Railroad News

Metrolink last week welcomed safety and security leaders to its Rail Safety Summit to address topics such as crossing safety, quiet zone implementation and positive train control.

The summit — held in September to coincide with Rail Safety Month — also addressed how mental health and homelessness effect rail safety.

The Kansas City Streetcar Authority (KCSA) has made a formal request to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to move the city's proposed Main Street streetcar extension project to the engineering phase, per the Federal Capital Improvements Grant (CIG) New Starts Program. 

KCSA, in partnership with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority and the city of Kansas City, Missouri, recently completed 30 percent of the project’s overall design, including track alignment, system and facility design, KCSA officials said in a press release.

Bay Area Rapid Transit's (BART) board last week approved the $142 million purchase of a building in Oakland, California, to house its headquarters starting in spring 2021.

The agency’s existing Oakland headquarters has been located in leased space since 2003. A 60-percent rate hike set to take effect after the lease expires in July 2021 prompted the board to move to its own site, BART officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

Texas Central late last week announced it signed a contract with the Salini-Impreglio joint venture and its U.S. subsidiary Lane Construction Co. for the design and construction of a proposed high-speed rail service between Dallas and Houston.

As part of the design-build scope, Salini-Lane will supply the civil infrastructure work, including design and construction of the viaduct and embankment sections along the entire route, the installation of the track system and construction of related buildings and services along the route that will house maintenance and other rail system equipment, Texas Central officials said in a press release.

New York Air Brake LLC (NYAB) in late August demonstrated automatic control for throttle, dynamic brake, independent brake and air brakes with a positive train control-compliant consist including three locomotives and 30 loaded cars on 48 miles of test track at the Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, Colorado. NYAB’s LEADER® onboard train control and energy management system is designed to automatically control a train over a variety of terrain, such as starting and stopping on uphill, downhill and flat grades, company officials said in a press release.

RailPros hired Basem Muallem as vice president and manager of the Inland Empire area in California, as well as the statewide transportation lead for California. Before joining RailPros, Muallem worked for the California Department of Transportation for 32 years in various posts, including deputy district director for maintenance, program management and right of way. He also served as the division chief for maintenance and right of way in Sacramento, as well as the District 8 director.

Valley Metro yesterday announced it has hired Alexis Tameron Kinsey as chief of staff and senior advisor, and Abigail Cooksey-Williams as manager of transportation demand management.

Tameron Kinsey will manage government relations and provide strategic counsel to Valley Metro Chief Executive Officer Scott Smith.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is accepting applications for its $75 million Multimodal Local Supplement Grant Program (MLS), which is available to local and tribal governments.

Funding is available for new projects associated with railroads, harbors, transit agencies, roads, bridges, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

Imports at major U.S. ports reached "unusually high numbers" just prior to new tariffs on goods from China that took effect Sept. 1, the National Retail Federation (NRF) announced earlier this week.

Imports are expected to surge again before another round of tariffs take effect in December, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released Sept. 10 by the NRF and Hackett Associates.

Metrolinx earlier this week announced it will purchase 36 additional bilevel rail cars from Bombardier Transportation for GO Transit.

Metrolinx will add 31 standard and five accessible cars to an existing 125-car order it placed in 2016.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

To handle growing container volumes and attract additional business, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is expanding its rail infrastructure and offerings.

Yesterday, the authority announced plans to offer dual rail service from the Port of Savannah to Chicago. CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway will move cargo between the points in less than three days, GPA officials said in a press release.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) yesterday proposed new rules covering its rate review procedures.

The rules would establish a new rate review option for smaller cases, the final offer rate review (FORR), that would use procedural limitations to contain the cost and complexity of a rate case. In addition, the board has proposed a streamlined market dominance process that could be used in any rate review proceeding.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Managing Director Veronique "Ronnie" Hakim yesterday announced her resignation, effective at November’s end.

The MTA's performance is on the rebound and service is improving across all agencies, so she feels comfortable moving on from the post, Hakim said in a statement.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) earlier this month renamed the Mockingbird Station in Dallas the SMU/Mockingbird Station. 

The station is located near Southern Methodist University (SMU). Since opening in 1997, the station quickly became an important transportation resource for SMU students, faculty, staff and visitors, DART officials said in a press release. 

Amtrak earlier this week updated its mobile application to improve booking and travel management features. 

With the app updates, Amtrak riders can now save multiple credit cards to their account to improve ticket purchasing convenience; redeem guest rewards points for travel; purchase parking fares; and purchase tickets for the Auto Train, which transports riders along with their passenger vehicles between Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Florida.   

The League of Railway Women (LRW) yesterday announced Amanda Trainor Patrick will serve as board president for the 2019-2021 term.

Patrick is vice president of trade shows and board relations at the Railway Supply Institute.