TriMet, LIRR and unions spar
In Portland, Ore., TriMet has called upon on the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) to represent employees on the issues of wages and benefits before the 150-day statutory bargaining period ends on February 4.
From trainmen to CEO: Metra names Orseno to top spot
The Metra Board of Directors unanimously selected Donald Orseno, a lifelong railroader who has worked at Metra for more than three decades, as the next executive director/CEO of the Chicago suburban rail agency.
California Transportation Commission allocates nearly $27 million for rail projects, including high-speed
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $27 million in new funding to three projects that it says will improve passenger rail and further strengthen the state’s economy.
Metropolitan Council releases drafts of independent freight, water reports on Southwest LRT
The Metropolitan Council released two draft reports prepared by independent consultants to examine important issues that affect the proposed Southwest light-rail line serving the communities of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.
MBTA awards contract to repair Merrimack River bridges
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) awarded a $24-million contract to repair and rehabilitate three bridges spanning the Merrimack River in Haverhill to JV: LM Heavy Civil Construction and Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti – CMC di Ravenna. The bridge work will allow the MBTA to continue to operate safe and reliable passenger rail service on the Haverhill Line.
FCC proposes streamlined tribal review process for PTC antennas
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed an alternative process for 565 federally recognized Native American tribes to review positive train control (PTC) antennas in a public notice posted on the FCC website Jan. 29.
The Indiana Rail Road Company and Pam Am Railways join AAR
The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) and Pan Am Railways, Inc., have joined the Association of American Railroads (AAR) as new full members.
Charlotte City Council approves streetcar funds; awards Blue Line contract
Charlotte, N.C., City Council approved authorization of $12 million during its January 27 meeting to advance CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 project and stay on track to meet current and future goals.
TriMet makes implementing audit’s safety recommendations priority
TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane responded to the release of the Oregon secretary of state’s audit, thanking the team of auditors for their diligence during their review of the agency’s finances, transparency and operations.
Second SFMTA Central Subway TBM continues to progress
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) says the Central Subway‘s second tunnel boring machine (TBM) will soon pass beneath Powell Street Station and the existing Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and Muni Metro tunnels, passing under Market Street from SoMa into Union Square.
When the Central Subway opens, the new tunnels will allow T Third Line trains to travel quickly beneath 4th Street and Stockton Street, cutting transit travel times by more than half along this busy corridor.
Jack Stephens named SFRTA interim executive director
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) Governing Board named Jack Stephens interim executive director. He replaces Joseph Giulietti, who is leaving SFRTA at the end of January to become president of Metro-North Railroad in New York City. Stephens has served as the SFRTA’s deputy executive director since May 2003.
LIRR ridership jumped two percent in 2013
A surge in train travel during the last three months of 2013 helped boost Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) ridership for the second year in a row with the LIRR recording a two percent jump in passenger rides over 2012 totals.
Initial recommendations released for RTD’s Northwest Area Mobility Study
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, Colo., held three public meetings in January to seek input and provide an update on the Northwest Area Mobility Study (NAMS).
Koppers extends sales contract with Norfolk Southern
Koppers Inc. and Norfolk Southern have agreed to extend their two existing sales contracts to supply railroad crossties and related rail products and services for an additional three years.
Jacobs awarded contract from Volpe Center to support FRA
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. was awarded a contract from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) to provide monitoring and technical assistance for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant and loan Program.
UP improves public safety performance in 2013
Union Pacific improved its public safety incident rate in 2013, demonstrating progress in enhancing safety for employees, customers and communities. The company’s 2013 public safety incident rate was 2.22, a seven percent improvement over the 2012 rate of 2.38.
Stacy and Witbeck now accepting proposals for Detroit streetcar construction
With critical utility relocation work underway for the Detroit, Mich., Woodward Avenue streetcar project, M-1 Rail‘s construction manager, Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., is now seeking proposals from local contractors and suppliers for construction.
RailComm provides Forth Worth rail yard with its Blue Flag Indicator System
A North American railroad yard in Fort Worth, Texas, has upgraded their current Domain Operations Controller System to include RailComm’s Blue Flag Indicator (BFI) System within their facility.
CN, New Brunswick reach agreement to preserve freight service
The province of New Brunswick in Canada and Canadian National have reached an agreement to preserve freight rail service on the line in northern New Brunswick.
FRA issues final rule concerning rail-flaw detection processes
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a rule in the Jan. 24 edition of The Federal Register, amending the Federal Track Safety Standards to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.