Railroad News

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Waze, a crowd-sourced traffic and GPS navigation software, are collaborating in an effort to improve safety for Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) passengers.

Canadian National (CN) plans to invest approximately CA$130 million (US$100 million) in Manitoba, Canada, this year.

CSX Corporation (CSX) announced this week that the company is soliciting bids on six rail segments.

Julie D'Orazio has been named national market leader for transit and rail at engineering and professional services consultancy WSP USA.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will hold three symposia in Washington, D.C., throughout the summer to answer questions and address best practices surrounding the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC).

The first symposium will be held on June 15, 2018, in Washington, D.C., and is intended to bring together FRA's PTC experts and all 41 railroads congressionally mandated to implement PTC systems. FRA says discussion will focus on the requirements for the December 31, 2018, statutory deadline and answers to industry questions.

Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) awarded $241 million to 23 state freight projects on June 5.

The feasibility of advancing the Dumbarton Transportation Corridor will be explored thanks to an agreement between the San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) Board of Directors; Facebook, Inc., and Plenary Group.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recommended 26 projects to be awarded a total of $1.54 billion in federal funds as part of the FY18 Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program. USDOT had up to $1.56 billion available for grants.

Canadian National (CN) has announced plans to invest about CA$340 million (US$263 million) across British Columbia this year to grow and strengthen the railroad's network in the province.

American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Linda Darr on June 5 announced her resignation, effective July 27, from the organization she has led since late 2014. She has accepted a CEO role with the American Council of Engineering Companies and will begin in her new position this August, a statement said.

A New Hampshire city is looking to revive its passenger rail service, and has hired an engineering consultant to help.

A bridge project that will support work performed as part of the Walk Bridge Program in Connecticut will begin in mid-June.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) will start the first half of the Ann Street Railroad Bridge superstructure replacement during the weekends of June 8-10 and June 15-17. The bridge hosts Metro-North New Haven Line trains.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) notified the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) on June 4 that a Record of Decision (ROD) has been issued for the next six miles of the transportation authority's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley Extension.

Suzanne Silverman has joined the New York City office of Denver-based Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell LLP as a partner.

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC-1), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined representatives June 4 from Geismar-Modern Track Machinery (Geismar-MTM) and industry stakeholders for a tour of Geismar's new Beaufort manufacturing facility.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Division's BeRailSafe program, in partnership with N.C. Operation Lifesaver, conducted a staged train crash May 30 in Star, N.C.

R. J. Corman Railroad Switching Company, LLC, has announced the launch of a new location in Montgomery, Ala. for global chemical and plastic company SABIC.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report recommending the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) address a trio of statutory provisions concerning the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program.

Representatives of Knife River Corporation and industry stakeholders hosted Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4) for a tour May 31 of Knife River's Harrisburg precast facility in an event coordinated by the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA).

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allocated $277.5 million in Emergency Relief funds for public transportation systems damaged by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

The funding is divided into two categories with approximately $232.3 million dedicated to response, recovery and rebuilding projects and $44.2 million going toward resiliency projects.