The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published its final rule concerning Positive Train Control (PTC) systems in the Aug. 22 Federal Register. The rule, which takes effect Oct. 21, 2014, expands certain exemptions and comes 16 months before the full implementation deadline of Dec. 31, 2015.
The Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, celebrated the start of ION Stage 1 Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction August 21. The event took place at the future home of ION’s Operations, Maintenance and Storage Facility on Dutton Drive.
North Dakota Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak has outlined a proposal for a state-run rail safety program to increase oversight of North Dakota rail operations. The program is included in the agency’s budget request submitted last week to the governor.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) selected ARG Transportation of Eugene, Ore., to operate the 26-mile rail line in central Washington, with a goal to restore rail service to a portion of Grant County, assisting farmers getting their products to market.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) closed a $1.28-billion Transportation Infrastructure Financial Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) for construction of Phase Two of the Metrorail Silver Line extension.
The commonwealth of Massachusetts plans to purchase the Knowledge Corridor rail line between East Northfield and Springfield from Pan Am Southern, a joint venture of Pan Am and Norfolk Southern.
The Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners awarded a $13.3-million construction contract to Hard Rock Construction LLC for the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal improvement project. Hard Rock Construction, of Metairie, La., was the lowest of eight bidders.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will begin work on a major upgrade and modernization of the Blue Line in downtown Long Beach September 20.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) $40-million improvement project at Massapequa Station will enter its next phase August 25 with work shifting to the station’s east end.
The Hennepin County Board completed its municipal approval process for preliminary design plans for the Southwest light-rail transit project, in voting to approve the portion of those plans serving the city of Minneapolis.
Effective September 1, Kansas City Southern will increase train speed on portions of its line from Gulfport to Hattiesburg, Miss., from 25 miles per hour to 49 miles per hour.
Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt issued a statement in response to the release of the Transportation Safety Board’s (TSB) final report from its investigation into the July 6, 2013 train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined local and state officials August 19 to break ground on a $29.6-million grade separation project in Lynwood, Ill., which will improve traffic flow and safety at the U.S. Route 30 and Canadian National crossing.
Watco Transportation Services promoted Jeffrey Pacheco to general manager for the San Antonio Central Railroad (SAC).
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigation into the July 2013 Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway (MMA) train derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, concluded that a number of factors led to the accident.
On August 19, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials helped drive the final spike on the Greenville Transload Project, located next to the Pitt County Landfill in west Greenville. The $290,000-project provides a new siding track adjacent to the existing rail line that will allow local companies to receive and unload their products via the Carolina Coastal Railway (CLNA).
The Reading & Northern Railroad has been awarded a $10 million State Capital budget grant to build a new railroad bridge over the Lehigh River near Nesquehoning in Carbon County, Pa. The project cost is in excess of $14 million with Reading & Northern investing the balance.
On August 20, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) is expected to receive the sixth and final allocation from the state of California’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) for SCVTA’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley project.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officially launched light-rail passenger service August 18, connecting downtown Dallas to DFW Airport with the arrival of DART Orange Line trains into the DFW Airport Station.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was joined by local and state officials August 14 to break ground on a new $7-million multimodal transportation project that will service the future Port of East St. Louis. The state-funded project will increase access, create jobs and establish utility service to the area.
