More than 400 take to Capitol Hill for Railroad Day
The industry’s annual single day blitz of congressional officials brought more than 400 industry representatives to Washington, D.C., on March 3.
LIRR third track project won’t need property acquisition
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says that his proposal to significantly expand the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) by adding a third track along the mainline will not require any residential property acquisitions.
Metra expands C3RS to bolster safety
Chicago’s Metra is planning a major expansion of the its Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).
Root to manage STV’s rail systems design across U.S. and Canada
STV has promoted Eric Root, P.E., to vice president, where he will be responsible for managing the rail systems design component for the firm’s various design-build contracts across the U.S. and Canada.
WMATA’s Wiedefeld outlines path to restore public trust
Paul Wiedefeld, Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) general manager/chief executive officer, addressed the National Press Club on Monday in his first public policy address since being appointed last November.
British university to build prototype switch
Loughborough University has received funding from Britain’s Railway Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) for a two-and-a-half-year project to build a full-size prototype of its Repoint track switch.
STV promotes Forde to vice president in Baltimore
STV has promoted Norman Forde to vice president, who is now responsible for leading STV’s downtown Baltimore, Md., office.
Union Pacific: Safest Class 1 railroad in 2015
Union Pacific employees set an all-time reportable personal injury rate record in 2015, improving 11 percent from 2014 to 0.87, making Union Pacific the safest Class 1 railroad in the United States, according to data reported by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Maryland Transit Administration plans partial summer shutdown for track maintenance
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will shut down Baltimore Metro Subway service from the Milford Mill to Mondawmin stations for 21 days – July 23 to August 12 – for replacement of major components of Metro rail.
Minneapolis Blue Line extension gains municipal consent
The Metro Blue Line Extension LRT Project in Minneapolis, Minn., is one step closer to becoming a reality after gaining approval for municipal consent. Robbinsdale was the fifth and final city, in addition to Hennepin County, to take action, voting unanimously in favor of the 13-mile line. The 45-day municipal consent period has now ended.
MTA begins procurement process for Second Ave. Subway to East Harlem
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun procuring key services necessary for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will extend the subway project to East Harlem in Manhattan.
Vancouver, B.C., to buy Arbutus Corridor from Canadian Pacific
Canadian Pacific Railway and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada have agreed to terms for the sale by CP of the Arbutus Corridor to the city for CA$55 million (US$41.4 million).
BNSF’s California capital program to top $180 million
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in California will be about $180 million, which will focus on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network. The largest component of this year’s capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, ties and ballast.
NS to combine three operating regions into two
Norfolk Southern is consolidating its three operating regions into two, effective March 15. The decision to further streamline railroad operations is part of the company’s ongoing execution of its five-year strategic plan.
Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., enter MOU for WMATA Safety Commission
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser are moving one step forward in the establishment of a new Metro Safety Commission, an independent oversight agency that will ultimately direct the safety and security of mass transit systems in the Washington Metropolitan Area, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
LACMTA taps FTA’s McMillan as CPO
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has selected the current Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Therese McMillan as its new chief planning officer.
Harsco Rail awarded contracts for two maintenance machines
Harsco Rail has won two contracts for two separate projects on major transit railroads in the northeastern U.S. totaling approximately $10 million in projected revenues.
HNTB adds rail expertise to New York and Pennsylvania offices
HNTB Corporation promoted Jeff Konrad, PE, to vice president of rail in Pennsylvania District. The firm also expanded its team of transportation professionals within its New York and Pennsylvania offices.
BNSF plans $180 million capital plan for Montana
BNSF ‘s 2016 capital expenditure program in Montana will be about $180 million, which will be focused on maintenance projects that help ensure BNSF continues to operate a safe and reliable network. The largest component of this year’s capital plan in the state will be for replacing and upgrading rail, rail ties and ballast.
CSX appoints new engineering leadership
CSX has appointed new engineering leaders following the announcement that John West, vice president-engineering, will retire on April 1 after 37 years of dedicated service to the railroad.