Unifor Opens Bargaining With VIA Rail
Unifor Council 4000 and Local 100 representing more than 2,500 workers at VIA Rail have opened negotiations focusing on key issues affecting the workplace, the union announced Oct. 28.
Author: Carolina Worrell
FTA: $5.1MM for University of Cincinnati to ‘Improve, Accelerate’ Transit Construction Projects
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Oct. 28 announced that the University of Cincinnati will receive approximately $5.1 million to promote the adoption of digital platforms that “speed up and improve the delivery of transit construction projects while reducing costs.”
FRA NPRM Seeks to Clarify Petition Process
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 28 published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that “seeks to bring clarity, transparency, and consistency to the petition process to help ensure that petitions seeking regulatory relief align with the agency’s safety and public interest priorities.”
GPA: Second Busiest September on Record
In its second busiest September on record, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) handled 450,700 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) last month, an increase of 12% or approximately 48,000 TEUs, compared to the same month last year.
Georgia Central Railway Votes to Join BLET (UPDATED, 10/30)
A majority of train and engine service employees at the Georgia Central Railway recently voted to join the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) in a representation election certified by the National Mediation Board.
FRA NPRM Proposes Amending Certain PTC Regulations
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on Oct. 25 published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend certain regulations on Positive Train Control (PTC) systems.
Transit Briefs: Amtrak, TriMet, DART, TTC, SFMTA, 30 Cleary Avenue
Amtrak’s Borealis ridership reaches 100,000 passengers in 22 weeks. Also, TriMet expands language options on its website; Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) celebrates the groundbreaking of the new Silver Line Equipment Maintenance Facility in Plano; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) announces final day to use old tickets, tokens and day passes; the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) crosses a major ridership milestone; and a new model for sustainable and affordable housing at 30 Cleary Avenue in Ottawa gets the green light.
Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, CPKC
Rickenbacker South Industrial Rail Park receives CSX Select Site Platinum designation. Also, Norfolk Southern’s (NS) new Customer Advisory Board builds on its customer-centric focus; NS’s Brosnan Forest provides timber for Clemson University’s new academic building; and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) completes the second test run of its CP 1200 hydrogen locomotive.
CalSTA: $1.3B for 27 Rail and Transit Projects
The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) recently announced that $1.3 billion from the Transit and Intercity Capital Rail Program (TIRCP) funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (cap-and-trade) will go to 27 projects following a statewide competitive grant application process for Cycle 7, according to a Streetsblog California report.
CARB Pushes Back Data Collection Deadline for In-Use Locomotive Regulation
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued an Enforcement Notice concerning its In-Use Locomotive Regulation, which is pending authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because the EPA’s ruling on CARB’s request