The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has issued a final rule that it says strengthens state safety oversight and enforcement authority to prevent and mitigate accidents and incidents on rail transit systems.
Chicago’s Metra will conduct Operation Lifesaver Safety Blitzes at 45 train stations across the six-county region in 2016 as part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the importance of safe behavior around its trains and tracks.
The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) Redlands Passenger Rail Project in Highland, Calif., is now in the Final Design Phase. The project is expected to drive and support the growth of the local economy while attracting and retaining businesses and employers.
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) is accepting proposals for the Rail Safety IDEA Program, which supports the development and testing of innovative concepts and methods for improving railroad safety or performance. Rail Safety IDEA proposals are due Sept. 15, 2016.
Construction began March 11 on track and signal improvements at the King Street Station in Seattle, Wash. The work is part of the $50.4-million King Street Station Track Improvements project overseen by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has given Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) the green light to enter the six-mile Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Phase II Extension into the project development phase of the Federal New Starts funding program.
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in Kansas will be about $100 million and 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.
Kansas City Southern has promoted Jeffrey Songer from senior vice president engineering and chief transportation officer to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In addition to his responsibilities for transportation and engineering, he is now also responsible for the mechanical function. Songer reports to KCS president Patrick Ottensmeyer.
On March 9, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member company Atlantic Track & Turnout Co. for a tour of its facility in St. Clair, Pa.
BNSF’s 2016 capital expenditure program in Illinois will be about $180 million, which will focus on maintenance projects and improvements to BNSF facilities. The railroad says this year’s plan in Illinois brings capital investments more in line with forecasted customer freight service demand.
Construction has begun on Keelesdale Station, the first of 25 stations to be built for the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Ontario, Canada.
Rep. David Joyce (OH-14) joined representatives from Iron Horse Engineering, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network (MAGNET) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) to tour Iron Horse’s manufacturing facility, learn about the burgeoning rail and manufacturing communities in Northeast Ohio and discuss public policy priorities for the industries.
Carlo Patrick will join Herzog Services, Inc., as vice president effective March 21, 2016.
The industry’s annual single day blitz of congressional officials brought more than 400 industry representatives to Washington, D.C., on March 3.
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.
Chicago’s Metra is planning a major expansion of the its Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS).
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.
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.
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 has promoted Norman Forde to vice president, who is now responsible for leading STV’s downtown Baltimore, Md., office.
