Amtrak, NS Ratify Agreements With Unions

Following a year and a half of successful negotiations, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19 has ratified an agreement with Amtrak. Meanwhile, members of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), represented by General Committees of Adjustment GO-898, GO-687 and GO-680, have voted to ratify their tentative agreement with Norfolk Southern (NS). Also, SMART-TD and NS reach yardmaster sick leave deal.

Transit Briefs: BART, OCTA, NJ Transit, NYMTA

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) launches Phase II of its Not One More Girl initiative. Also, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) invites high school students to apply for its Teen Council; NJ Transit begins website ticketing pilot program for Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL); and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) reaches a tentative agreement with Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100.

Three Class I Railroads Named to Forbes’ Net Zero Leaders List

Three of the six Class I railroads have been named among the top 100 U.S. companies in Forbes’ first-ever sustainability ranking, with CSX placing in the top 10.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Down Through 21 Weeks

For the first 21 weeks of 2023 (ending May 27), total U.S. weekly rail traffic dipped 4.1% from the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) May 31 report. Both Canada and the U.S. saw declines, while Mexico saw an increase.

Rendering Courtesy of NS

NS Donates Historic Train Depot to East Palestine Community

Norfolk Southern (NS) on May 22 unveiled plans to donate its historic East Palestine Train Depot to the village.

Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra

Transport Canada: C$12.5MM to Improve Freight Transport at the Port of Windsor

Transport Canada on May 26 announced an investment from the National Trade Corridors Fund of up to C$12.5 million to the Essex Terminal Railway Company for a Cargo Terminal Infrastructure Expansion project

Leslie S. Richards, SEPTA Manager and CEO

SEPTA’s Richards Reappointed as GM, CEO

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) on May 24 announced the reappointment of Leslie S. Richards as the agency’s General Manager and CEO. The SEPTA Board and Richards agreed to terms of a four-year contract that runs through January 2027.

Photograph Courtesy of CN, via Twitter

CN, TCRC Ratify Collective Agreement

CN announced May 26 that the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), which represents approximately 6,000 locomotive engineers, conductors, yard conductors, and yard coordinators working on the railroad’s mainline, short lines and yards,

STM Releases 2022 Annual Report

Following adoption by its Board of Directors, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) on May 25 released its 2022 Annual Report, under the theme of “shaping sustainable mobility today and tomorrow.”

LA Metro Approves $9B Budget for FY24

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) on May 25 approved a $9 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), which includes key capital investments intended to “put Metro’s customers first.”

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