Railroad News

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) General Manager Bob Powers yesterday issued an apology to a rider who was handcuffed by BART police for eating a sandwich on a train platform.

BART policy asks riders not to eat or drink on the BART system. On Nov. 9, a BART police officer stopped a rider who was eating on the platform of BART's Pleasant Hill Station in San Francisco. After declining to show identification when asked for it, the rider cursed and made homophobic slurs at the officer, then was handcuffed and led away.

The Regional Transportation District of Denver (RTD) yesterday announced that a new class of 50 light-rail and bus operations and technicians will begin orientation and training.

News of the new hires comes weeks after RTD announced it's exploring temporary service reductions to address an ongoing labor shortage and challenges in operator recruitment and retention.

Trade tariffs took a toll on cargo volumes last month at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, port officials announced late last week.

The Port of Los Angeles logged 770,189 20-foot equivalent Units (TEUs) in October, a 19.1 percent decrease compared to 2018’s record-breaking October, port officials said in a press release.

The San Francisco Business Times last week named San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jim Hartnett as one of San Francisco's most admired CEOs. 

Hartnett was among 11 CEOs recognized for their demonstrated track record of exceptional leadership, business performance and philanthropic contributions. The honors were bestowed as part of the newspaper's 12th annual CEO recognition program, SamTrans officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) earlier this month celebrated its 40th anniversary of providing rail and bus service. 

Nearly 2,000 Atlanta residents attended a public festival and concert to celebrate the anniversary, and MARTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Parker addressed more than 130 guests at a stakeholder reception for elected officials, board members and community partners.

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) earlier this month installed a railing in the space between the sidewalk and light-rail track along Second Street between San Carlos and San Fernando streets in downtown San Jose, California. 

The installation is part of a six-month pilot program to reduce incidents of people walking in front of on-coming trains and to allow trains to move more seamlessly along the line.

MTA Metro-North Railroad has met key benchmarks in the first year of a plan designed to improve safety, service, infrastructure and communication with passengers.

Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi today announced the accomplishments since implementing the New York City commuter railroad's "Way Ahead" plan a year ago as a response to increasing ridership, changing demographics and the evolving needs of riders, agency officials said in a press release.

By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor

By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor

By Pat Foran, Editor

On Oct. 29, Regional Rail LLC announced it had agreed to acquire Pinsly Railroad Co.’s Florida operations totaling 208 miles of track.

By Pat Foran, Editor

On Oct. 29, Regional Rail LLC announced it had agreed to acquire Pinsly Railroad Co.’s Florida operations totaling 208 miles of track.

Imports at the nation's major retail container ports are expected to log their final surge of 2019 this month ahead of new tariffs set to take effect in December, the National Retail Federation (NRF) officials announced late last week.

NRF will host a news conference tomorrow where officials from the Port of Los Angeles and other groups will discuss the impact of the trade war.

Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) last month received an award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for excellence in environmental documentation for the West Lake Corridor project in Northwest Indiana. 

The documents were part of a submission to establish a proposed $933 million, 8-mile southern branch extension from the existing South Shore Line station in Hammond to Dyer, Indiana.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) last week appointed Terri Rumph as chief track officer to lead the agency’s track division.

Rumph is responsible for maintenance and construction activity across all 800 miles of track, as well as ongoing efforts to improve the agency’s track inspection process.

Metra's board last week approved a 2020 budget of $827.4 million in operating costs and $480.5 million in capital expenses.

The Chicago commuter railroad's capital spending plan — significantly bolstered by Illinois' new state capital program — includes $331.1 million in investments in locomotives and rail cars, stations, bridges and yards.

The Spokane International Airport Board in Washington will receive an $11.3 million federal grant for a project to develop vacant land into a freight hub connecting rail and road infrastructure, U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) announced late last week.

The grant will be awarded under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) program.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) last week completed California state’s environmental review process for its high-speed rail route between Fresno and Bakersfield.

The authority received a supplemental record of decision and federal approval of its supplemental environmental impact study that evaluates the environmental effects of a 23-mile route between Shafter and Bakersfield in the Central Valley.