(Screen Grab from BNSF Video)

Coalition to FCC: ‘Proceed With Caution on NextNav Petition’

A 70-member industry coalition, including the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), Association of American Railroads (AAR) and American Trucking Associations (ATA), has signed a U.S. Chamber of Commerce letter calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to “proceed with caution” on a NextNav petition to establish a 5G terrestrial-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) network that they say “would significantly disrupt the hundreds of millions of devices on the current 902-928 MHz band.”

Starting Sept. 28, DART light rail riders will see increased service frequency on weekends. (DART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: DART, SFMTA, TransLink, TTC

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is boosting weekend service and ordering new ticket vending machines. Also, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is restoring Muni service to the L Taraval line after a five-year improvement project; TransLink is upgrading SkyTrain’s Oakridge–41st Avenue Station in Vancouver; and free public Wi-Fi is ending at Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway stations.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah; left) and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas). (Photographs Courtesy of the U.S. Government)

Stop CARB Act Debuts in Congress

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas) on Sept. 12 introduced in Congress companion bills, both called the Stop CARB Act of 2024, which would repeal California’s waiver exemption in Section 209 of the Clean Air Act; repeal Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, which allows other states to adopt California’s emissions standards; and nullify any active or pending waivers granted to California. Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank N. Wilner weighs in.

(Image Courtesy of Amsted Digital Solutions)

Amsted Recognized as ‘RailPulse Certified Vendor’

Amsted Digital Solutions has been approved as a certified telematics vendor for RailPulse™, the coalition established in late 2020 to “facilitate and accelerate the adoption of GPS and other telematics technology across the North

Dennis Stefanski, HNTB (right) and Simon Krause, Siemens AG. (Photographs courtesy of the respective companies)

People News: HNTB, Siemens AG

Dennis Stefanski joins HNTB as Transit and Rail Engineering Department Manager. Also, Simon Krause is promoted to Head of Global Media Relations and Executive Communications at Siemens AG.

(Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash)

Congress Eyes 45G Update

Both houses of Congress on Sept. 10 introduced bills that would improve the railroad track maintenance credit—also known as the 45G tax credit, referring to its section in the U.S. tax code—that has been “a powerful incentive for short lines to put more of their own funds to work upgrading track and bridges to modern standards,” according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA).

Jeffrey Gonneville, WSP (left), and William Webb, Balfour Beatty US/TPG. (Photographs Courtesy of WSP, left; and Business Wire)

People News: WSP, Balfour Beatty US/TPG

Jeffrey Gonneville is the new Senior Vice President and Transit and Rail Director of Enterprise Strategy at WSP, an engineering, environment and professional services firm. Also, William “Billy” Webb has joined Balfour Beatty US as General Manager of its Total Power Group (TPG) operations based in Goldsboro, N.C.

Is Brightline coming to Stuart, Fla.? Maybe not, according to local media. (Brightline Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Brightline, Caltrain, MBTA, VA DRPT

The City of Stuart backs out of a station deal with Brightline, Florida’s private-sector passenger railroad. Also, Caltrain plans a launch party for electric service between San Francisco and San Jose, Calif.; weekend-pass sales were up 40% this summer for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail; and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) rolls out a “Connects Communities” campaign.

(Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Photograph)

ITS Logistics: Potential ILA Strike Fuels Peak-Season ‘Uncertainty’

Potential labor disruptions at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports, which handle billions of dollars in trade monthly and about 43% of all U.S. imports, plus “heavy pre-tariff shipping” pending the outcome

Breanne Oliver, CN (left) and Mark Bienstock, STV. (Photographs courtesy of the respective companies.)

People News: CN, TTC, STV

CN names Breanne Oliver AVP, Communications and Public Affairs. Also, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) appoints Gregory W. Percy as interim CEO; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) veteran Mark Bienstock joins STV’s Transportation Northeast Operating Group.

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