Elected officials joined Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) representatives to reveal reconstruction plans for Levittown Station. SEPTA says the project will enhance service for customers at a key station along the Trenton Regional Rail Line and represents one of many critical improvement projects under SEPTA’s renewed “Catching Up” capital improvement program.
A plan to develop a new intermodal terminal that was to be served by CSX in Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pa., has stalled following negative community reaction to the project.
Union Pacific’s Board of Directors approved an additional $150 million in capital expenditures, bringing the railroad’s total 2014 capital spending plan to $4.1 billion.
Metra officials gave U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) an up-close look at why Metra needs to replace an aging, single-track bridge that carries the Milwaukee West Line over the Fox River near Elgin, Ill.
The application period for the sixth round of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants recently ended. Once again, USDOT says the request for funds far exceeds what is available. The 797 eligible applications, compared to 585 in 2013, request $9.5 billion, 15 times the $600 million set aside for the program.
U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), chair and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Transportation, respectively, urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to increase safety resources for shortline railroads, which make up one third of the nation’s rail network, but lack the funding and support that larger, Class 1 railroads receive.
An ongoing power upgrade for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line has achieved a major milestone with the installation of a second new transformer at Mount Vernon, providing additional redundancy and increased capacity.
Chicago’s Metra, Union Pacific, the Village of Lombard, Ill., and DuPage County officials broke ground May 14 on more than $9.7-million in improvements at the Lombard Station along the UP West Line, including a new pedestrian underpass, rebuilt platforms and new platform canopies.
By 2035, transit ridership along the Columbia Pike and the Crystal City-Pentagon City corridors is expected to more than double, according to updated ridership forecasts released by Arlington County, Va., with more than 62 percent of projected daily transit trips to be on streetcar versus bus.
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. (BBII), was chosen by the city of Charlotte to build the track and systems components of the new Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension, as well as the Blue Line Capacity Expansion Project.
The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) released its proposed bill text for the MAP-21 Reauthorization Act (S. 2322). The six-year legislation plans to maintain highway program funds at current levels plus inflation.
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown and a host of other federal, state and local leaders gathered May 12 to mark the start of construction on the The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at Dames Point,
The University of Stony Brook’s work on generating clean energy from railroad track vibrations was one of several to receive an award from PowerBridgeNY, a recently created proof-of-concept center established to move clean-energy ideas from the laboratory to become successful businesses in New York State.
Caltrain completed the $155-million San Bruno grade separation project, which it says has improved rail safety for the city and for the commuter railroad by elevating the train tracks over San Bruno, San Mateo and Angus avenues.
A tentative agreement has been reached between VIA Rail Canada and Canadian National, which will allow VIA Rail’s passenger rail service to continue on the Newcastle subdivision. Under the agreement, which must be ratified by their respective boards, VIA Rail will provide funding to CN for rehabilitation work on the line between Nelson Junction and Nepisiquit Junction. Work will be done on 70.8 kilometers (44 miles) of track and represents a CA$10.2-million (US$9.3-million investment for the railroad.
As a result of this agreement, VIA Rail will be able to continue to offer its Ocean passenger rail service between Bathurst and Miramichi three days per week in each direction as part of its Montreal-Halifax service. VIA Rail will hold discussions with the province and municipalities along the subdivision to explore ways they can assist in increasing train ridership.
“Our government is committed to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. The continuity of VIA Rail’s Ocean service on this rail line in Northern New Brunswick is excellent news as it will not only benefit the users, but also each community along the route by maintaining jobs and supporting the local economy,” said Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt.
In other news, the Canadian government has appointed Yves Desjardins-Siciliano as president and chief executive officer of VIA Rail.
Prior to his appointment, Desjardins-Siciliano was VIA Rail’s chief corporate and legal officer and corporate secretary. Prior to joining VIA Rail in 2010, he has held executive positions, in a variety of industries, in both Montréal and Toronto.
“As Directors of VIA Rail, we are delighted that the government has chosen to lead Canada’s national passenger railway, someone whose career demonstrates a breath of experiences and expertise, an intimate knowledge of our largest markets, an ability to develop new value-creation strategies and a keen understanding of public policy. He can count on our full support,” said Paul Smith, chairman of the board.
Desjardins-Siciliano takes over from VIA Rail’s Interim President and CEO, Steve Del Bosco. Steve will be resuming his previous role as VIA’s chief commercial planning officer. Del Bosco had been in the interim position since January 4, 2014.
Denver Union Station reopened on May 9 and is now a multimodal transportation hub that includes a new bus facility and rail connections and will significantly improve transportation options in downtown Denver and beyond.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s Metro-North Railroad completed a track reconstruction effort that began in July 2013 on the tracks through the central Bronx used by New Haven Line and Harlem Line trains. The authority says the work results in a safer, smoother ride and improved operating speeds.
Three of Connecticut’s representatives to Congress, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT) and Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY) unveiled the Rail Safety Enforcement Act, comprehensive legislation the congressmen say will enhance rail safety.
Amtrak began service to Union Depot in St. Paul, Minn., with the May 7 arrival of the Empire Builder from Chicago. Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Boardman was among several transportation leaders who cut the ribbon for the first-ever Amtrak service in Downtown St. Paul.
South County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) board members voted to support the reactivation of the San Diego Arizona Eastern Railway at its May board of directors meeting.