Pittsburg, Kans.-based Watco has been named to Newsweek’s Global Most Loved Workplaces® 2023 list. The integrated freight transportation services provider ranked No. 67 out of 100 top companies that “put respect, caring and appreciation for their employees at the center of their business model and, in doing so, have earned the loyalty and respect of the people who work for them,” according to the magazine.
Union Pacific (UP) and General 953, part of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers-Transportation Division (SMART-TD), have ratified a crew-consist agreement, maintaining two-person crews, SMART-TD reported May 31.
Railway Age’s June 2023 issue is now available digitally, featuring the annual Guide to Equipment Leasing.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on May 25 granted Grenada Railroad LLC’s (GRR) request for a partial waiver of a 60-day advance notice requirement, allowing the short line to enter into an asset purchase agreement and operate approximately 228 miles of rail line in Mississippi on or after May 28, 2023.
WTS (Women’s Transportation Seminar) International recognizes Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner for his commitment to advancing women in transportation. Also, the TAP fare card program for 26 Los Angeles County transit agencies, including LACMTA, expands its vendor network; Baltimore (Md.) Metropolitan Council issues a long-range regional transportation plan, which includes capital projects for Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration; Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) in California is launching an on-demand microtransit shuttle to the airport; and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in Ontario, Canada selects SNC-Lavalin to provide enterprise asset management services.
Freight railroads, Amtrak and commuter railroads would be required to develop certification programs for network dispatchers and signal employees under new Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposals.
Union Pacific (UP) on June 1 will launch a new on-dock service at Barbours Cut Container Terminal at Port Houston, Tex., providing international shippers of consumer goods with direct rail access to Denver, Colo.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif.; and El Paso, Tex.
The Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI) has appointed Ryan Risdon to the new position of Manager, Program Support.
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina will add a new bearing monitoring system to its LYNX Blue Line light rail fleet. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) ridership is up 10%, setting a post-pandemic record; service cuts could be coming to MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven (Conn.) Line; Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) in California extends its fare-free rides for youth program; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) adopts the coming year’s budget and announces a four-month disruption of the MAX Red Line.
Valley Metro of Phoenix, Ariz., appoints Melissa Boyles as Chief of Staff and Mike Pal as Chief Transportation Officer. Also, Railroad Software hires Tony Giamboy as Director of Product Engineering.