The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics added a new safety section to the Multimodal Transportation Indicators that will track seasonal and long-term rail fatality trends. The latest monthly rail data comes from the Federal Railroad Administration. The rail data exclude public grade-crossing accidents, eliminating double-counting that would occur with highway fatalities.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors certified the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Report for the $1.37 billion Regional Connector Transit Corridor Project, a priority transit project that will connect light-rail lines through downtown L.A. and greatly improve connectivity for the entire L.A. County transportation network.
The general committees of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference representing the conductors, trainmen, yardmen, locomotive engineers and rail traffic controllers employed by Canadian Pacific said they have been authorized by their membership to launch a strike against the railway.
Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes have ratified a new agreement with the nation’s major freight railroads, joining 12 other unions that had previously ratified new contracts.
Officials from the Chicago Transit Authority and the Village of Wilmette will celebrate the 100th anniversary of ‘L’ service to the North Shore community on Saturday, April 28.
Michael Iden, a Union Pacific employee from Chicago, Ill., has been awarded the 2012 John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award. U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) was honored with the 2012 John H. Chafee Congressional Environmental Award.
Daniel L. Brown, 76, of Glen Carbon, Ill., born July 29, 1935, in St. Louis, Mo., passed away on Saturday morning, April 21, 2012, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois General Assembly proclaimed July 1, 2012, as Union Pacific Railroad Day in Illinois and honored Union Pacific Railroad on its year-long 150th anniversary celebration.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority Board of Directors approved an updated expenditure plan for the Foothill Extension light-rail project from Pasadena to Claremont. The expenditure plan includes an estimated cost to complete the 23-mile light-rail extension and a timeline for needing funding.
The Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to create the Chicago Infrastructure Trust, a way to leverage private investment for transformative infrastructure projects and guide the city’s renewal of these elements in the 21st century.
“Chicago will be a city that shapes its own destiny,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Nowhere is this more important than with our critical infrastructure needs. The Chicago Infrastructure Trust will allow us to consider transformative infrastructure projects and build a world-class infrastructure for our city.”
Mayor Emanuel announced the Trust on March 1, in an event in which he was joined by former President Bill Clinton.
The trust will provide advantaged financing, enabling each project to customize a financing structure using taxable or tax-exempt debt, equity investments and other forms of support. Each project will be coordinated with the city and its sister agencies’ long-term plan for transformational infrastructure investments.
The Chicago Infrastructure Trust was created with the private sector, non-profit organizations and union leaders. An amended ordinance was submitted this week, which calls for one Alderman to be on the trust’s board and clarifies that the trust will be completely subject to FOIA, Open Meetings laws and the city’s ethics ordinance.
The trust will require City Council approval for all projects and will operate as a non-profit organization as it seeks projects.
The trust passed by a vote of 41-7.
The city of Seattle, Wash., and Sound Transit broke ground on Seattle’s newest streetcar line, the First Hill Streetcar.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is building a 21st century system linking all of L.A. with mass transit.
Denver’s Regional Transportation District Board of Directors indicated that they will not pursue a 2012 sales and use tax election for the FasTracks transit expansion program. The board also gave staff direction to submit a revised plan with alternate assumptions. Over the past several months, RTD has evaluated technical, financial and economic information and input from regional stakeholders and the general public.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York hired Stephen Morello as counselor to the chairman and CEO. In that role, Morello will direct the communications, government relations and community affairs divisions of the MTA and its agencies.
Union Pacific is enhancing Colorado’s transportation infrastructure by investing $4 million in the rail line that runs between Grand Junction and Cameo. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by mid May.
The Military Officers Association of America named CSX Corporation the recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Service Award, a recognition of CSX’s continued emphasis on hiring and supporting active duty and veteran men and women.
The Wickford Junction commuter rail station and the commuter line service to T.F. Green Airport in Road Island are now open for business.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Masabi US Ltd, will be bringing mobile ticketing to MBTA commuter rail riders this fall. With applications for iPhone, Android and Blackberry, customers will be able to purchase commuter rail tickets and passes. Once tickets are purchased, customers will be able to use and display directly via their phone screen.
Amtrak long-distance equipment will now receive safety inspections, servicing and maintenance in an upgraded, more efficient and environmentally designed facility in Hialeah, Fla., that will dramatically improve capacity, efficiency and working conditions.
Watco Locomotive Services has promoted Keith Testerman and Dan Martin and has hired Tracy Wright.