PEB issues recommendations in hopes to settle dispute between NJ Transit and union coalition

Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 248 has issued its recommendations to settle the four-year contract dispute between New Jersey Transit and the Rail Labor Coalition of 14 unions representing 4,300 union workers, reports the United Transportation Union.

LACMTA Board will explore safety options at 153 crossings

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors approved the contract for the L.A. County Grade Crossing and Corridor Safety Program, authorizing engineering studies to identify potential safety improvements at approximately 153 pedestrian and vehicular grade crossings along 160 miles of LACMTA-owned right-of-way in Los Angeles County.

Two US transit projects named finalists for “Be Inspired” awards program

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, provider of software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has released the list of project finalists in the 2015 Be Inspired Awards program.

Metra safety director wins international safety award

Metra Director of Safety Hilary Konczal has been named to the World Safety Organization (WSO) Board of Directors and received the group’s James K. Williams Award for his dedication to programs and practices that promote safety.

Foothill Gold Line LRT reaches substantial completion on Pasadena to Azusa segment

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority and its contractor marked the substantial completion of the Pasadena, Calif., to Azusa, Calif., segment. The construction authority said the $1-billion project is on budget and on time with passenger service expected to begin in the spring of 2016.

Metrolinx’s Eglinton Crosstown TBMs to begin westward bore

The Eglinton Crosstown light-rail transit tunnel boring machines named Don and Humber will begin their journey westward on September 29, 2015, marking another milestone toward the completion of the new LRT.

APTA: Two-thirds of Americans are likely to use high-speed rail if available

According to a 2015 survey released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), if high-speed rail were available today, two-thirds (63 percent) of Americans are likely to use high-speed trains and this jumps to nearly seventy (67) percent when respondents were informed of the costs and time saving benefits of high-speed rail service.

Rep. McMorris Rodgers tours L.B. Foster concrete tie facility

On September 22, 2015, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05) joined Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association and National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association member L.B. Foster Company for a tour of its concrete tie manufacturing facility.

Moorman steps down as executive chairman, NS shifts executive management

Charles Moorman is completing his service as executive chairman of the Board of Directors of Norfolk Southern. Effective Oct. 1, 2015, Moorman will continue to serve as a director and senior advisor to the President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires until Dec. 31, 2015, when he will retire from both roles.

NCDOT awards contract for grade separation project in Charlotte

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has awarded a contract for the Sugar Creek Road grade separation project, which is designed to improve railroad capacity, efficiency and safety along Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, N.C.

Steps taken at federal level to speed up infrastructure projects

The White House Office of Management and Budget, Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Department of Transportation says the Obama Administration will take steps to accelerate critical infrastructure projects, including an enhanced Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, new guidance to federal agencies establishing metrics for the permitting and environmental review of infrastructure projects.

MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board’s first report not glowing, but encouraging

In its first report to the legislature, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) detailed underlying problems at the MBTA that are even more serious and deep-seated than reported in April by the Special Panel to Review the authority.

Metra warns of service shutdown without PTC deadline extension

The Metra Board of Directors has formally called on Congress to extend the Dec. 31, 2015 deadline to install Positive Train Control (PTC), agreeing with a staff analysis that in the current regulatory environment, Metra will not be able to legally operate beyond that date.

OKI awards state funds to South Hamilton Crossing grade separation

Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) awarded $3.75 million in state funds for the South Hamilton Crossing grade separation project. The funds are part of $7 million in funding for transportation projects in Butler and Hamilton County.

CP, NS complete Delaware & Hudson South sale

Canadian Pacific completed the sale of more than 280 miles of track from Schenectady, N.Y., to Sunbury, Pa., to Norfolk Southern.

Port Miami celebrates completion of dredge and on-dock intermodal project

PortMiami heralded in the “big ship” era with the completion of its -50/-52 ft. Deep Dredge and On-dock Intermodal Rail project.

Sounder celebrates 15 years of service

September 18 marked 15 years of steadily growing ridership since the Puget Sound region’s commuters first climbed aboard Sounder commuter trains. Since Sounder began operating in 2000, more than 29 million people have used the popular commuter and game day service.

RailComm plans new product launch for Railway Interchange 2015

RailComm will launch its new smart monitoring and analytics platform, RailComm Insight™, as well as new software and hardware products for yard automation and mainline dispatching at Railway Interchange 2015.

Charlotte LYNX Blue Line Extension receives $180 million TIFIA loan

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina will receive a $180-million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan for construction of the LYNX Blue Line light-rail extension. The TIFIA loan will support the expansion of the light-rail system from Center City Charlotte to the UNC Charlotte Campus.

Richmond to Raleigh rail project gets federal approval

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the state of North Carolina and the commonwealth of Virginia have signed off on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Richmond to Raleigh (R2R) passenger rail line along the Southeast Corridor. The completion of the FEIS is one of the final steps necessary before construction of the project can move forward once funding is secured.

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