New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund receives reauthorization
New Jersey officials announced an agreement on Sept. 30, reauthorizing the state’s Transportation Trust Fund at $2 billion a year for the next eight years.
Majority of elected officials support legislation to make 45G tax credit permanent
Legislation that would make the shortline tax credit, also referred to as 45G, permanent, has reached a milestone in its quest for cosponsors.
Light-rail to Virginia Beach expected to cost $243 million
Extending light-rail to Virginia Beach Town Center from Newtown Road, Va., could total $243.1 million in capital costs, transit officials say.
Metra uses GPS and signal data to revise BNSF Line schedule
Metra, a commuter railroad that serves the Chicago suburbs, today announced a revised schedule for its BNSF Line schedule that is set to go into effect Oct. 9.
Florida East Coast Railway wins 2016 Quest for Quality award
Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) has been named the highest valued rail service provider in the U.S. by Logistics Management magazine, winning the magazine’s 2016 Quest for Quality award.
Union Pacific’s ‘Living Legend’ to take first multi-state trip since restoration
The “Living Legend,” Union Pacific’s (UP) No. 844 steam locomotive, is set to celebrate the Oct. 22 opening of Big River Crossing in Memphis, Tennessee, by traveling more than 1,200 miles one-way.
Suppliers to Congress: STB shooting first, asking questions later
The industry groundswell attacking the Surface Transportation Board’s pending actions on forced access and commodity reregulation has grown to include the railway supply community, including the three principal trade associations (REMSA, RSI and RSSI) and numerous members, and the railway contracting community, led by the NRC.
STB adopts final arbitration rules
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) today announced its adoption of final rules to revise its arbitration methods in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015, P.L. 114-110 (2015) (Act).
Mid-Coast Contractors to build Mid-Coast Trolley with $921.8 million contract
The San Diego Association of Governments awarded Mid-Coast Contractors a $921.8 million construction manager/general contractor contract to build the Mid-Coast Trolley, construction and development firm Skanska announced today.
South Shore Line expansion moves on to project development phase
U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky announced this week that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given the West Lake Corridor (WLC) extension of the South Shore Line (SSL) expansion the green light to move into the project development phase.
Foothill Gold Line’s conceptual engineering plans up for review
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority’s board of directors approved advanced conceptual engineering (ACE) plans for the Foothill Gold Line light-rail project from Glendora to Montclair, Calif.
Norfolk Southern’s Hixon to retire, Galanko and Scheib to step up
Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) has announced that James A. Hixon, executive vice president law and corporate relations and chief legal officer, will be retiring from his position as of Dec. 1, 2016.
Expo Line Phase 2 is first transit to receive ‘green’ certification
The Expo Line Phase 2 Extension has become the first transit project to receive Envision™ Platinum certification from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI).
Port Authority of Allegheny County completes Red Line revamp; plans rail replacement
The Port Authority of Allegheny County has announced that crews successfully completed the six-month rail replacement project along the Red Line and the transit agency will resume service between the Fallowfield and Potomac stations Oct. 2.
Met Council approves Blue Line review
The Metropolitan Council (Met Council) approved the Blue Line Extension Light-Rail project’s final scope and budget and the project’s environmental reviews are now complete.
CTA Wilson Station reconstruction at 50-percent complete mark
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced that its $203 million Wilson Station Reconstruction Project is more than 50 percent complete.
New York to develop new train hall for Amtrak, LIRR
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a $1.595 billion infrastructure plan Sept. 27 to develop a new train hall serving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and Amtrak.
Metra taps federal grant to help with PTC installation
Metra is hoping a federal grant will help pay for installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety system on its Milwaukee North and West lines.
Montana rail spur receives EDA funds
The Lincoln County Port Authority in Libby, Mont., received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for a planned rail spur.
Gross & Janes names Behan president
Gross & Janes Co. has appointed Bill Behan as the company’s new president, with Mike Pourney acting as CEO and overseeing strategic planning.