Parsons adds Ryan to rail team
Jennifer Ryan, a longtime rail project engineer and winner of Railway Age’s inaugural Women in Rail award, has joined Parsons as a Senior Project Manager, Rail, in the corporation’s Irvine, Calif., office.
Red River Valley & Western names new executive team
Red River Valley & Western Railroad (RRVW) has announced that Victor Meyers joined its new executive leadership team as president effective Jan. 1, 2018. Mark Wegner is serving as chief executive officer.
Oregon DOT receives six transload facility pre-proposals
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) received six pre-proposals from firms willing to build two transload facilities in Treasure Valley and in the mid-Willamette Valley.
Gov. Cuomo wants a subway in Red Hook
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to study options that would bring a subway to the Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood.
Caric, Landreth elected to NRC Board
The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) has announced its board election results, adding two new members to the NRC board in 2018.
Amtrak begins next phase of NY Penn Station work
Amtrak’s next series of track renewal projects in New York Penn Station will kick-off Jan. 5, with updated scheduled train operations beginning on Jan. 8.
Sec. Chao urges swift PTC implementation among US railroads
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao sent a form letter to 47 Class 1, intercity and state and local transit authorities to stress the urgency and importance of implementing positive train control (PTC) by Dec. 31, 2018.
Rep. Shuster will not seek re-election
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, will not seek re-election in 2018.
Sen. Doug Jones taps transportation expert as chief of staff
Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) named Dana Gresham to be his chief of staff Jan. 2.
Progress Rail acquires Italian signal provider
Progress Rail has acquired ECM S.p.A., an international signal solutions and technologies provider, in a transaction that officially closed Jan. 2.
NRC/RT&S recognize record number of companies with safety awards
The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC)/RT&S Contractor Safety Awards recipients were announced in a Jan. 2 e-mail, with a record of 65 companies winning awards.
Brightline to begin introductory service next week
BRIGHTLINE, Florida’s new private passenger operator, has announced that it will launch an introductory service between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach during the week of Jan. 8.
Next round of RTD G Line testing to focus on C&S systems
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., has resumed testing on its G Line as of today, emphasizing the evaluation of its communication and signaling systems.
Feds: What Gateway agreement?
Federal Transit Administration Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams outlined a series of concerns regarding an updated financial plan for the Hudson Tunnel project in a letter to New York State Director of Budget Robert Mujica on Dec. 29.
Smart Sand completes rail expansion at frac sand facility
Smart Sand, Inc. has completed construction of its unit train capable rail facility in Byron Township, Wis., and moved its first unit train via Union Pacific on Dec. 26.
Canada, Ontario commit funds to freight rail study
Federal and provincial funding has been committed toward freight rail analysis of Ontario’s Peterborough-Toronto-Havelock-Blue Mountain corridor.
MTA unveils 19 finalists for Genius Challenge
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released the names of the 19 finalists in three categories as part of “The MTA Genius Transit Challenge.”
Sound Transit applies for $1.17B federal grant
The Sound Transit Board approved submission of an application for a $1.17 billion grant for the Lynnwood Link Extension on Dec. 21, moving toward breaking ground in 2018 and extending light-rail service to Snohomish County residents in 2024.
HSR coming to Illinois
Amtrak should begin high-speed service between Chicago and St. Louis this summer, the result of a $2-billion project that is in the final phase of construction.
HNTB hires Zeyad Alkaisi as senior project manager
HNTB Corporation (HNTB) has brought on Zeyad Alkaisi, CCM, as a rail transit senior project manager and associate vice president.