Union Pacific made multiple operating department appointments, which went into affect September 1.
UNITRAC Railroad Materials, Inc., has hired Scott Arnold as the vice president of operations at UNITRAC’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Knoxville, Tenn. Arnold comes from Yale Locks, where he served as the director of operation and brings with him more than 20 years of manufacturing experience.
Michael J. Scanlon, who has led the San Mateo County Transit District for the past 15 years, is retiring. The Transit District is an administrative body that holds jurisdiction over SamTrans bus service, Caltrain commuter rail and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority.
Officials from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joined local Cleveland officials, as well as representatives from the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority on Aug. 28 for a ribbon cutting ceremony at Cleveland’s Cedar-University Rapid Station.
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) said on Aug. 28 that it has terminated its agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc., and CSX Intermodal Terminals, Inc., (CSX) to attempt location of the Baltimore Rail Intermodal Facility at Morrell Park and has pulled all state funding from the project.
A Blue Ribbon Panel of transportation experts studying safety and maintenance practices at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) three railroad operations – Metro-North Railroad, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City Transit (NYCT) – has released its final recommendations for improvement, including creating better data systems to monitor track conditions, adjusting schedules to provide more time for track work and bolstering the safety culture at Metro-North.
Union Pacific will strengthen Kansas’ transportation infrastructure by investing $20 million in the rail line between Topeka and Kansas City, Kan. The project, funded entirely by Union Pacific, began June 16 and is scheduled to be completed by mid-November.
R.J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC (RJC), has acquired Roadway Worker Training, Inc. (RWT), based in St. Augustine, Fla.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin are implementing a new initiative to fast-track hundreds of projects to improve more than 300 rail crossings statewide and upgrade safety warning features on rail crossings.
Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc. (RCTI), supplier of pre-stressed concrete ties, has opened a 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in San Jose Iturbide, Mexico.
The Metropolitan Council received federal approval to begin designing the METRO Blue Line Extension northwest of Minneapolis, Minn., the region’s fourth light-rail transit project. Future approvals needed include approval to enter Final Engineering (anticipated late 2016) and approval of the Full Funding Grant Agreement (anticipated in 2018).
A Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) on a proposed extension of the Gold Line light-rail system from East Los Angeles to either South El Monte or Whittier was released by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA).
Kansas City Southern promoted Shawn Vecellio from director to assistant vice president production and standards for the engineering department.
The Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, celebrated the start of ION Stage 1 Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction August 21. The event took place at the future home of ION’s Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility on Dutton Drive.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) selected ARG Transportation of Eugene, Ore., to operate the 26-mile rail line in central Washington, with a goal to restore rail service to a portion of Grant County, assisting farmers getting their products to market.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) closed a $1.28-billion Transportation Infrastructure Financial Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) for construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.
The commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to purchase the Knowledge Corridor rail line between East Northfield and Springfield from Pan Am Southern, a joint venture of Pan Am and Norfolk Southern.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will begin work on a major upgrade and modernization of the Blue Line in downtown Long Beach September 20.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) $40-million improvement project at Massapequa Station will enter its next phase August 25 with work shifting to the station’s east end.
The Hennepin County Board completed its municipal approval process for preliminary design plans for the Southwest light-rail transit project, in voting to approve the portion of those plans serving the city of Minneapolis.