USDOT Issues Uniform Act Final Rule
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced a final rule to update the government wide Unform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Polices Act of 1970 (Uniform Act).
Author: Carolina Worrell
Wabtec Achieves Cybersecurity Certification
Wabtec Corporation (Wabtec) on May 6 announced that it has achieved the IEC 62443-4-1 certification, “a benchmark for cybersecurity development lifecycle processes used on industrial automation and control systems (IACS) products.”
BNSF 1Q24: Revenue Down; OR Increases
BNSF on May 6 released first-quarter 2024 financial results, including operating income of $1.720 billion, a 7% decline from the prior-year period’s $1.856 billion, and an operating ratio (OR) of 69.5%, a 1.1-percentage-point increase compared with 2023’s 68.4%.
Transit Briefs: SFMTA, PANYNJ/PATH, STM, Amtrak
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) approves its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 and FY 2026 operating and capital budgets. Also, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) new tap-to-pay fare payment system is now available at all PATH stations in New Jersey; the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) releases its 2023 Annual Report; and Amtrak issues two Requests for Information (RFIs) to support high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
USW Ratifies New Collective Agreement; Teamsters Vote to Authorize Strikes (UPDATED, 5/3)
The United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2004 ratifies a new three-year collective agreement with CN. Meanwhile, the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) votes to authorize strikes at CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC).
Small-Road Briefs: Precision Terminal Logistics, Iowa Interstate Railroad
Precision Terminal Logistics (PTL) enters into an agreement with Norfolk Southern (NS) to operate the Thoroughbred Bulk Transfer (TBT) Terminal in Louisville, Ky. Also, the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) breaks ground on a Renewable Energy Distribution Center in Newton, Iowa.
USDOT Issues RFI on Potential Applications of AI
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Advanced Research Projects Agency—Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is seeking input from interested parties on the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation, as well as “emerging challenges and opportunities in creating and deploying AI technologies in applications across all modes of transportation.”
Duos Granted Patent for RIP® Technology
Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Duos), through its subsidiary Duos Technologies, Inc., announced May 2 that it has been granted another patent for its Railcar Inspection Portal (RIP®) technology.
G&AR Rebrands as Pinsly Railroad Company
Gulf & Atlantic Railways, LLC (G&AR) announced May 1 that it is rebranding as Pinsly Railroad Company following the October 2023 acquisition of Pioneer Valley Railroad, Pinsly’s last short line railroad company.
AAR: Decreased Coal Shipments Cause U.S. Rail Declines in April
“U.S. Rail carloads declined in April primarily due to decreased coal shipments,” said Association of American Railroads (AAR) Chief Economist Rand Ghayad.