Bridges Replacement Project, Caltrain will replace the 100-year-old Tilton Avenue rail bridge on the weekend of Nov. 7, 2015.

Senate committee approves Feinberg as FRA administrator

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved Sarah Feinberg to be administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration by a 19-1 vote.

CP names new chief legal officer and corporate secretary

Canadian Pacific has appointed Jeffrey Ellis to chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective December 1, 2015, replacing Paul Guthrie, who will retire in the first quarter of 2016.

FTA advances WMATA rail safety oversight measures

On Oct. 26, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a Safety Directive16-1 to the Tri-State Oversight Committee (TOC) and sent a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board Chair and Interim General Manager detailing the new roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships between the organizations.

Union Pacific marks employee safety milestone

Union Pacific’s employees achieved a 0.92 reportable injury rate through the third quarter, improving 12 percent over the same period in 2014.

Harsco Rail names new VP of international regions

Harsco Rail, a division of Harsco Corporation has appointed Andre Schoen to vice president for international regions.

Amtrak’s Boardman says funding is biggest hurdle to fixing Chicago, New York

Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman was joined by a panel of industry experts Oct. 26 at the National Press Club to highlight the need to make infrastructure planning and investment a national priority.

Former MTA chairman E. Virgil Conway dies

E. Virgil Conway, who served as both Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) chairman and as a member of the MTA Board, died October 21, 2015, in Southampton, N.Y., at the age of 85.

BNSF names Austin Western Railroad its shortline of the year

BNSF has named Austin Western Railroad (AWRR) as its 2015 Shortline Railroad of the Year during its annual Shortline Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

RTD rail service to Denver airport to begin April 2016

Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) received notice from Denver Transit Partners that the University of Colorado A Line commuter rail service from Denver Union Station to Denver International Airport (DIA) will be ready for service on April 22, 2016.

SANDAG Board adopts 35-year regional transportation plan

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Board of Directors voted unanimously on October 9, 2015, to adopt the final version of San Diego Forward: The Regional Plan, a sweeping blueprint for the future that will invest $204 billion into transportation infrastructure projects over the next 35 years.

GREX names Grissom COO/EVP customer delivery

Georgetown Rail Equipment Company (GREX) promoted current Vice President Engineering Greg Grissom to chief operating officer/executive vice president customer delivery.

Contract awarded for Metrolinx RER electrification

Turner & Townsend, a program management and construction consultancy firm, has been selected to support a five-year project to modernize Metrolinx’s Regional Express Rail (RER).

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