Caltrain shortlists three firms for Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project
Caltrain has shortlisted three firms for the construction of the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project; six firms were originally prequalified to submit proposals.
Hammer named NJDOT commissioner
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tapped New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) veteran Richard Hammer as the agency’s acting commissioner and will formally nominate him to succeed Jamie Fox.
RailComm names VP of sales
RailComm has hired Troy Haworth as vice president of sales, where he will apply his extensive sales experience to lead the sales team and drive business growth and market share.
KCS to invest $6.5 million in Louisiana rail and bridge projects
Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $6.5 million in 2015 on rail and bridge improvement projects on its Vicksburg Subdivision in Louisiana, helping to grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on its cross-border network.
APTA reports 5.3 billion trips in first half of 2015
Nearly 5.3 billion trips were taken on U.S. public transportation in the first six months of 2015, according to a report released by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). This is a 0.9 percent decrease over the same period last year, representing 50 million fewer trips.
Paul Wiedefeld named WMATA CEO
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has named Paul Wiedefeld general manager and chief executive officer. Wiedefeld will be formally appointed at WMATA’s next board of directors meeting November 19.
Tri-Rail and SMART –UTU ratify agreement
United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation workers (UTU-SMART) represented engineers, conductors and transportation specialists have ratified a tentative agreements with Tri-Rail/Transdev in Florida.
Unimin Energy Solutions opens terminal in W.Va.
Unimin Energy Solutions opened its second unit train capable terminal located in Benwood, W.Va. October 27.
Sioux Falls closes on downtown rail yard purchase
The city of Sioux Falls, N.D., and BNSF closed on the city’s purchase of the downtown rail yard.
Crosstown LRT contract awarded
Crosslinx Transit Solutions has signed a $9.1-billion contract to complete the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (Crosstown LRT) project, delivering the LRT by 2021.
UP opens new railport in Texas
Union Pacific‘s new Kinney County Railport in Kinney County, Texas, opened Nov. 3.
Kentucky to make $3 million in shortline improvements
More than $3 million has been granted for needed improvements to shortline railroads in Kentucky. The projects include public safety improvements to at-grade railroad crossings, railroad bridge overpasses and upgrades of railroad crossing warning signals, lights, signs and barriers.
SEPTA 40th Street Station receives ADA improvements
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) broke ground on ADA accessibility improvements at SEPTA’s 40th Street Market Frankford Line Station that includes the installation of two elevators to be constructed on the northwest and southeast corners of 40th and Market Streets. In addition to the two new elevators, the $7.4-million construction project includes four new head house entrances and overall station improvements.
Ohio DOT to place 1,000 stop signs at crossings
Over the next few months, the Ohio Department of Transportation (Ohio DOT), in conjunction with the Ohio Rail Development Commission, will replace 1,000 yield signs for stop signs at crossings. The decision was made after Ohio DOT reviewed nearly 2,000 crossings as a result of a change in state law.
Rep. Jordan tours Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co. project
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc., for a tour of its track project at Heritage Cooperative on October 30.
CTA returns Yellow Line to service
Chicago Transit Authority‘s Yellow Line to Skokie, Ill., has been restored following an embankment collapse in May from construction on Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) property.
TSB highlights Watchlist issues from October 2014 incident
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report regarding an October 28, 2014, incident involving a VIA Rail Canada passenger train passing a stop signal near Newtonville, Ontario.
Norfolk Southern rescinds cessation of PIH notice
Norfolk Southern will accept and transport Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard (PIH) commodities in December after withdrawing a notice that PIH shipments would cease December 1 and passenger operations would not be allowed after December 31.
MTA Board approves five-year capital plan
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved its 2015-19 Capital Program, at its October meeting.
Brampton City Council rejects LRT planned through downtown
At a special Council Meeting on Oct. 27, Brampton City Council in Ontario voted to terminate the Hurontario-Main Light Rail Transit (HMLRT) project at Steeles Avenue.