CSX names new sales and marketing leads
CSX appointed key leaders in sales and marketing as the company continues to focus on enhancing customer relationships and encouraging profitable growth.
CTA takes next steps toward making the system 100 percent accessible
As part of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ongoing commitment to improve accessibility throughout the city of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has implemented a new initiative that will establish a blueprint for making it 100 percent accessible over the next 20 years.
Caltrain names new directors, elects officers for 2016
The Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (JPB) welcomed new members Raul Peralez and Joél Ramos and elected its officers for 2016 at Caltrain’s January meeting.
AAR sets incremental PTC goals
Working within the three-year extension Congress granted in late 2015, the Association of American Railroads has set year-end 2016 goals for Positive Train Control implementation.
RailComm to provide Class 1 yard with DOC system
RailComm has been selected to replace an obsolete control system with its DOC® system at a Class 1 yard in Buffalo, N.Y. The system will be an upgrade to a modern computer-based operation of the receiving sections of the facility.
New approach to station redevelopment will expedite transformative renovations at 30 MTA stations
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has unveiled the eighth signature proposal of his 2016 agenda, which is to modernize and fundamentally transform the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), improving the travel experience for millions of New Yorkers and visitors to the metropolitan region.
CN submits Environmental Impact Statement for proposed Milton Logistics Hub
Canadian National has submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) for its proposed logistics hub to be built in Milton, Ontario.
CSX customers invest in excess off $2 billion in 2015
In 2015, CSX worked with its customers to locate 107 new plants or expanded facilities on the company’s rail network or its connecting shortline partners. These new projects comprise $2.2 billion in customer investments and are expected to generate approximately 1,500 new jobs in areas served by CSX.
“Strong customer investment activity in 2015 was driven by downstream energy projects spurred by low oil and gas prices, as well as a significant number of industrial and agricultural projects, which highlights the strength of CSX’s diverse business mix,” said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president, regional development. “In addition to our own efforts to generate new business, our network touches some of the most competitive economic development areas in the United States and we are grateful for the pivotal role that state and local economic development agencies play in aggressively competing for new industry. We appreciate and applaud their work to create new opportunities for their citizens.”
Once these facilities are fully operational, they are projected to generate more than 143,000 new annual carloads of business for CSX. In addition to these projects that will be built over the next several years, in 2015 more than 75 customer facilities located on CSX began operations.
Since 2000, CSX customers have invested more than $42 billion in rail-served facilities, creating more than 62,000 jobs across the company’s 23-state network. To support rail-oriented industrial development, CSX’s Select Site program pre-certifies properties that are suitable for manufacturing use. These sites meet rigorous criteria to increase development probability and reduce time and costs for CSX customers.
AAR’s Warchot joins private law firm
Association of American Railroads Senior Vice President-Law and General Counsel Louis P. Warchot has joined the Transportation practice of Sidley Austin LLP as counsel in its Washington, D.C. office.
VIA Rail reports high holiday ridership
This holiday season, from December 16, 2015, to January 5, 2016, VIA Rail Canada saw its highest passenger revenue in over four years, with an increase of 10.3 percent since 2012 and the busiest day, December 23, had VIA Rail trains transporting 16,377 passengers to their destinations.
Governor Cuomo unveils $3 billion Penn Station plan
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes a $3 billion plan to transform Penn Station and the James A. Farley Post Office into a world-class transportation hub.
BNSF’S Carl Ice named Railroader of the Year
Carl R. Ice, president and chief executive officer of BNSF Railway, has been named 2016 Railroader of the Year by railroad industry trade journal Railway Age. Ice is Railway Age‘s 53rd Railroader of the Year.
PUCO approves improvements at three crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) directing the installation of mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at rail crossings in Allen, Sandusky and Wood counties.
CHSRA finds California Rail Builders as the apparent best value
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has identified California Rail Builders as the apparent best value proposer for the design-build services contract for Construction Package 4, the next segment of construction through the counties of Tulare and Kern and the cities of Wasco and Shafter.
Ansaldo STS awarded LACMTA West Side Extension contract
Ansaldo STS was awarded a $31.5 million contract to design, furnish, test and commission a signaling and train control system for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) West Side Subway Extension.
KCS releases annual ‘state of the railroad’ report
In its 2015 state of the railroad report, released to employees on Jan. 4, 2015, Kansas City Southern (KCS) said the company will see many of the same challenges in 2016 that it faced in 2015, creating a “cautious” outlook for the year ahead.
WisDOT awards more than $31 million for freight rail projects
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) awarded more than $31 million in grants and loans for seven freight rail projects in the state. The goal of Wisconsin’s freight railroad assistance program is to increase the use of rail transportation and support economic development and job creation.
Details announced for proposed LIRR expansion
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled on Jan. 5, 2016 the second signature proposal of his 2016 agenda: a comprehensive plan to transform and expand vital infrastructure downstate and make critical investments in the region, including a major expansion and improvement project that would increase service on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) between Floral Park and Hicksville. Cuomo outlined these initiatives at an event in Nassau County, where Long Island Association President Kevin Law, MTA Chairman Thomas F. Prendergast and LIRR President Patrick Nowakowski joined him.
OLI names new president and CEO
Bonnie Murphy, a former commuter rail executive and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) official, will become President and CEO of Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) in late January, OLI Board Chair Bill Barringer announced Jan. 5, 2016.
LACMTA looks back on rail initiatives of past year
As the third largest transportation agency in the nation, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is responsible for transporting millions of passengers safely and efficiently to their destinations every day. Additionally, the agency manages one of the largest public works projects in the nation with three major rail lines currently being constructed and another two rail extensions near opening.