Railroad News

CSX Corp. late last week released its seventh annual corporate social responsibility report documenting the Class I's performance in environmental, social and governance areas.

Titled "Moving Forward," the report highlights the company's 2016 business practices aimed at creating customer value, increasing shareholder returns, improving the environment and enhancing the communities that the railroad serves, CSX officials said in a press release.

Oklahoma City transit agency Embark late last week awarded a $17.3 million contract to Herzog Transit Services Inc. for the startup, operation and maintenance of the seven-vehicle Oklahoma City Streetcar system, which is slated to open in late 2018.

The six-year agreement will provide turnkey operations, vehicle and facility maintenance for the future streetcar system, Embark officials said in a press release.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

The government of Canada pledged CA$27 million (US$19.54 million) toward Toronto's planned Relief Line, but the city's Mayor John Tory requested a provincial financial commitment to secure the project's future.

The Relief Line is a proposal to alleviate overcrowding on the Yonge Subway Line, considered the backbone of the Toronto's transit system, and provide riders with more travel options. The federal government funds will be provided through the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund and will support the planning and preliminary design of the line.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete K. Rahn has ordered a suspension of new contracts, hiring and non-essential procurements for the Purple Line project citing recent litigation.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon issued a ruling in late May that requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the state of Maryland conduct an environmental study before the planned Purple Line project can proceed.

The grants are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. FRA and FTA said 27 eligible applications were received requesting $455 million, more than double the congressional authorization amount. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.

The grants are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. FRA and FTA said 27 eligible applications were received requesting $455 million, more than double the congressional authorization amount. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.

The grants are authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act and will be provided to 17 projects in 13 states. FRA and FTA said 27 eligible applications were received requesting $455 million, more than double the congressional authorization amount. The FRA was responsible for the selection of the grant recipients and the FTA will award and administer the grants during Fiscal Year 2017.

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) on July 1 will increase fares by 3 percent.

In addition, the cost of Amtrak "Step-Up" tickets will jump from $5 to $7. Passengers can use these tickets in conjunction with a valid multifare ticket to board certain Amtrak trains, according to VRE's website.

A tunnel boring machine yesterday broke through the underground wall of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (Metro) Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill Station in downtown Los Angeles.

The event marked a "construction milestone" for the agency's Regional Connector project, Metro officials said in a press release. That project is a 1.9-mile underground rail route that will allow passengers to transfer between Blue, Expo, Red and Purple lines.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) next month will wrap up its SafeTrack maintenance projects and transition to a new preventive maintenance and capital program.

The new effort will be aimed at avoiding another emergency program of the scale of SafeTrack, WMATA officials said in a press release.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC) announced yesterday that its railcar operating lessor and fleet management business, SMBC Rail Services LLC (SMBC Rail), has completed its acquisition of American Railcar Leasing LLC.

The transaction creates a full-service lessor of long-lived rolling stock that offers "comprehensive" rail leasing solutions in North America, according to an SMBC press release.

Union Pacific Corp. yesterday published its 2016 "Building America Report," which details the Class I's safety, social, economic and environmental progress.

The publication marks the eighth consecutive year that UP has reported its sustainability business practices and goals.

Union Pacific Corp. yesterday published its 2016 "Building America Report," which details the Class I's safety, social, economic and environmental progress.

The publication marks the eighth consecutive year that UP has reported its sustainability business practices and goals.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) on Wednesday broke ground on the new Campus Station, which will be served by the Red, Green and Blue rail lines.

Expected to be completed in late 2018, the rail hub is located on the site of an existing station near the Cuyahoga Community College Metro campus in downtown Cleveland.