CSX to move Massachusetts operations






CSX Corp. is set to begin
discussions with officials in Worcester, Westboro, East Brookfield and West
Springfield, Mass., about plans to shift more freight operations out of Boston
to freight yards in those communities, the Worcester Times reports. The changes
come as part of a plan to expand commuter rail service on the Boston to
Worcester line and to raise bridges between Route 128 and New York to make room
for double-stacked freight trains.

Atlantic City Rail Line may still expand despite Governor’s call for subsidy cuts






New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie’s proposal to cut NJ Transit’s subsidies comes just as the Atlantic
City Rail Line is planning to expand, the Press of Atlantic City reports. Transit
officials have proposed building a new station in Egg Harbor Township, near
Galloway Township’s Pomona section – a station that could turn into a major
work transit hub for the Federal Aviation Administration’s William J. Hughes
Technical Center and future businesses such as the Next Generation Aviation
Research and Technical Park. This comes as lines across the state already have
seen numerous service cuts – including a popular early morning Atlantic
City-to-Philadelphia run that was canceled less than a month ago.

Stadium-goers to get benefit of stimulus funds to unclog rail congestion






The $100-million federal
grant awarded to the Chicago region Feb. 17 to unclog rail congestion will
benefit Jimmy Buffett Parrotheads and Chicago Fire soccer aficionados along
with freight haulers, motorists and rail passengers, the Chicago Tribune
reports. That’s because $20 million of that money will go toward building a
rail/highway underpass on 71st Street, west of Harlem Avenue and across from
Bridgeview’s Toyota Park, a 28,000-seat sports and music venue.

Florida seeks to link high-speed, commuter rail lines






Two train systems meant to
usher in a new era of transportation in Metro Orlando, Fla., are slated to run
along separate tracks that will intersect west of Orlando International
Airport, the Orlando Sentinel reports. But, as it stands, there is no planned
connection where passengers from the $1.2-billion SunRail commuter train could
transfer to the $2.6-billion high-speed train or vice versa. How is that
possible?

Medina railroad upgrades planned; could horns go silent?






Medina, Ohio, will upgrade
several railroad crossing signals and surfaces within city limits in order to
meet recently changed state and federal safety regulations. In addition,
officials have discussed the possibility of transforming the area, which is in
the city’s southern portion, into a railroad quiet zone, the Medina Sun
reports.

City wants to pursue higher priced railroad repairs






Britt, Iowa, city
officials are considering a costlier option in an effort to avoid future
repairs to several damaged railroad crossings within the city, the Britt Summit
reports. At its regular February meeting, the Britt City Council instructed
Mayor David Mitchell to continue exploring a reconstruction option for three
separate crossings throughout the city, an option that could cost the city an
additional $10-12,000 per crossing but ensure a longer life span for each
track.

 

Miami-Dade Transit renames Metromover facility to honor employee 







During a special
ceremony on Feb. 18, Miami-Dade County officials renamed the Metromover
facility in downtown Miami to posthumously honor Miami-Dade Transit employee
Joseph Bryant. Bryant was a dedicated employee for 28 years, of which 15 years
were spent in the Metromover Maintenance Division, where Bryant rose through
the ranks to become a Metromover maintenance supervisor before losing his life
while on duty the evening of June 19, 2009.


SEPTA weekend construction to alter Broad Street Line service






Two separate construction
projects in Philadelphia will alter SEPTA’s Broad Street Line service the
weekend of Feb 19-21. From 8 p.m. Feb. 19 through 4 p.m. Feb. 21, Broad Street
line trains will not stop at Fairmount Station as construction continues at
Spring Garden Station. Riders traveling northbound who wish to go to Fairmount
Avenue will have to exit the Broad Street Subway at Spring Garden Street and
transfer to the Route C bus. Southbound passengers will have to exit at Girard
Avenue to transfer to the Route C bus to Fairmount Avenue.


R. J. Corman Railroad Group receives TIGER grant






Slide 1

The
Commonwealth of Kentucky and the U. S. Department of Transportation said that
R. J. Corman Railroad Group’s Appalachian Regional Shortline Project has been
awarded a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant
of $17,551,028.  This
transportation infrastructure grant will be matched by a 20 percent company
investment of $4,187,758 and by $200,000 from the Commonwealth of Kentucky bringing
the total project investment to $21,938,786. These funds will enable the rehabilitation
of hundreds of miles on five unconnected shortline railroads in Kentucky,
Tennessee and West Virginia. 

CSX congratulates National Gateway Coalition on receiving TIGER funds






Slide 1

CSX congratulated Ohio
Governor Ted Strickland, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Pennsylvania
Governor Ed Rendell, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, West Virginia Governor
Joe Manchin and the National Gateway coalition on the award of $98 million in
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant money. The
funds will go immediately to construction projects that enhance the use of fuel-efficient
and environmentally-friendly freight rail.

Secretary LaHood announces funding for over 50 transportation projects






Slide 1

One year to the day after
President Obama signed the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into
law, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will announce Recovery Act awards
to states, tribal governments, cities, counties and transit agencies across the
country to fund 51 innovative transportation projects.

Two-Year lane closing on for Dulles Metrorail starts Feb. 22






Slide 1

The right
lane of southbound Route 123 between Scotts Crossing Road and the I-495 Capital
Beltway Inner Loop will close for approximately two years beginning on or about
Monday, Feb. 22. The closing had been previously scheduled to begin on or about
Feb. 8 but the recent snowstorms forced a delay.

Chicago rail projects getting a $100-million federal boost






A program to reduce train
congestion in the Chicago area is getting a major boost with $100 million in
federal stimulus money for 16 rail projects, officials said Feb. 16, the Chicago
Tribune reports. That’s good news for frustrated Metra and Amtrak passengers,
harried motorists and anxious shippers who are victims of affected by snarled
freight train traffic, officials said. And as part of the stimulus program’s
primary goal, the program is expected to create thousands of jobs.

 

L. B. Foster Company to acquire Portec Rail Products






L. B. Foster Company and
Portec Rail Products, Inc., both headquartered in Pittsburgh, jointly announced
the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger under which L. B. Foster will
make, through its wholly owned acquisition subsidiary, a cash tender offer to
acquire all of Portec’s outstanding shares of common stock for $11.71 per share

HRT chief asks for state investigation of light-rail project






Hampton Roads Transit’s
new president and CEO, Philip Shucet, called for the inspector general to
investigate the agency’s light-rail project and business practices, The
Virginian-Pilot reports. HRT in recent months has been faulted for amassing
more than $100 million in cost overruns on Norfolk’s starter light-rail line
and for failing to pursue a suspected embezzlement of $80,000.

Koppers expands crosstie procurement business






Koppers Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Koppers Holdings Inc. said it has completed a
transaction with Barham-Sevier Tie Company, Inc. to acquire a crosstie
procurement business that includes land and equipment for an undisclosed
purchase price. The asset purchase from Barham-Sevier is expected to result in
total additional revenues of approximately $8 to $10 million on an annual basis.


Committee OKs federal funding of Milwaukee-Madison rail link






The Wisconsin Legislature’s
Joint Finance Committee agreed Feb. 16 to accept $822 million in federal
stimulus funds for high-speed rail linking Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago, but
not before lawmakers wrangled over whether the project was necessary, the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The funds had been sought by Gov. Jim Doyle
to link the three cities – and potentially the Twin Cities. The vote represents
the final action for Wisconsin to tap the stimulus funding for rail.