TTC and LACMTA see rise in ridership
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Toronto, ON, Canada, has set a new 12-month ridership record. From October 3, 2011 to October 2, 2012, the TTC carried more than 510 million riders.
FRA publishes NPRM for rail inspections
The Federal Railroad Administration published a Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register Oct. 19, proposing to amend the Federal Track Safety Standards “to promote the safety of railroad operations by enhancing rail-flaw detection processes.”
NS opens Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility
Norfolk Southern has officially opened the $97.5 million Birmingham Regional Intermodal Facility in McCalla, Ala.
CREATE Belmont Road grade separation completed
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn joined state and local officials and representatives of Metra and BNSF on October 17 to mark the completion of the Belmont Road grade separation project in DuPage County, Ill.
Caltrans and partners restore former L.A. Union Station tracks, platforms
On October 17, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Amtrak, Metrolink and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority celebrated the opening of three new Los Angeles Union Station tracks and a platform to serve Amtrak and Metrolink passengers.
Maryland Board of Public Works awards Bombardier operating contract for MARC’s Camden and Brunswick lines
Maryland Board of Public Works awarded a $204,686,938-contract to Bombardier Transportation for the operations and maintenance of the Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) MARC Train Camden and Brunswick lines. The award will be spread over a five-year, eight-month contract term. The contract also includes a five-year renewal option, valued at $205,000,000.
Schumer: Provisional funding secured to repair damaged NY rail lines
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has provisionally committed to award $4,718,000 in federal disaster funding for the Chenango Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to move forward with the Utica Main Rail Line Revitalization project.
Railway Association of Canada names winners of the 2012 Safety Awards
The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) selected the winners of the 2012 Safety Awards. The awards were presented as part of the RAC’s Canadian Rail Summit and annual meeting held in Montreal.
OneRail writes Obama and Romney campaigns urging support of rail networks
The OneRail Coalition, an alliance of freight and passenger stakeholders, has issued letters to the Obama and Romney presidential campaigns emphasizing the importance of the nation’s rail networks.
TxDOT begins Texas to Oklahoma passenger rail study
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has kicked off a two-year study to explore the possibility of passenger rail service from Oklahoma City to South Texas.
Crossings in Ohio and California to see improvements
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing CSX Transportation (CSX) and Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (W&LE) to install flashing lights and gates at three grade crossings.
Canadian Pacific puts together new senior operations team
Canadian Pacific assembled a new senior operations team who will lead the execution of the railroad’s new service plans.
Jacobs to provide WSDOT with engineering services
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. received a contract from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to provide on-call engineering and operations services in support of the agency’s capital rail improvement program and other rail projects.
FTA provides LYNX Blue Line with $580 million
The Federal Transit Administration has agreed to provide Charlotte, N.C., with $580 million to extend the LYNX Blue Line light-rail system from downtown Charlotte to the city’s University of North Carolina campus.
Valley Metro receives funding for Central Mesa Extension
The Federal Transit Administration awarded the city of Mesa, Ariz., $75 million for construction of a 3.1-mile light-rail extension connecting the city with Phoenix and Tempe.
Five Metrolink crossings to be improved
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved $7.8 million for five Metrolink grade crossing safety improvement projects. The CTC decided to allocate the Proposition 1B Highway Railroad Crossing Safety Account (HRCSA) funding at its September monthly meeting.
Amtrak names DeCataldo GM NEC Services
Amtrak named Michael DeCataldo, Jr., to the new position of general manager, Northeast Corridor (NEC) Services. He will have accountability for safety, customer satisfaction, ridership, on-time performance and financial results for the Northeast Corridor business line. DeCataldo is currently Amtrak general superintendent, Northeast Division.
CalAmp to provide PTC radios for Metrolink
CalAmp Corp., provider of wireless products, services and solutions, has been awarded a contract to supply wireless communications devices for an interoperable Positive Train Control (PTC) system for the Southern California Regional Rail Authority’s (SCRRA) Metrolink commuter rail network.
DART elects board chair, vice chair
John Danish, an attorney, has been re-elected chair of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Board of Directors.
NYCT FASTRACK begins on Seventh Avenue Line
Metropolitan Transit Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK back to the Seventh Avenue Line beginning Monday, October 15, when the 1, 2 and 3 Lines will be shut down from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m., suspending service between 34th Street-Penn Station and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and 34th Street-Penn Station and South Ferry, in both directions for four consecutive weeknights.