CP appoints Prentice to board
Canadian Pacific appointed the Hon. Jim Prentice to the company’s board of directors.
Gov. O’Malley appoints new secretary of MDOT and new administrator of the MTA
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley appointed James Smith, Jr., as secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Robert Smith as the administrator for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).
HART transit project Draft Supplemental EIS available to public
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) are accepting public comments on a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Evaluation for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project.
HART and FTA officials have prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS Evaluation for the Rail Project as required by a recent U.S. District Court ruling. The draft covers the re-evaluations of the Beretania Street Tunnel Alternative and Mother Waldron Neighborhood Park.
A public hearing will be held on July 9 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. Comments will be accepted both orally and in writing at the hearing.
The Honolulu Rail Transit Project is a 20-mile elevated rail line that will connect West Oahu with downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana Center. The rail system includes 21 stations at key education, employment and retail destinations, including UH-West Oahu, Leeward and Honolulu community colleges, Honolulu International Airport, Downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and Ala Moana and Pearlridge shopping centers.
The first 10 miles of the rail system from Kapolei to Aloha Stadium is expected to open in 2017, with the full 20-mile line opening in 2019.
CHSRA passes the reins to the SJRRC, appoints Henning to board
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board of Directors has voted to transfer full leadership and funding for rail planning in the Altamont Corridor to the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC).
PUCO approves upgrades at four crossings
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization at four highway-rail grade crossings in Crawford, Darke, Medina and Preble counties.
Illinois Officials sign rail design work on 10th Street corridor
Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, Springfield Mayor Michael Houston and Sangamon County Chairman Andy Van Meter signed an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (IGA) to advance design work as a part of the 10th Street Railroad Consolidation Plan.
FRA issues grade crossing and wayside signal systems safety advisory
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a safety advisory June 3 on the importance railroad safety procedures to ensure the safety of the traveling public and railroad employees when grade-crossing warning systems and wayside signal systems are temporarily removed from service for purposes of testing, inspection, maintenance or repair.
NYCT brings FASTRACK back to Upper Manhattan
Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK back to Upper Manhattan June 10 on the A Line.
RailComm provides yard control system
RailComm has provided its yard control system to a yard in Geismar, La. The yard is now able to wirelessly control 26 switches using RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller (DOC) system, RailComm’s RADiANT data radios, universal switch machine controllers and two hardened, outdoor rated PCs.
UP invests more than $20 million in Illinois’ and Missouri’s transportation infrastructure
Union Pacific plans to strengthen Illinois’ and Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing more than $20 million in the rail line between Chester and near Scott City, Mo.
CN employees ratify new five-year deal
United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART)-represented hostlers employed by Canadian National have ratified a new five-year agreement by a unanimous majority.
Rail car manufacturer returns to work after four-year hiatus
ACF Industries’ rail car manufacturing plant in Milton, Pa., reopened its doors June 5, 2013 after four years of being shut down.
MTA plans extensive Sandy repairs on Montague and Greenpoint subway tunnels
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Montague and Greenpoint tunnels heavily damaged by Superstorm Sandy will require extended work to repair and rebuild their vital systems in order to ensure rider safety and reliable service. Both tunnels will be closed to subway traffic while work is completed.
Delcan promotes six
Delcan, a multi-disciplinary, engineering, planning, management and technology firm, appointed six to principal, senior principal and vice president positions.
Support of public transportation investment increases
A new survey released indicates that there is growing support for expanding public transportation.
CSX begins construction on Quebec intermodal facility
CSX and its transportation and intermodal terminals subsidiaries broke ground on a new intermodal terminal in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QB, Canada, on June 3; the terminal is expected to open in 2015.
Siemens installs energy storage unit on TriMet LRT
Siemens is currently installing the its Sitras SES Energy Storage Unit with supercapacitor technology in the U.S. on the new TriMet Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Line.
SEPTA to perform switch and track crossing renewal project
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has scheduled a switch and track crossing renewal project for the intersection of 49th Street and Woodland Avenue from June 9-22.
CBR and the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay sign 10-year deal
Coos Bay Rail Link (CBR) and the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay have signed a 10-year agreement, effective May 31, authorizing CBR to be the operator the 134-mile line.
Connecticut releases more than $8 million for freight rail infrastructure
The state of Connecticut has allocated more than $8 million in Rail Freight Infrastructure Program funding, which will be released to four regional railroad company projects in an effort to improve and modernize Connecticut’s rail freight system.