“It was the worst January for intermodal since 2013 with major retailers cutting back on inventories and consumer spending—especially on goods—having contracted,” Association of American Railroads (AAR) Senior Vice President John T. Gray reported on Feb. 1.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announces three state sites identified for affordable transit-oriented housing in Sacramento. Also, LA Metro will add 93 billboard-size digital signs across the city; Sound Transit adopts $1 ORCA LIFT fares; and Valley Metro announces that mobile fare is now available on the agency’s app.
Savage joins Cyclyx 10 to 90® program to help reduce plastic waste. Also, GATX Corporation (GATX) announces BBB+ Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch).
“We finished the year with the people, capacity and resources in place to meet the needs of our customers today and are well-positioned to make history in 2023,” Canadian Pacific (CP) President and CEO Keith Creel reported Jan. 31 during the railroad’s quarterly earnings announcement.
VIA Rail Canada announced Jan. 27 that it intends to renew its existing long-distance (L-D, regional and remote-territory fleet and has issued a formal Request for Information (RFI) for a supplier to “design, manufacture, test, supply, deliver and commission cars and motive power and ancillary equipment (onboard and offboard) with a prescribed capacity of car types (coaches, sleepers, diners, multi-purpose, baggage)” through the open competitive procurement process known as the “Long Distance Regional and Remote Fleet Renewal Project.”
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces significant progress on subway and transit public safety initiatives. Also, a new plan aims to re-establish Rio Grande as a transportation hub; the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) will deploy more than 80 additional staff focused on safety; and the Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) announces pilot program to let riders pay fares with contactless debit/credit cards.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) officials were recently notified that CRRC (China Railway Rolling Stock Corp.) will not be able to deliver the remaining Orange and Red Line railcars by December 2023 and September 2026, respectively, and could face “daily fines of $500 for each late car,” according to a Boston Herald report.
PS Technology (PST) appoints Rushi Patel President and CEO. Also, the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) welcomes new officers and executive director; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) appoints Ronald Keele new Chief Safety Officer; and Minnesota’s Metropolitan Council (Met Council) selects Ernest Morales III as Chief of the Metro Transit Police Department.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Authority (Metro) announced that it has approved a Master Cooperative Agreement (MCA) for the Inglewood Transit Connector (ITC) project and will partner with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) to improve Antelope Valley Line (AVL) service.
Amtrak’s contracted Penn Station Partners have released renderings of the planned expansion of Baltimore Penn Station. Also, LA Metro selects Anser Advisory to oversee the development of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC).