BLET, South Buffalo Railway Reach Tentative Agreement

The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) announced April 11 that it has reached a three-year tentative agreement with the South Buffalo Railway Company (SBRR).

Image Courtesy of WMATA

Transit Briefs: WMATA, Amtrak

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Transit Police leaders graduate from DC Police Leadership Academy (DCPLA). Also, Oklahoma officials want to expand Amtrak’s Heartland Flyer into Kansas.

HDR's Transportation BIM Program Manager Alexa Mitchell

HDR’s Mitchell Elected to buildingSMART International Infrastructure Committee

HDR announced April 11 that Alexa Mitchell, the company’s Transportation BIM Program Manager, has been elected to the steering committee of buildingSMART International’s Infrastructure Room, effective April 1.

Rendering Courtesy of Foster + Partners and Arup.

CHSRA Selects Foster + Partners, Arup to Design First Four Central Valley Stations

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has selected the joint venture of Foster + Partners and Arup to design the Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare and Bakersfield stations that will serve passengers on the initial 171-mile segment of the project.

Rocky Mountain Rail Park is comprised of approximately 620 acres and features direct interchange with Union Pacific.

Patriot Rail to Provide Rail Services at Rocky Mountain Rail Park

Denver, Colo.-based infrastructure company Rocky Mountain Industrials, Inc. (RMI) announced April 10 that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Patriot Rail Company LLC to provide operational and rail-related services to customers within the new Rocky Mountain Rail Park.

More than 300 people rode Amtrak’s Gulf Coast Inspection Train (pictured) from New Orleans to Jacksonville, Fla., in February 2016, as part of an ongoing effort to restore passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, which was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and never resumed. (Marc Glucksman, Amtrak)

Report: Mobile Train Stop ‘Final Infrastructure Issue’ Before Amtrak Gulf Coast Service Can Restart

The construction of a train stop, and a track leading to it in downtown Mobile, Ala., officials say, is the “final infrastructure issue that needs to be addressed before Amtrak can restart passenger trains along the Gulf Coast for the first time in 18 years, according to an AL.com report.

Video: ‘Mighty Chessie’ Debuts at CSX Headquarters

A replica of the Mighty Chessie locomotive and intermodal car and caboose recently made its debut in Jacksonville, “wowing everyone who came to see it,” the Class I recently announced.

Left to Right: FourKites President Rocky Subramanian; Stantec Transportation Business Leader for North America Dave Sauve; and PTSI Transportation Product Manager of Route Learning System™ Em Hall.

People News: FourKites, Stantec, PTSI Transportation

FourKites appoints Rocky Subramanian as President. Also, Stantec names Dave Sauve as Transportation Business Leader for North America; and PTSI Transportation appoints Em Hall as Product Manager of its Route Learning System™.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. Executive Director Rachel Maleh.

OLI: $50,000 for N.Y. Crossing Safety Campaign

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), announced April 6 that it will award a $50,000 Innovative Rail Safety Competitive Grant to New York Operation Lifesaver (New York OLI) to fund “a targeted multifaceted education and outreach campaign to schools, school bus drivers, community groups, law enforcement agencies and other first responders to facilitate increased free rail safety presentations.”

CSX: Paid Sick Leave for SMART-MD

CSX announced April 7 that it has reached an agreement with the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Mechanical Department (SMART-MD) to provide paid sick leave benefits.

LOAD MORE