The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Senior Advisor to the Chairman Susan Kupferman passed away the morning of June 26.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors has approved a $1.272-billion contract to Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors to build the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor Project
The Senate has confirmed Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, N.C., as the next U.S. Transportation secretary by a 100-0 vote. Foxx will replace current secretary Ray LaHood.
Train and engine workers employed by DeQueen & Eastern Railroad (D&ER) voted June 20 to elect United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) as their collective bargaining representative.
SYSTRA has hired Wes Coates as vice president, sector manager, planning & operations analysis.
Union Pacific has been named a 2013 Best Diversity Company by the readers of Diversity Careers in Engineering and Information Technology for the fifth consecutive year.
Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Edward Hamberger on June 26 told a House Transportation Committee special panel on 21st Century Freight Transportation that billions in annual privately-funded rail infrastructure investments have made America’s rail network vital to U.S. competitiveness in the global supply chain.
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (X Train) is in negotiations with the city of North Las Vegas for the new train station that will serve passengers traveling on the route between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nev.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) National Vice President Willard Knight is retiring following a 44-year railroad career.
Union Pacific will strengthen Wyoming’s transportation infrastructure by investing $15 million in the rail line between Rawlins and near Rock Springs.
Amtrak named Michael Logue chief safety officer, effective July 29, 2013. He will report directly to DJ Stadtler, vice president of operations.
Amtrak has seen more than 70,000 passengers on its Northeast Regional route between Washington, D.C., and Norfolk.
Union Pacific (UP) will strengthen Oregon’s transportation infrastructure by investing nearly $8.6 million to construct a new siding track on the main UP rail line in Portland between NE 122nd Avenue and NE 162nd Avenue.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo joined Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) and other state and local officials June 24 for the groundbreaking of the new passenger rail station in Tukwila, Wash.
In California, Metrolink, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) and the Bob Hope Airport held started construction on the Bob Hope Airport-Hollywood Way Metrolink Station June 21.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) celebrated the opening of the Littleton commuter rail station June 21 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Eight potential routes have been identified as part of Sound Transit‘s Ballard to downtown High Capacity Transit study, which will help inform updates to the city of Seattle’s Transit Master Plan and Sound Transit’s Long Range Plan.
Watco Companies, LLC appointed Matt McKenzie to executive vice president and chief financial officer.
McKenzie has been serving as interim CFO since July of 2012. As CFO, McKenzie will continue to oversee the areas of finance, accounting, treasury and investor relations. In addition, he has assumed responsibility for the performance management, information technology and operational analysis teams. McKenzie will support all of these areas in following the Customer First Foundation Principles and will oversee the implementation of all financial aspects of Watco’s strategic plan.
“During the past six years Matt has led many improvements in several facets of our company. As we conducted our search, it became evident that the best candidate for the CFO position at Watco was Matt. We are very pleased and excited that Matt has accepted the position on a full-time basis,” said Terry Towner, Watco president.
McKenzie got his start with Watco in 2007 as senior vice president, chief accounting officer and corporate controller and served as senior vice president finance and corporate controller before being named interim CFO.
Stantec hired Peter Josefchak as heavy rail lead for the US Midwest. Josefchak will focus on expanding the firm’s heavy rail market share, while being responsible for consistency, quality, delivery and profitability of Stantec’s rail business. He will also provide leadership on some of Stantec’s major railway engineering projects.
Josefchak has more than 42 years of experience in the engineering and railroad transportation industries. His background includes 13 years in the railroad industry with Canadian Pacific as a Class 1 divisional operating officer, transportation analyst, transport planner and cost analyst.
He has conducted research on rail construction, privatization and rehabilitation and specializes in negotiating and coordinating agreements with railroads. He has provided rail operations and engineering expertise on projects for clients such as Chicago’s Metra, Chicago Transit Authority, Canadian National and Union Pacific, as well as CSX, Norfolk Southern, Toronto’s Metrolinx and Metro-North Railroad. His project management experience involves all heavy rail core technical disciplines for major Class 1 Railways and third party departments of transportation.
He joins Stantec’s heavy rail team providing a complete railway engineering service package addressing bridges, track, signal and communication, rail yards and terminals for Class 1 and shortline railroads, as well as supporting industrial and mining sector clients across North America and internationally.
Thomas Prendergast has been named chairman and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) by the New York State Senate.