VTA to begin safety improvements at eight Caltrain crossings






On July 7, 2010, the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will begin to improve eight
Caltrain crossings located in Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto, Calif.
The improvements will make crossings safer for pedestrians, bicycles and
automobiles and will include the following safety features: modified railroad
crossing gates, newly-installed guardrails, fences, pedestrian and emergency
swing gates, sidewalks, crossing panels and warning tactile panels to assist
the visually impaired.

Reynolds joins PB Cincinnati office






Timothy Reynolds has been
named a Senior Principal Technical Specialist in the Cincinnati office of
Parsons Brinckerhoff. In his new position, Reynolds will be responsible for
rail and transit services and operations planning and will support
environmental analysis and multimodal planning. He is currently serving in key
roles on the Cincinnati streetcar and Ohio 3-C Corridor Passenger Rail Plan
projects.

Officials comment on Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010






U.S. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood commended the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Committee for reporting out the Obama Administration’s transit safety bill, the
first transit-specific safety bill ever sent to Congress by any administration,
by a unanimous vote. The bill now goes to the Senate floor.

Drakontas demonstrates prototype wireless emergency messaging






Drakontas LLC, a company
that develops situation awareness and wireless communications tools for first
responders, law enforcement and homeland defense, formally demonstrated
its prototype wireless emergency messaging solution for transit passengers in
subway tunnels on June 29. The 30-minute demonstration showcased the messaging
platform capability inside a passenger train at PATCO’s 8th and Market Station
in Center City Philadelphia.

Nebraska railroad split since fatal bridge collapse






Even with its bridge over
the Elkhorn River washed out by floodwaters two weeks ago, Nebraska Central
Railroad trains south of the river are running almost as usual, reports the
Grand Island Independent. Even around Norfolk — just north of the ruined
bridge — trains are running. But the railroad can’t get goods from places
south of the bridge, such as Grand Island, to Norfolk.

Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail AirportLink construction update






The temporary nighttime
lane closures of all eastbound and westbound lanes on NW 25 Street between NW
39 Avenue and NW 37 Avenue, originally scheduled to take place from June 16-July
1, have been rescheduled to take place starting July 12 through July 26. As
part of the Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail AirportLink Project, the above closures
will be implemented in order to conduct activities necessary for the
construction of the new Metrorail extension. All lanes will be closed at 9 p.m.
each night and will reopen at 5 a.m. the following morning. Detour signs will
be posted directing motorists to the below alternate routes.


FRA seeks applications for $2.3 billion in high-speed rail grants







February 14, 2001

The Obama Administration took
the next step toward realizing its vision for high-speed rail in the United
States. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration
will begin accepting applications for $2.1 billion in grants to continue the
development of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors.

KCS elects Haverty executive chairman; Starling elected President and CEO






February 14, 2001

Kansas City Southern said
that the KCS board of directors elected Michael R. Haverty, currently chairman
and chief executive officer, to the position of executive chairman and elected
current president and chief operating officer, David L. Starling, to president
and chief executive officer, both effective August 1, 2010. Haverty will continue
to concentrate on the strategic direction of the company and oversee long-term
business decisions.

Unitrac obtains M-1003 Certification






February 14, 2001

Unitrac Railroad Materials,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healey Railroad Corporation and a specialty
trackwork manufacturer and distributor of new and relay rail, has met the
requirements of the Association of American Railroads’ Quality Assurance
Program as specified in M-1003.

 

Aconex supports Denver RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion program






February 14, 2001

Aconex, a provider of
project collaboration solutions for the construction, infrastructure, energy
and resources industries, has been selected by the Regional Transportation
District Denver to provide its online collaboration solution to RTD’s $6-billion
dollar FasTracks transit expansion program. Aconex will be used to facilitate
the information and records management needs for design, construction, testing
and start-up of the public infrastructure project.

Burned before, railroads take risks






February 14, 2001

During the recession in the
early 2000s, U.S. freight railroads slashed spending and services. When
business revived, they were roundly criticized for bottlenecks and delays, The
Wall Street Journal reports. This time around, the railroads have continued to
spend heavily, plowing more than $20 billion into capital improvements to widen
tracks and tunnels, upgrade cars and engines and enhance their technology.

Port Huron’s pain becomes Detroit’s gain






February 14, 2001

Coleman Young died a
dozen years ago. If the former Detroit mayor were with us today, he surely
would be delighted with news of a billion-dollar investment in Detroit’s
railroad infrastructure, the Port Huron Times Herald reports.

SEPTA unveils revitalized historic Wayne Train Station






February 14, 2001

SEPTA General Manager
Joseph Casey joined state and local leaders and members of the community for a
ribbon-cutting ceremony at Wayne Station on the Thorndale Regional rail line in
Wayne, Delaware County, Pa. The ceremony was held to celebrate the completion of
the extensive two-year $22.7-million Wayne Station Improvement Project. The
project was funded as a joint federal, state and local effort to rejuvenate the
historic station, which dates to the late 1800’s.

Ten states get deadline for grade-crossing plans






February 14, 2001

Ten states that lead the
nation in the number of highway-rail grade-crossing deaths — Alabama,
California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Ohio and
Texas –have until Aug. 27, 2011, to complete five-year action plans that
address highway-rail grade crossing accidents, Occupational Health &
Safety’s Website reported.