Boise, Idaho, revisits downtown streetcar idea
Plans for a streetcar circulator in Boise, Idaho’s capital, have been revived after six years of dormancy, though modal choice is now up for grabs.
Author: Douglas John Bowen
Court upholds MTA payroll mobility tax
New York State’s Court of Appeals on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, upheld the payroll mobility tax used to help fund the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), denying a repeal of the tax sought mostly by Long Island political officials.
APTA: Transit ridership up in 3Q, year-to-date
The American Public Transportation Association says Americans continue to turn to public transit in increasing numbers, totaling 2.7 billion trips in the third quarter, up 1.5% from the comparable period in 2012.
FY14 appropriations good for TIGER, Amtrak
Congressional conference committee members cobbling together an actual fiscal year 2014 federal budget have reportedly agreed on budgetary numbers fairly favorable to Amtrak and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) programs. Federal high speed rail funding, however, is omitted entirely.
Railroad signalmen back California HSR effort
The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014, announced “support for the California High-Speed Rail Authority [CHSRA] and California Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal that would authorize funding for the state’s high-speed rail program, utilizing $300 million of cap and trade revenue.”
Senators push FRA order for locomotive cameras
Two U.S. Senators are urging the Federal Railroad Administration to mandate cameras on board passenger locomotives and operating cab cars in order to provide detailed information on potential derailments.
New AAR Silver Associate Member
Saguenay, Quebec-based Entretien Ferroviaire Boivin, Inc. has joined the Association of American Railroads as a Silver Associate Member.
North Dakota U.S. Senators seek CBR safety
North Dakota’s two U.S. Senators met in Washington, D.C. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, with federal officials to advance improved freight rail safety measures in tank car construction and operation.
Milwaukee seeks streetcar right-of-way change
Milwaukee, facing stiff anti-rail opposition from its namesake county and the state of Wisconsin, continues pursuing an initial $65 million starter streetcar line, focusing on limiting costs of utility relocation, which opponents have seized on as one way to kill the plan.
Wabtec lands MARC PTC contract
The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved a $13 million contract with Wabtec Corp. subsidiary Wabtec Railway Electronics to install Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment on MARC regional passenger railcars.