CSX Donates $50,000 to Restoration Fund for Key Bridge in Baltimore
JACKSONVILLE: CSX announced this week that it is donating $50,000 to the restoration fund for the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Caltrain OCS Fully Energized
From Our Colleagues at Railway Age:
SAN CARLOS, Calif. ––Caltrain, with partners Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and Balfour Beatty, have energized and tested the OCS (overhead catenary system) on the entire 51-mile Caltrain Electrification Project between San Francisco and San Jose. The next step is testing the system’s Stadler Rail-built EMUs (electric multiple-units) at maximum operating speed and prepare for electrified revenue service, expected to commence in September 2024.
MTC Announces $30M in Transportation Grants
JACKSON, Miss. – The MTC announced $30 million in grants will be awarded to intermodal transportation projects across the state of Mississippi.
APTA Releases Ridership Trends Report
From Our Colleagues at Railway Age:
WASHINGTON ––After falling to 20% of pre-pandemic levels in April 2020, public transit has recovered to 79% of pre-pandemic levels as of March 2024, according to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) latest ridership trends report.
Brightline West Selects Atlas Technical Consultants for Geotechnical Engineering
AUSTIN, Texas – For the high-speed rail project scheduled to open in 2028, Brightline West chose Atlas Technical Consultants to handle the engineering and design.
South Coast Rail Construction Almost Complete
TAUNTON, Mass. – Construction on the South Coast Rail project between Boston and Southeastern Massachusetts is nearing completion. Once that occurs, safety testing can begin.
Norfolk Southern Agrees in Principle to Settle East Palestine Derailment Class Action Lawsuit
ATLANTA –– Norfolk Southern Corporation announced Tuesday that it has reached a $600 million agreement in principle to resolve a consolidated class action lawsuit relating to the East Palestine derailment. If approved by the court, the agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment.
Update to Brightline West Field Investigation Work
LAS VEGAS – Brightline West gives an update on the field investigation work taking place in Southern California and Nevada for the proposed rail corridor.
SEPTA Welcomes Passengers to New Drexel Station at 30th Street
PHILADELPHIA –– SEPTA joined Drexel University and local, state and federal officials this week for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the newly reconstructed and renamed Drexel Station at 30th Street.
SFMTA Train Traffic Control System Runs on Floppy Disks
SAN FRANCISCO –– The San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency’s train control system today uses a system that relies on 5 1/2-inch floppy disks –– the ones that are really floppy.
MTA Renovates 2 More Stations Under Re-NEW-vation Program
NEW YORK CITY – Under the Re-NEW-vation program, the MTA upgraded, cleaned, and inspected the Sutphin Boulevard-Archer Av-JFK Airport and Jamaica-Van Wyck stations in Queens.
Pat Porzillo to Serve as HDR’s Transit Engineering Director
WASHINGTON ––HDR’s Pat Porzillo, P.E., was recently promoted to be the firm’s transit engineering director.
PANY/NJ Launches $430MM ‘PATH Forward’ Program
NEWARK – The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANY/NJ) on April 5 reported kicking off a two-year, $430 million program to upgrade stations, tracks, bridges and railcars at PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp.), the fifth-busiest rapid transit system in the United States.
WATCH: SMART Gauntlet Track Construction for Petaluma North Station
PETALUMA, Calif. – From April 13th to 14th, SMART will have a partial system closure to install a gauntlet track for a new Petaluma North station.
Saskatchewan Short Lines Receive C$530K in SRIP Allocations
SASKATCHEWAN – The government of Saskatchewan announced it is investing C$530,000 in short line rail infrastructure.
Track Inspections and Speed Restrictions After 4.8 Earthquake in NJ; Amtrak, CSX, MTA (UPDATED 4/8)
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. – After a 4.8 earthquake, Amtrak implements speed restrictions and performs track inspections. CSX inspected bridges and related structures.
Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension Launches August 30th
SEATTLE – Sound Transit will welcome riders onboard the Link 1 Line extension later this summer.
PUCO Approves $3M in Rail Crossing Upgrades in Pickaway County
COLUMBUS, Ohio – PUCO approved almost $3 million in grade crossing upgrades in Circleville, Ohio. Norfolk Southern will complete said upgrades.
George Smerk, Noted Indiana University Transportation Professor, Has Died
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. –– Railway Track & Structures recently learned that Indiana University Transportation professor Dr. George M. Smerk, Jr., died last year.
Minn. Senate Transportation Chair Dibble Supports Change of Responsibility From Met Council to MnDOT
MINNEAPOLIS – After rising costs and construction delays, Senate Transportation Chair Scott Dibble argues the MnDOT should oversee future light rail projects as opposed to the Met Council.