The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved a $46.6 million design-build contract for the Atlanta Streetcar Project. MARTA selected URS Corporation after a competitive procurement process.
Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C., hired Andrew Westhoff as vice president of sales and marketing, effective immediately.
Westhoff has an extensive railroad background and was with CSX Transportation for more than 20 years in various finance and commercial roles.
Harsco Corporation received new U.S. and international orders in its Harsco Rail track maintenance services, equipment and parts business totaling more than $25 million.
The National Transportation Safety Board made safety recommendations regarding storm water issues that push for greater collaboration between entities affected by these issues. The following recommendation was sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation:
The United Transportation Union and Progressive Rail have finalized a first-time collective bargaining agreement for Progressive Rail train and engine workers represented by the UTU.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen reached a tentative on-property contract agreement with Union Pacific.
Nicholas Fry was named curator of the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, the sixth archivist/curator since the creation of the Barriger collections at the St. Louis Mercantile Library Association in the early 1980s.
KONE has been chosen by Jones Lang LaSalle and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) to supply 18 new escalators in Washington, D.C.’s historic Union Station. The escalator modernization project was designed by Newmont Elevator Analysts, Inc. of Stone Ridge, N.Y.
Twelve cities and states will share $16.9 million to relocate, replace and improve segments of railroad track under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Rail Line Relocation and Improvement competitive grant program.
Amtrak and the Texas Department of Transportation agreed on the scope of a feasibility study for new Amtrak service between the Bossier City -Shreveport area in Northwest Louisiana and along the Interstate 20 corridor to Dallas and Fort Worth.
Union Pacific’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Young will take a medical leave of absence from his responsibilities as president and CEO while he is being treated for recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer.
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors selected Daniel Grabauskas as the agency’s CEO/executive director to oversee the Honolulu rail transit project.
Mark Sinquefield has been named director police for Norfolk Southern, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., effective March 1. He succeeds Al Shackelford II, who retires after 39 years with Norfolk Southern.
CSX Transportation presented its Partnershipping Award to the Regional Economic Development Partnership in Wheeling, W. Va., in recognition of its efforts to locate three energy-related projects that will be served by CSX. The organization also supported state legislation providing incentives for energy companies investing in the state.
San Francisco-area Caltrain and its partners celebrated the completion of a $61 million station improvement project that will allow it to offer more service now and in the future.
Riders for Better Transit joined with transit riders and advocates from across the Chicago region to propose Transit Fast Forward (SB 3236), state legislation that the group says would improve Chicagoland transit service through increased investment and a dedicated source of funding that would grow over time.
Houton, Texas-area METRO’s ridership is on the rise for a sixth consecutive month, recording a 5.2 percent increase to 6,357,131 boardings in January 2012 compared to 6,043,280 in January 2011.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reemphasized President Obama’s focus on high-speed rail in the United States in his blog, Fast Lane.
Iowa Pacific Holdings (IPH) has become the Association of American Railroads’ newest full member. Based in Chicago, IPH is a privately-held company that provides freight and passenger rail service in six states and the United Kingdom.
Washington state regulators approved funds to improve the safety at a railroad crossing in Washougal, Wash.
