SEPTA names new assistant general manager of operations
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority promoted Ronald Hopkins to assistant general manager of operations.
X Train selects architect for terminal facility
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (X Train), the company building a luxury passenger train with planned rail service between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nev., has selected Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects as its chief architectural design firm for the X Train’s Las Vegas terminal facility, as well as the interior design concepts for the passenger cars.
Feds send millions in unspent earmarks to states for transportation projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation is making more than $470 million in unspent earmarks immediately available to states for projects that will create jobs and help improve transportation across the country.
Sound Transit breaks ground on Northgate Link light-rail extension
Construction of the biggest Seattle-area Sound Transit 2 construction project to date has kicked off – the 4.3-mile Northgate Link light-rail extension from Husky Stadium to stations serving the U District, Roosevelt and Northgate.
CN, UTU reach tentative agreement
United Transportation Union-represented yardmasters employed by Canadian National’s Illinois Central Railroad have reached a new tentative agreement following mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board. A March tentative agreement was rejected by the membership, which will now vote, through September 15, on the new tentative pact.
Negotiations were led by UTU International Vice President Paul Tibbit and UTU General Chairperson Doyle Turner.
“This tentative agreement, as with others negotiated with Class 1 railroads, is intended to bring parity in wages, benefits and work rules to the thousands of employees in the railroad industry, along with the many other protections offered by union membership,” Turner said. “The seniority, scope and discipline rules these members now enjoy are what makes union membership valuable.”
Illinois Central connects Chicago with New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., and also reaches Omaha, Neb., and Sioux City, Iowa.
FRA provides grant to study the return of Amtrak service along Alabama route
The Federal Railroad Administration has obligated $100,000 in response to an application from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to study the restoration of Amtrak passenger rail service between Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.
Mass transit framework garners additional support for Tappan Zee bridge project
In Westchester County, N.Y., County Executive Robert Astorino, Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef and Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell explained their intention to vote yes at the next New York Metropolitan Transportation Council meeting to include the new Tappan Zee Bridge project in the region’s long-range transportation plan.
Genesis Energy, L.P. develops crude oil unloading terminal along RailAmerica’s Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway
The Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway, a RailAmerica Inc. property, is now serving a new crude oil-unloading terminal developed by Genesis Energy, L.P. The Walnut Hill, Fla., terminal, which started service on Monday, August 13, is designed to receive approximately 100-car unit trains of crude oil via the AGR from various shale regions in the U.S. and Canada.
LACMTA reaches agreement with ATU
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority reached a three-year contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union, representing more than 2,300 bus and rail maintenance employees.
San Bruno Grade Separation Project nears half-way mark
Caltrain’s San Bruno Grade Separation Project, which will enhance safety at three rail crossings in downtown San Bruno, Calif., is nearing the half-way mark. The supports and bridges for the $147 million public safety project are clearly visible, giving the public a clear idea of the size and scope of the grade separation.
TTCI employees receive “The 2011 SAGE Best Paper Award”
The Editorial Board of Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit presented “The 2011 SAGE Best Paper Award” to researchers at Transportation Technology Center, Inc., including Principal Investigator Huimin Wu, Senior Vice President Technology Semih Kalay and Scientist Harry Tournay for their paper “Development of the wheel‐rail interface management model and its applications in heavy haul operations.”
Fourteen Ohio crossings to get safety upgrades
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved construction authorization from the Ohio Rail Development Commission directing Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to install safety upgrades, including flashing lights and gates at fourteen highway-rail grade crossings in Canton, Ohio.
HRT to celebrate first anniversary of “The Tide”
Hampton Roads Transit in Virginia will mark the first birthday of The Tide light rail in Norfolk on Friday, August 17, with a celebration at the MacArthur Square station.
DART adds one to board, names general counsel
Dallas businessman James Adams is the newest member of the Board of Directors of Dallas Area Rapid Transit. He was appointed by the Dallas City Council.
Rep. Lucas visits FarmRail, discusses upcoming Oklahoma rail project
On August 13, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) joined representatives from FarmRail System, RailWorks Corporation and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC), along with Sayre, Okla., City Manager Guy Hylton and other local officials to discuss an upcoming rail project on the rail line between Sayre and Clinton, Okla., and the positive impact the project will have on the region.
UP performing $7.4 million in Missouri infrastructure improvements
Union Pacific is enhancing Missouri’s transportation infrastructure by investing $7.4 million in the rail line that runs just west of Jefferson City and Pleasant Hill. The project is in progress and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October.
CTA marks 16 consecutive months of ridership growth
Chicago Transit Authority ridership has continued its upward trend in the first six months of 2012, with June marking the 16th consecutive month of ridership increases.
Sound Transit awarded $400,000 energy efficiency grant
The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded Sound Transit $400,000 towards energy efficiency projects, including new lighting at the Federal Way, Auburn and Kent transit centers. The improvements covered by the grant will save more than an estimated $80,000 a year in utility and operations costs and allow the agency to leverage an additional $175,000 in utility rebates.
L.B. Foster provides 11,000 CXT concrete ties for Tesoro refinery
L.B. Foster Company has been awarded a contract by RailWorks Track Systems, Inc., to supply 11,000 of its CXT Concrete Ties for the construction of an unloading facility at the Tesoro oil products refinery in Anacortes, Wash.
Winchester Electronics Corporation acquires Clements National Company
Winchester Electronics Corporation has acquired Clements National Company, headquartered in Broadview, Ill. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.