Search Results for: railroad grants

Washington State, BNSF sign agreement, rail projects to move ahead

An agreement signed by the Washington State Department of Transportation and BNSF clears the way for work to begin on rail upgrades that will improve Amtrak Cascades service between Seattle and Portland.

The state can begin initial work this fall using some of the $781 million in federal grants awarded to Washington in the past two years. This money is part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act high-speed-rail grants administered by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The ARRA money will be used to purchase new locomotives and passenger coaches, as well as build bypass tracks and make upgrades to existing tracks shared by Amtrak and BNSF. Two Amtrak Cascades daily roundtrips between Seattle and Portland will be added as well.

The first rail-improvement project will occur in Everett, where two new tracks will be built for freight trains entering the rail terminal, taking them out of the way of oncoming passenger trains.

This agreement sets up a clear contractual relationship between WSDOT and BNSF. As such, it outlines mutually agreed upon requirements and performance measures, including project schedules and budgets, contracting methods, procurement and purchasing processes and budget and billing procedures, among other things.

"This is an important step towards improving the trackage infrastructure to help meet current and future demands for both passenger and freight rail service," said BNSF Chairman and CEO Matt Rose.

Keystone corridor gets $24.3 million to boost speeds

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have signed a $24.3 million grant agreement, which will allow the state to close the last three highway-rail grade crossings on the Keystone corridor. Eliminating the grade crossings will improve safety and allow future train speeds to increase from 110 mph to 125 mph.

"We are committed to the President’s vision of a world-class rail network providing fast, efficient and affordable service," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Closing these highway-rail grade crossings will allow travelers along the heavily-used Keystone corridor to enjoy a reduction in their trip time with future train speeds boosted to 125-mph."

The Keystone corridor operates between New York, Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa., and is Amtrak’s fourth most heavily traveled route. Since train speeds along the route were increased to 110 mph in 2006, ridership has grown by more than 37 percent to 1,227,075 passengers in 2010. The grants will eliminate grade crossings in Mount Joy Borough, Rapho Township and Leacock Township, all in Lancaster County, Pa. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Amtrak will also contribute a combined $3.4 million for this project.

"Closing highway-rail grade crossings eliminates potential accidents," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. "We must keep safety at the forefront in the high-speed and intercity passenger rail program."

Funding also includes engineering and environmental work for the redesign of track crossings and improvements to train control signal systems.

UTU, TRRA seek anti-terrorist training grant

The United Transportation Union and the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis are jointly seeking an anti-terrorist security grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

If the grant is approved, the UTU and TRRA will collaborate on a three-year project to train front-line TRRA employees to enhance security awareness.

The project proposes joint UTU/TRRA creation of a security awareness manual, plus emergency preparedness classroom training, drills and exercises that will present various terrorist scenarios and means of recognizing, reporting and responding to terrorist threats against TRRA facilities.

"The nature of TRRA’s operation, its importance to national rail-network reliability and its location in the heart of a major U.S. city could make TRRA a high-priority target for foreign terrorists as well as disturbed individuals," said UTU International employee, Bruce Feltmeyer.

The UTU is currently working with Amtrak to develop training of conductors, assistant conductors, on-board service personnel and yard employees to enhance their abilities to recognize behavioral traits and deal with unruly passengers.

Additionally, discussions are underway with Class 1 freight railroads regarding joint UTU/railroad applications for federal grants to develop similar training programs for front-line Class 1 employees. The DHS is expected to provide a decision regarding the grant in August.

UP named 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles

Union Pacific Railroad was named one of the 2011 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award winners from the National Business Group on Health (NBGH). Union Pacific earned platinum status each year since the award’s inception in 2005 and is one of only six U.S. employers to earn platinum status each of the last five years. The company is the only railroad or transportation provider among the companies honored by the NBGH, which recognized employers that responded to the need to improve their workers’ health, productivity and quality of life.

Union Pacific Wellness, the railroad’s health promotion initiative, encourages employees to lead a healthy life. The program assesses and provides intervention support for 11 health risk factors: asthma, blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, diabetes, fatigue, inactivity, nutrition, smoking, stress and weight. Risk identification and reduction programs consist of wellness assessments and biometric screenings, lifestyle management, tobacco cessation, system health facilities, education programs, research grants and injury prevention.

"Our employees work hard to provide great service to our customers. We want them to enjoy good health so they can reap the benefits of their hard work by spending quality time with families and friends, and we know that helping employees achieve their wellness goals contributes to a safer work environment," said Barb Schaefer, Union Pacific senior vice president of human resources.

 

NCDOT awards $2 million to nine shortlines for maintenance

The North Carolina Board of Transportation has awarded nearly $2 million in state funds to nine small freight railroads through the Short Line Infrastructure Assistance Program. The grants will be used to help with track and bridge maintenance and other improvements.

"These grants will retain jobs and support economic development in rural areas," Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said. "At the same time, the grants will help modernize the state’s rail system and bring about improved capacity, reliability and safety."

SIAP’s focus is to help shortlines maintain and improve their tracks and better serve industries in primarily rural areas. The money will be used to assist nine railroads that will directly benefit 20 counties serving 62 companies. The money is a part of a public-private partnership, with at least 50 percent coming from the shortline railroad companies.

"Shortline railroads connect our shippers with the national rail network," said Andrew Perkins, chair of the Board of Transportation’s Rail Subcommittee. "They ensure that our industries can receive raw materials and ship products across the country."

State SIAP funds are appropriated by the N.C. General Assembly on a year-by-year basis. These grant funds are not automatically recurring.

Washington state applies for $120M of Florida’s rejected funds

Washington state applied for approximately $120 million in federal high-speed-rail stimulus money, part of $2.4 billion returned by Florida. The Washington State Department of Transportation will use the money to continue improving and expanding Amtrak Cascades service between Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C.

This potential funding would add to $590 million already secured by the Federal Railroad Administration and $161 million redirected from Ohio and Wisconsin – a total of $751 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act high-speed-rail funding.

"We will create jobs, improve rail travel and make our state an even better place to live and do business by putting these funds to good use," said Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The Florida-related funding has more stringent "readiness" requirements, narrowing the list of projects eligible for consideration. Projects in WSDOT’s application are primarily for environmental and engineering work to stabilize hillsides, add capacity to reduce conflicts with freight and replace an aging trestle. All projects funded by the ARRA rail grants must be completed by September 2017.

"We’re working hard to improve reliability for passenger service along this route," said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. "In partnership with BNSF, this funding allows us to address those problem areas and ensure that trains get to their destinations and get there on time."

The original $590 million from the Federal Railroad Administration will allow WSDOT to add two daily round trips between Seattle and Portland, for a total of six. Major construction projects will be completed, including building bypass tracks to allow for increased train frequency and multiple upgrades to existing track. Several safety-related projects will be completed, including grade separations and the latest technology in advanced-warning signal systems. WSDOT expects to begin construction on select projects before the end of the year.

Connecticut DOT applies for $227M in federal funds

Connecticut has submitted an application for $227 million in federal funding to complete the third phase of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield high-speed intercity passenger rail project. The Connecticut Department of Transportation submitted its application April 4, to the Federal Railroad Administration for the $227 million, which is available due to Florida rejecting the funds earlier this year.

"Once implemented, this line will support up to 50 daily passenger trains reaching speeds up to 110 miles an hour – providing some of the best rail service in the nation," Connecticute Governor Dannel Malloy said. "We are underscoring our commitment to this crucial project by investing a total of $259 million in state funds to match the federal funding."

"Furthermore," the Governor added, "this project will create about 13,000 construction-related jobs and produce important environmental energy and economic benefits. For communities in the region, the project will offer employment opportunities and serve as a catalyst for new transit-oriented development. It will also support what will be one of the most robust transportation networks in the country – connecting to regional commuter and high-speed trains, Bradley International Airport and the New Britain-Hartford Busway."

The FRA has already awarded two grants to Connecticut for Phases 1 and 2 of the NHHS project, totaling $160.9 million and Connecticut has matched that with $161 million in state bond funds. This application is for Phase 3, which will complete the necessary improvements between Hartford and Springfield.

Plans include service every 30 minutes during peak rush-hour periods and every 60 minutes during the rest of the day. Projections anticipate 1.26 million riders annually on the NHHS line by 2030.

The state expects to complete all design work on the project in 2013 and launch the new service in 2016.

Washington state to feds: We’re ready to put Florida rail money to work

Federal high-speed-rail stimulus funds rejected by Florida could be well spent in Washington on the vital Amtrak Cascades corridor stretching from Oregon to British Columbia, Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said.

"I’ve said many times, if other states don’t want this funding, Washington state is ready to put it to work," Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said. "We’ve been committed to expanding and improving high-speed passenger rail not just to increase convenience for passengers, but to promote Washington state as a great place to visit and live. These rail lines take cars off our roads while moving workers and tourists between Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, B.C. These federal funds are an investment in our economy, and support hundreds of construction and operating jobs in our state."

In early 2010, Washington was selected to receive $590 million in federal high-speed-rail funding, part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants, administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). That was followed by an additional $161.5 million in Recovery Act funds redirected from Ohio and Wisconsin.

The additional funding could be applied to eligible projects in the Washington State Department of Transportation’s original 2009 Recovery Act application. The additional project work would result in added round trips between Portland and Seattle, improved schedule reliability and reduced travel times throughout the corridor. The cost of these projects in the original application was estimated at $539 million.

"These projects will boost rail-line capacity and relieve main-line congestion, as well as improve track quality, reliability and passengers’ rides," said Hammond. "We will work with FRA to determine which projects should receive additional funding, based on the direct benefits to high-speed intercity passenger rail."

Washington state strongly supports high-speed rail, as evidenced by its record-breaking ridership this year on the Pacific Northwest rail corridor. Amtrak Cascades ridership was up 10 percent in 2010 compared to 2009. The second train to Vancouver, B.C., which began in August 2009 and will continue at least through October 2011, was a major factor in the growing popularity of Amtrak Cascades.

$53B HSR reaction: Rep. Mica and Rep. Shuster

House Transportation Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and Railroads Subcommittee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) have expressed extreme reservations regarding the Obama Administration’s plan to spend $53 billion over the next six years on rail infrastructure projects.

“With the first $10.5 billion in Administration rail grants, we found that 1) the Federal Railroad Administration is neither a capable grant agency, nor should it be involved in the selection of projects, 2) what the Administration touted as high-speed rail ended up as embarrassing snail-speed trains to nowhere, and 3) Amtrak hijacked 76 of the 78 projects, most of them costly and some already rejected by state agencies,” Mica added. “Amtrak’s Soviet-style train system is not the way to provide modern and efficient passenger rail service.

“Rather than focusing on the Northeast Corridor, the most congested corridor in the nation and the only corridor owned by the federal government, the Administration continues to squander limited taxpayer dollars on marginal projects,” Mica concluded.

Shuster said, “The Administration continues to fail in attracting private investment, capital and the experience to properly develop and cost-effectively operate true high-speed rail. They have also ignored my provision in law that calls for competition on money-losing Amtrak routes.

“The Committee plans to investigate how previous funding decisions were made. I have no problem with sound investments in alternative transportation projects, but selecting routes behind closed doors runs counter to the Administration’s pledges of transparency. I am concerned that without appropriate controls to ensure the most worthy projects are the ones that receive funding, high-speed rail funding could become another political grab bag for the President.”

Shuster continued, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result and that is exactly what Vice President Biden offered today. If the Obama Administration is serious about high-speed rail, they should stop throwing money at projects in the same failed manner.

“Rail projects that are not economically sound will not ‘win the future.’ It just prolongs the inevitable by subsidizing a failed Amtrak monopoly that has never made a profit or even broken even. Government won’t develop American high-speed rail. Private investment and a competitive market will,” Shuster said.

Obama

In a state-of-the union speech on January 25, 2011, the United Transportation Union reports, President Obama singled out high-speed rail as "the most reliable way to move people," saying that "within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you go places in half the time it takes to travel by car.

"For some [high-speed rail] trips, it will be faster than flying — without the pat-down," said the president. "As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already underway." 

The White House press office said the president would release more details on his desires for high-speed rail, transit and Amtrak improvements when he delivers his fiscal year 2012 budget request to Congress in early February.

"Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do," said the president in his speech. "China is building faster trains … We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad."

Many Republicans, however, have signaled they will oppose Obama’s high-speed rail spending proposals and also seek to reduce federal subsidies for Amtrak during congressional budget deliberations.

However, the chairman of the House Rail Subcommittee, Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), indicated he is not opposed to more spending on high-speed rail and Amtrak, but has reservations.

He said, "The Obama administration’s high-speed rail grants, rather than focusing on a small number of projects with the most potential for success, have been spread among numerous projects. Most of these have been grants to Amtrak, and nearly all are slower-speed rail projects. 

"In addition, the administration has virtually ignored the one region of the United States where high-speed rail makes the most sense and would have the most national benefit — the Northeast Corridor between Washington, New York and Boston. Amtrak’s Acela currently serves this route, but at an average speed of only 83 mph."

Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the subcommittee’s parent, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has voiced support for more high-speed rail funding in the Northeast Corridor and for a limited number of high-speed rail projects — but with private sector investment in addition to federal funding.

 

AASHTO lists Top 10 Transportation Issues for 2011







With a new majority in
the House, a new chairman and many new members of the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, as well as a changing national economic picture, it
is worth asking the question, "What’s ahead for transportation in
2011?"  The American Association
of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has compiled a list of very distinct – and pressing
– issues that loom at the local, state, and federal levels.

$1.2 Million approved by NOACA for Cleveland RTA

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will receive $1.2 million in funding from the Northeast Ohio Area-wide Coordinating Agency for two Transportation Enhancement Programs. Two grants of $600,000 each will support the Clifton Transit Enhancement Project in Cleveland and Lakewood and the University Circle Rapid Transit Station Reconstruction project in Cleveland.

"These projects will benefit our customers not only in Lakewood and Cleveland, but those traveling throughout the system," said Joe Calabrese, CEO, RTA. "Combined with our TIGER II grant we received in October, the University Circle Rapid Station secured more than $12 million and we hope to break ground there next summer. The Clifton grant allows us to continue our work to better serve our customers in a major Westside corridor."

The University Circle grant will be used to enhance pedestrian walkways under the railroad bridges between the bus and train waiting areas at the new station. The Clifton funds will be used to enhance the bus station areas.

Work to begin on Appalachian Regional Short-Line Rail Project






Work can begin on the
Appalachian Regional Short-Line Rail project with the signing of a $12.9-million
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood said. The signing took place between the U.S. Department of
Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Michigan track deal helps commuter rail






The Michigan Department
of Transportation’s looming purchase of privately-owned railroad tracks between
Dearborn and Kalamazoo as part of an improved high-speed rail corridor to
Chicago also will directly benefit a commuter rail project linking Detroit and
Ann Arbor, Crain’s Detroit Business reports.

Federal money for King Street, Tukwila stations in Washington State






Washington State has been
awarded $31 million in federal money for railroad projects in the state, the Seattle
Times reports. More than $18.2 million will go to seismically retrofit King
Street Station in Seattle and its clock tower, as well as restore the station’s
main hall and other upgrades at the station. The project is a partnership with
the state, Amtrak, the city of Seattle, Sound Transit and BNSF.

V&T to get funding boost with Stimulus money






February 14, 2001

The Nevada Department of
Transportation board has approved a list of projects including funding for the
next leg of the V&T Railroad reconstruction, the Nevada Appeal reports. The
track now stretches from Virginia City past Eastgate Station where the train
crosses Highway 50 and into the upper end of Carson River Canyon to what was
the site of Eureka Siding.

 

The V&T project
approved this week would use up to $3 million in stimulus funding to continue
work on the railroad reconstruction.

Feds making $10.5 -million investment for northern Maine rail line






February 14, 2001

U.S. Senators Olympia J.
Snowe and Susan Collins and Representative Mike Michaud announced that the U.S.
Department of Transportation has awarded $10,546,436 to the Maine Department of
Transportation to repair and improve the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway
(MMA) line in Aroostook and northern Penobscot counties. The funding is being
made available through the second round of grants from the Transportation
Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. U.S. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood called Senators Snowe and Collins and Rep. Michaud this
morning to inform them of the DOT’s decision.