Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Paul J. Wiedefeld is proposing a reduction in the number of operational hours of the Metrorail system for maintenance purposes.
The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) on July 25, 2016 officially completed and opened the Denver Eagle P3 Commuter Rail Project B Line. The electrified six-mile line links Denver’s Downtown Union Station Transit Center to Westminster Station on the Denver-Boulder corridor.
A contract worth $18.5-million for the second round of winter resiliency work was approved by the Massachusetts Bay transportation Authority (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB).
Bill Hjelholt joined HDR as director of freight rail. His responsibilities include developing HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion of the freight rail sector across North America and globally.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) is opting for a full 18-month shutdown of the Canarsie Tunnel, versus a three-year partial shutdown, to rebuild the tunnel, which flooded during Superstorm Sandy.
The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation Act, also referred to as 45G, reached a significant milestone this week when it gained its 2,000th co-sponsor since its first introduction in 2004.
Beginning this fall, Genesee & Wyoming Inc.’s Arkansas Midland Railroad Company, Inc., (AKMD) subsidiary will offer the first ethanol unit train solution for the North Little Rock and surrounding gasoline-blending markets, serving the JP Energy terminal, which is the largest terminal at North Little Rock’s tank farm complex.
The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) Board of Directors have announced an executive leadership reorganization that it says focuses on putting the customers first in everything that SacRT does, building effective partnerships throughout the community, inspiring employees to journey for excellence, striving for organizational efficiency and ensuring performance excellence through the implementation of fiscal policies and strict accountability.
Troy Elbert has been named president of Herzog Services, Inc., effective June 6, 2016. Elbert has been with the company for nearly 20 years in various positions.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced a Finding of No Significant Impact on the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative, clearing the way for states and the federal government to invest in future passenger rail service in New England.
Sound Transit’s Link light rail entered its eighth year of service July 18 amid record-breaking ridership growth following the March opening of new stations serving Seattle’s Capitol Hill and University of Washington areas.
Kansas City Southern and the Odessa Police Department hosted an Officer on a Train event July 20 to promote public safety at railroad crossings in Odessa, Mo. The Missouri State Highway Patrol also participated in the safety event.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has established the Build America Bureau, which will drive transportation infrastructure development projects in the United States by streamlining credit and grant opportunities while providing technical assistance and encouraging innovative best practices in project planning, financing, delivery and monitoring.
On July 19, 2016, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) joined representatives from Harsco Rail and United Auto Workers Local 811 to tour Harsco’s Ludington facility, address its union employees and discuss pressing rail and manufacturing issues.
A managed affiliate of OmniTRAX, Inc., and an affiliate of The Broe Group and Topflight Grain Cooperative, Inc., are entering into a joint venture to operate, drive business to and rehabilitate the rail line currently owned by Topflight Grain. OmniTRAX will manage the newly renamed Decatur Central Railroad, LLC, which links Cisco and Decatur, Ill., commencing in late 2016.
E. Hunter Harrison came out of retirement in 2012 to lead Canadian Pacific out of the Class I basement, where it had languished for several years. The following year, his protégé, Keith Creel, left CN to join his mentor. Next July, Creel will officially fill Harrison’s shoes upon Harrison’s retirement after more than a half-century in railroading.
Rio Grande Pacific Corporation (RGPC), CTC, Inc., and First Transit, Inc., have been awarded an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract from Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA).
CSX put a stop to the controversy surrounding its planned Carolina Connector (CCX) intermodal facility in Johnson County, N.C., by moving the project to Rocky Mount in Edgecombe County.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) have released 10 service and route options for new and improved conventional and high-speed passenger rail service connecting Oklahoma City, Okla., Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and South Texas.
The Surface Transportation Board announced on July 18 that a proposed, 240-mile, high-speed rail line between Dallas and Houston, Tex., does not fall under STB jurisdiction and does not require Board approval.
