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.

NRC awards 2013 Field Employee and Rail Construction Project of the Year

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) selected the winners of its 2013 Field Employee and Rail Construction Project of the Year Awards and will present the awards at the NRC Conference in Palm Desert, Calif., on January 8, 2014.

More than a dozen freight projects receive Pennsylvania state grants

The Pennsylvania Department of Transporation has released $25.8 million in rail freight grants, which will help improve facilities, help businesses expand operations and ensure safety across the state.

CTC allocates nearly $12 million for rail-related projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has made new allocations totaling $152 million to 36 projects statewide. This latest round of funding drives the total amount of transportation funding allocated in 2013 beyond the $3 billion barrier.

NYCT transforms “one of the least appealing subway stations”

Often recognized as one of the “least appealing subway stations in the system,” according to New York City Transit (NYCT), the 149 St – Grand Concourse 2, 4 and 5 station in the Bronx has gone through an aesthetic transformation befitting one of the most heavily used mass transit hubs in the city and the borough’s fourth busiest station.

TorQuest Partners invests in A&B Rail Services Ltd.

TorQuest Partners, in partnership with a group of co-investors, has acquired a majority interest in A&B Rail Services Ltd., a national railway services company based in Edmonton, AB, Canada.

FRA launches in-depth safety assessment of Metro-North

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) launched a 60-day safety assessment of Metro-North Railroad in response a December 1 derailment in the Bronx. Operation Deep Dive, beginning December 16, 2013, will exhaustively review Metro-North’s compliance with federal regulations, its procedures and practices and its safety culture.

Ice to take BNSF helm in January, Rose named executive chairman

BNSF promoted President and Chief Operating Officer Carl Ice to president and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2014. Matthew Rose, chairman and chief executive officer, will assume the role of executive chairman.

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