BLET celebrates 150th anniversary
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen will celebrate its 150th anniversary on May 8; the union was founded on May 8, 1863.
Watco names new COO
Watco Mechanical Services (WMS) named Mark Peterson-Overton as chief operating officer. He will be responsible for managing all hands-on operational aspects of Watco Mechanical Services on a daily basis.
Gross & Janes enters into crosstie agreement with Boatright
Gross & Janes Co. has entered into an agreement to manage and operate two green crosstie processing facilities owned by Boatright Railroad Products in Montevallo and Clanton, Ala.
CTA seeks bids for $203-million Wilson Red Line station construction
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has issued an Invitation for Bids, seeking a general contractor for the $203-million reconstruction of the Wilson Red Line station. Work is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall and continue through 2016.
ARDA annual meeting speakers confirmed
The 107th American Railway Development Association Annual Meeting June 2-5 in San Francisco, Calif., will feature presentations from a long list of industry professionals.
Feds provide $30.2 million to Amtrak for Sandy repairs
The Federal Railroad Administration has released $30.2 million to Amtrak to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy along its Northeast Corridor. The funding comes from the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013.
FRA issues switching operations safety advisory
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued an industry-wide safety advisory to warn about safety hazards associated with flat switching operations on railroads.
Caltrain reviews budget, ridership increases
California’s Caltrain presented a preliminary report to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which owns and operates Caltrain, indicating the rail service’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget will be balanced, but warning that Fiscal Year 2015 faces a significant budget shortfall.
NYCT brings FASTRACK to the N and R Fourth Avenue line
Starting May 6, Metropolitan Transit Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK to the N and R Fourth Avenue line in Brooklyn.
Railroad industry to celebrate International Level Crossing Awareness Day
Operation Lifesaver, Inc., programs and partners across the U.S. will celebrate International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) on May 7 with a variety of events to illustrate the importance of safe behavior at grade crossings and around train tracks. This year, 45 countries worldwide are holding events in observance of ILCAD.
N.C. observes Rail Safety Awareness Month
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed May as “Rail Safety Awareness Month” to encourage safety on and around North Carolina’s railroad tracks. Since the beginning of this year, 12 people have died on North Carolina’s railroad tracks, an unusually high number of fatalities in such a short span of time.
Ohio approves work at Marion County grade crossing
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing CSX Transportation to install mast-mounted flashing lights and roadway gates at the Emahiser Road/Township Road grade crossing in Tully Township, Marion County.
Military Times EDGE names UP Best for Vets Employer in 2013
Military Times EDGE named Union Pacific among the 40 Best for Vets 2013 Employers. Union Pacific’s number five ranking marks the third consecutive year it has been in the top 10.
KCS promotes Darin Selby
Kansas City Southern (KCS) promoted Darin Selby to vice president energy markets and shortline partner relations. Selby is responsible for the coal business unit, shortline partner relations and developing business in the emerging energy markets, such as crude oil, frac sand and alternative energy sources.
Parsons Brinckerhoff hires new senior principal technical specialist
Lurae Stuart has been named senior principal technical specialist in the Portland, Ore., office of Parsons Brinckerhoff.
L.B. Foster delivers pipe for San Francisco transit center
L.B. Foster Company has delivered approximately 2,600 tons of 36-inch diameter steel pipe to Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., for use as lateral shoring struts in the excavation of San Francisco’s new Transbay Transit Center.
LIRR performs annual trackwork on Montauk Branch
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will focus on its annual track renewal and maintenance program along its Montauk Branch to the south shore of eastern Suffolk County May 4 and May 6-9.
GWI relocates headquarters
Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) has relocated its corporate headquarters from Greenwich, Conn., to 20 West Avenue in Darien, Conn.
ACE names new chair, vice chair
The Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE) elected El Monte, Calif., Mayor Pro Tem Norma Macias as chair and Montebello, Calif., Councilman Jack Hadjinian as vice chair of its board of directors.
Gannett Fleming receives award for Amtrak security project
Gannett Fleming received a Distinguished Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey’s (ACEC/NJ) annual Engineering Excellence Awards competition for its work on the Amtrak Security Improvements project.