Railroad News

The Canadian government will spend more than CA$335,000 to upgrade the signal system at a grade crossing in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada's Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced this week.

The warning system for the Route 116 crossing at Benoit Road will be upgraded so it can continue managing incoming traffic from multiple directions, Transport Canada officials said in a press release.

U.S. railroads posted a 2.8 percent increase in traffic during the week ending Aug. 11 compared with the same week in 2017, according to Association of American Railroads (AAR) data.

Total carloads for the week rose 1.8 percent to 271,718 units, while intermodal volume increased 3.8 percent to 285,169 containers and trailers compared a year ago, AAR announced in a press release.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 10-year "Fast Forward" plan to repair MTA New York City Transit's (NYCT) subway and bus systems is expected to cost about $40 billion, NYCT President Andy Byford said in a YouTube video released yesterday.

Unveiled in May, the plan calls for updating the subway system's signals and track infrastructure to improve performance. Within five years, the agency aims to install communications-based train control on five additional rail lines. And within the 10 years, that control system would be implemented on 11 more lines.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has balanced its operating budget for the first time in 10 years, agency officials announced earlier this week.

The MBTA's $2 billion operating budget for fiscal-year 2018 was expected to carry a $30 million structural deficit. However, the agency was able to balance the budget through revenue growth and cost controls, according to a report to the MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB).

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced executive management changes, including the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scott.

UP officials announced the following executive appointments: Beth Whited to EVP and chief human resources officer; Tom Lischer to EVP, operations; Kenny Rocker to EVP, marketing and sales; David Giandinoto to VP, Harriman Dispatching Center and network operations; and Kari Kirchhoefer to VP, industrial.

Union Pacific Railroad yesterday announced executive management changes, including the retirement of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Cameron Scott.

UP officials announced the following executive appointments: Beth Whited to EVP and chief human resources officer; Tom Lischer to EVP, operations; Kenny Rocker to EVP, marketing and sales; David Giandinoto to VP, Harriman Dispatching Center and network operations; and Kari Kirchhoefer to VP, industrial.

Ann Waters, 33

Job description: Tasked with managing daily operating expenses and annual capital planning for track maintenance-of-way equipment, as well as reducing costs and improving reliability. Oversees project planning, logistics and financial analysis.

Career path: After obtaining her bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 2007, Waters took a job with Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she did government contracting work for the Nuclear Navy. In 2014, she accepted a position as mechanical director with Atlas Railroad Construction in Jacksonville, Florida. She has since transitioned into railroad engineering services as part of Genesee & Wyoming (G&W).

New Jersey Transit has awarded a task order contract for bridge and railway engineering to Modjeski and Masters. The firm will lead a project team of specialty subconsultants to provide multidisciplined expertise on heavy- and light-rail systems, facilities and equipment on an as-needed basis throughout New Jersey. Modjeski and Masters may provide engineering services for fixed and movable rail bridges, tunnels, culverts, dams bridges over railways, and hydrogeology and groundwater surveys, along with railroad infrastructure, facilities and systems services. The five-year contract has an estimated value of up to $3.75 million, according to a company press release.

Road & Rail Services Inc. has received two awards from American Honda Motor Corp. of North America. The first award is the Processor of the Year Performance Excellence Award for 2018. The second is the American Honda Award for Superior Quality 2018 award, which recognizes the automotive processor that scores the highest on the company's quality audits and has the lowest damage to Honda vehicles. This marks the fourth year that Road & Rail's team in Marysville, Ohio, has been recognized by Honda for "outstanding safety, quality and performance excellence," company officials said in a press release.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) on Aug. 18 will implement a new fare structure that officials say will help save money for riders.

Under DART's new fare capping policy, riders will not have to spend more than the total cost of a day pass in a single day, or the total cost of a monthly pass in a calendar month. Day passes are $6, while monthly passes are $96.

Thermoplastic resin distributor M. Holland Co. has moved its warehouse operations to a new 400,000-square-foot facility in Coal City, Illinois, that will offer access for nearly 800 rail cars and a fleet of bulk trucks.

Owned and operated by G&D Trucking/Hoffman Transportation, the facility's services include warehousing, bulk transfer and packaging. The "Gold Standard Distribution Center" also provides M. Holland with access to all major U.S. ports, company officials said in a press release.

The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority will host an open house Sept. 19 to inform stakeholders and the public about the East Metro Rail Yards Improvement Project in St. Paul, Minnesota.

A summary of proposed improvements and preliminary environmental impacts will be presented at the meeting, which will be held at the Battle Creek Recreation Center in St. Paul, authority officials said in a press release.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday joined China Railway Rolling Stock Corp. (CRRC) leaders to unveil a mock-up of a new Red Line rail car for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has partnered with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to roll out a new portable passenger screening technology aimed at detecting weapons and explosive devices.

After a series of tests over the past year of TSA-vetted and approved security technologies at its stations, Metro has purchased several Thruvision TAC-TS4 portable terahertz millimeter wave passenger screening devices, which will be placed throughout the agency's system.

Despite facing technical and financial constraints, the commuter-rail industry is making "substantial progress" toward installing and implementing positive train control (PTC), American Public Transportation Association (APTA) officials said during a press conference held yesterday.

The industry's progress reflects its commitment to safety and implementing PTC by the statutory deadline, said APTA President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Skoutelas.

CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest today announced he has appointed railroaders experienced in precision-scheduled railroading to serve in senior management positions.

Doug MacDonald and Keith Reardon will head CN's sales and marketing initiatives and all non-rail supply chain operations, such as intermodal container terminals and transload facilities.

CN President and Chief Executive Officer JJ Ruest today announced he has appointed railroaders experienced in precision-scheduled railroading to serve in senior management positions.

Doug MacDonald and Keith Reardon will head CN's sales and marketing initiatives and all non-rail supply chain operations, such as intermodal container terminals and transload facilities.

Cyrenthia Ward, 36

Job description: Responsible for providing technical assistance to grant recipients on federal regulations, grant management and managing the National Environmental Policy Act process for transportation projects, as well as the oversight of the metropolitan planning process with the Federal Highway Administration.

Education: Bachelor's degree in political science and African-American studies, William Paterson University; master's degree in urban planning, Hunter College, New York City

— Compiled by Michael Popke

Metro Transit Deputy General Manager Mark Fuhrmann retires today.

He is leaving the agency to work as associate vice president for HDR Engineering, where he'll serve as program director for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District's New Starts projects.