Amtrak Advances Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project

Amtrak is moving forward on the $1.5 billion replacement of the 116-year-old Susquehanna River Rail Bridge to “improve railroad efficiency on the Northeast Corridor (NEC).”

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, MetroLink

The City of Madison will hold a kick-off meeting for its Passenger Rail Station Study to identify a recommended location for a potential future Amtrak Station. Also, the City of Vicksburg backs Louisiana rail plan that could potentially bring Amtrak passenger rail service to the city; and MetroLink Blue Line service will return to normal beginning Monday, Nov. 28.

BTS: September Transborder Freight Up 22.6%

According to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), $133.9 billion of North American transborder freight was moved by all modes of transportation in September 2022, up 22.6% compared to the same month last year.

Gov. Tate Reeves signs into law Senate Bills 2000 and 2001 and House Bill 1 paving the way for "the largest economic development investment in state history" with Steel Dynamics investing $2.5 billion in Lowdnes County Infinity Mega Site.

Steel Dynamics to Invest $2.5B at KCS’ Infinity Megasite

Steel Dynamics, along with its subsidiaries and partners, will invest $2.5 billion into a new aluminum flat rolled facility and biocarbon plant at the Infinity Megasite, a KCS Premier Certified Site in Columbus, Miss., the company announced Nov. 2 in a release.

Chinese-made coupler. Source: https://newertrain.en.made-in-china.com/product/ABFJOVWonLrP/China-Railway-Wagon-Coupler-for-Trains-Coupling.html

USITC: U.S. Suppliers ‘Materially Injured’ by China- and Mexico-Sourced Couplers

Following an investigation based on provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) has determined there is “reasonable indication that an industry in the U.S. is materially injured [from] imports of certain freight rail couplers and parts thereof from China and Mexico.”

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, MARTA, TTC

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) approves ZeroEyes artificial intelligence (A.I.) gun detection pilot program. Also, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) updates the high-capacity transit alternative for Clayton County from commuter rail to bus rapid transit (BRT); and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) lifts COVID-19 vaccination policy.

Map of the “Transforming Rail in Virginia” initiative

CSX Selects Michael Baker to Lead ‘Transforming Rail in Virginia’ Initiative

Engineering, planning and consulting services firm Michael Baker International announced Nov. 17 that it has been selected by CSX, which operates more than 2,000 miles of track throughout the state of Virginia, to lead program and construction management for significant rail enhancement projects as part of the Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) initiative.

Scoular leaders, along with officials from BNSF and OmniTRAX, celebrated the completion of the new Grainton facility on Nov. 17.

Scoular Completes New Nebraska High-Speed Shuttle Loading Facility

Scoular, an employee-owned agribusiness, on Nov. 17 celebrated the completion of its new Grainton, Neb.-based high-speed shuttle loading facility, which will allow producers in southwest Nebraska to “have new markets for their grain, plus significantly faster unloading speeds and increased storage.”

According to OCTA, rail service could possibly resume prior to February, when the rail stabilization is expected to be completed.

Transit Briefs: OCTA, PRT, Amtrak/CHIP

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and its contractor have begun work on the track stabilization project in south Orange County. Also, Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) announces that light-rail vehicles and bus have resumed regular operations through the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel; and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joins 56 regional mayors to support an $850 million investment in the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP), formerly known as Chicago Access.

Port of Long Beach: Shipments Slow in October

Port of Long Beach dockworkers and terminal operators moved 658,428 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of cargo in October, down 16.6% from the same month last year, citing “reduced consumer demand and a shift of imported goods toward the Gulf and East coasts,” as reasons for the decline.

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