Railroad News

Railroad operator Rio Grande Pacific Corp. has hired Mark Hemphill to lead the development and construction of the Uinta Basin Railway project in Utah, company officials announced yesterday.

The $1.5 billion new-build railway will serve northeastern Utah's energy, mineral and agricultural industries when completed in late 2022 to early 2023, Rio Grande officials said in a press release.

Compiled by Michael Popke

Shirley Qian, 28
Senior planner
Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority

Nominator’s quote: “Shirley successfully applied for a planning grant and is implementing alternative plans for alignment and construction methodologies for future rail capacity expansion in the sensitive Alviso Wetlands. This process involves finding win-win solutions that restore tidal flow, species habitat and sea level rise resiliency along with rail capacity enhancements involving resources, wildlife and environmental advocacy partners.” — Jim Allison, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority

The Amtrak Police Department honored Dean Stecklair with its Officer of the Year recognition for his “significant effort” in keeping riders, employees and the public safe while on duty. 

Stecklair began his law enforcement career in 2010 when he joined the Amtrak Police Department. 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced yesterday its first new Orange Line train comprised of six rail cars has entered passenger service from Wellington Station in Medford, Massachusetts. 

The rail cars are the first of 152 new cars that will replace the current fleet operating on the Orange Line by the end of 2022, MBTA officials said in a press release. 

The 45G short-line tax credit is among two tax credits that have "proven on their merits to receive a permanent extension," the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's Business Cost Recovery Task Force has concluded.

The task force reported more than 40 temporary tax provisions that expired or will expire between Dec. 31, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2019. Among those, the task force evaluated six tax credits, including 45G.

Sound Transit contractor crews last week began removing temporary steel columns and beams that were used during construction of the elevated East Link light-rail extension guideway in Bellevue, Washington. 

The project marks the next step in preparing for safety testing and pre-operation checks by 2020, with light-rail operation scheduled for operation by 2023. 

U.S. freight railroads logged 533,190 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending Aug. 10, a 4.3 percent decrease compared with the same week last year, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Railroads posted 261,194 carloads for the week, down 3.9 percent, and 271,996 containers and trailers, down 4.6 percent, AAR officials said in a press release.

Norfolk Southern Corp.'s board yesterday approved new responsibilities for Michael Farrell and Vanessa Allen Sutherland effective tomorrow.

As senior vice president of operations and mechanical, Farrell will assume responsibility for the railroad's transportation and mechanical functions.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority board yesterday awarded a contract to the Kiewit-Parsons joint venture to design and build a 9-mile segment of the Foothill Gold Line light-rail extension from Glendora to Pomona, California. 

The $805.6 million contract includes relocation of existing freight track, track installation, 40 grade crossing improvements and construction of four light-rail stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona, authority 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

Amanda Patrick, 36
Vice president of trade shows and member relations
Railway Supply Institute

Nominator's quote: "Amanda Patrick is a consummate professional. Her significant contributions are readily recognized by anyone who has attended RSI Rail Expo or Railway Interchange events, and, of course, the RSI Board of Directors and RSI's 225-member companies. She had had a positive impact on the railroad industry."
— Patrick Ameen, Amstead Rail Co., RSI Board member

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) yesterday logged its 1 millionth ‘tap’, or use, of its One Metro New York (OMNY) contactless fare payment system. 

Since the system’s launch at 16 subway stations along the Lexington Avenue 456 line and on Staten Island buses in May, OMNY has exceeded usage expectations, MTA officials said in a press release.

For the fourth consecutive month, the Port of Los Angeles set a new single-month cargo record in July, having moved 912,154 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo, port officials announced this week.

July 2019 imports rose 8.7 percent to 476,438 TEUs from the same level in July 2018.  Exports fell 4 percent to 161,340 TEUs, while empty containers climbed 20.7 percent to 274,376 TEUs, port officials said in a press release.

Metrolink yesterday announced it logged nearly 12 million boardings from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, marking the highest annual ridership in the Southern California commuter railroad's history. 

The new record reflects an increase of 247,000 boardings from the prior fiscal year and eclipses the previous record of 11,796,086 set in fiscal-year 2008-2009 by 139,270 boardings, Metrolink officials said in a press release.