FRA adjusts accident/incident reporting threshold
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a Final Rule on Dec. 24, 2013, that increases the rail equipment accident/incident reporting threshold for 2014 from $9,900 to $10,500.
NCRR pays dividend to state freight rail and safety fund
The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) paid a $15.5-million dividend to the state of North Carolina on December 20, 2013 to be designated for a freight rail and safety fund to support the state’s economic development efforts.
USDOT doles out $3 billion to strengthen resiliency of transit agencies affected by Hurricane Sandy
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making approximately $3 billion available to strengthen the resiliency of public transportation systems affected by Hurricane Sandy. The funds will be awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on a competitive basis for projects that protect critical transit infrastructure from being damaged or destroyed by future natural disasters.
Watco hires Greens Port terminal manager
Watco Terminal and Port Services appointed Earon Berotte to terminal manager at the Greens Port Crude by Rail Terminal in Houston, Texas.
KCS State of the Railroad: Starling outlines m/w accomplishments and future projects
Kansas City Southern’s President and CEO David Starling issued his annual State of the Railroad letter sharing KCS’ “successes and tremendous potential.”
Houston METRO opens North Line LRT extension
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joined elected officials and representatives from Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) to celebrate the opening of Houston’s North Line light-rail extension, on Dec. 21.
NYCT gives Mayor Bloomberg ceremonial ride on 7 Subway Extension
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and other local leaders took a ceremonial first ride on the extension of the 7 Subway line, terminating at the new subway station located at 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan.
Edmonton Rail Terminal to open at the end of 2014
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. and Imperial Oil have entered into a 50-50 joint venture to build a crude oil rail-loading facility in Strathcona County, Alberta, called the Edmonton Rail Terminal.
Eglinton Crosstown RFP issued to two pre-qualified consortia
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario issued a request for proposals for Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown light-rail project to the consortia pre-qualified to deliver the balance of the Crosstown project, an integrated system consisting of stations, trackwork, signaling, communications and other required infrastructure.
BART and unions resolve remaining labor contract issue
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manager Grace Crunican says all contract issues have been settled between BART and its two largest labor Unions. She will recommend the ratification of a final collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 1021 and ATU Local 1555 to the BART Board of Directors as soon as possible.
NTSB issues urgent safety recommendations to protect ROW workers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued two urgent safety recommendations to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to protect track workers.
Sound Transit board approves $1.1 billion 2014 budget
The Sound Transit Board approved a $1.1-billion 2014 budget that continues major light-rail expansions, carries more than 31 million riders next year and continues work to update the regional transit Long-Range Plan. The overall budget is relatively unchanged from 2013.
SEPTA unveils new capital improvement plan
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) presented a new capital improvement plan for addressing some of the transit system’s most pressing needs, including critical infrastructure upgrades and equipment replacement.
Newly elected BART board president seeks changes to future labor negotiations
Newly elected Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board President Joel Keller will seek changes to the agency’s labor negotiations process during his term as board leader. Director Keller was elected board president on Dec. 19 by a unanimous vote, the third time his fellow board members have chosen him to lead the board since he was first elected to represent District 2 in 1994.
SMART receives funds; adds station at Sonoma County Airport
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved $16.7 million in funds to extend Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) passenger rail service to the site of SMART’s Operations & Maintenance Facility near the Sonoma County Airport.
Five teams vie for California HSR Phase 2 construction contract
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) received five qualified bids for the next 60-mile phase of high-speed rail construction from Fresno south to the Tulare-Kern County line near Bakersfield, a contract worth $1.5 to $2 billion.
Parsons Brinckerhoff designing rehab for Pennsylvania viaduct
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to Parsons Brinckerhoff for preliminary engineering, final design and construction-phase services for the rehabilitation of the Mahoning Avenue Viaduct in New Castle, Pa.
UP awards 21 grants to support community railroad safety initiatives
Union Pacific has awarded 21 grants to community-owned railroad safety initiatives across its 23-state operating system. Ranging from $500 to $5,000, the grants support initiatives developed by community organizations to enhance and promote railroad safety through activities tailored for their communities.
Port of Kalama awards contract to double rail capacity at Temco site
The Port of Kalama awarded Railworks Corporation a contract for significant rail expansion and relocation at the Temco LLC site in the state of Washington.
Granite awarded grade separation project in Southern California
Granite Construction Incorporated has been awarded a $21 million contract by the city of Coachella, Calif., to construct a new grade-separated crossing junction.