news

Class I Briefs: UP, CSX

Union Pacific (UP) is the new official sponsor of US Speedskating. Also, the First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) announces 2024 CSX Pride in Service scholarship recipients.

Kansas City Streetcar on Oct. 17 welcomed the fifth of eight new CAF USA-built streetcars to Missouri. (Kansas City Streetcar Photograph)

Transit Briefs: KC Streetcar, San Diego MTS, Alstom

Kansas City (Mo.) Streetcar takes delivery of the fifth new CAF USA-built vehicle that will support two extension projects. Also, San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) modifies its Fare Enforcement Diversion Program; and the Alstom Foundation funds youth programming at the New York Transit Museum.

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and Heniff Transportation Systems on Oct. 17 celebrated the new $3 million transloading industrial park in New Orleans East with a ribbon cutting. (NOPB/Port NOLA Photograph)

NOPB Launches $3MM Transloading Industrial Park

New Orleans Public Belt Railroad (NOPB) on Oct. 17 reported that Heniff Transportation Systems LLC will manage rail transloading services at the newly opened New Orleans Transloading Industrial Park. The Park is located

POLB Posts Record September TEUs

The Port of Long Beach (POLB) set a TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) record for September, moving 829,499 TEUs, up 70 TEUs from the previous record set in September 2023. September also marked

Pictured: HDR’s Brad Carter and Transdev U.S.’s Joanna Cornell. (Photographs courtesy of the respective companies)
  • News

People News: MARTA, HDR, Transdev, Ondas Holdings

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) taps Steven Parker and LaShanda Dawkins as interim Chief of Staff and interim Chief Administrative Officer, respectively. Also, HDR elevates Brad Carter to Georgia Transportation Manager; Transdev U.S. appoints Joanna Cornell as Vice President of Safety and Security; and Markus Nottelmann joins Ondas Holdings as Senior Advisor.

Transit Briefs: SEPTA, NYMTA, TTC

Crime is down 34.1% on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) system. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completes its 100th Re-NEW-vation project; and Donlands Station becomes the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) 55th accessible subway station.

SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin at her third-annual State of the Port address on Oct. 16. (Photo/John Smoak)

SC Ports Boosting Rail Capabilities

“We know the confidence our customers place in us when they choose our port,” South Carolina Ports (SC Ports) President and CEO Barbara Melvin said during her State of the Port address on Oct. 16. “We are making strategic investments in rail-supported infrastructure to support their growth in the Southeast.”

NS, BMWED Ratify Tentative Agreement

Norfolk Southern and members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) have voted to ratify a new agreement in advance of the start of the next collective bargaining round.

(Union Pacific Photograph)

North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 41: AAR

Total North American carload and intermodal traffic rose 2.4% through the first 41 weeks of 2024 compared with the prior-year period, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported Oct. 16. The United States, Canada and Mexico all saw gains through the week ending Oct. 12, 2024.

CSX on Oct. 15 released a video on social media congratulating its Frontier Yard team in Buffalo, N.Y., for more than 2,000 injury-free days. (Screen Grab From CSX Video)

Class I Briefs: CSX, NS, UP

One of CSX’s New York-based teams achieves more than 2,000 days of injury-free service. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) commits $856,800 in grants to combat food insecurity, finalizes its East Palestine, Ohio, field office, and participates in the 2024 Virginia Maritime Association International Trade Symposium; and Union Pacific’s (UP) United Way campaign raises $860,000.

“The drop in criminal activity on BART is happening as we have been going all out to implement our Safe and Clean Plan,” BART General Manager Bob Powers said in reference to the agency’s commitment to boost rider safety and provide clean service. “Our riders have been loud and clear that they want us to step our game up when it comes to their safety and the cleanliness of our system.” (BART Photograph)

Transit Briefs: BART, LACMTA, MDOT

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) experiences a double-digit drop in crime. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) logs its 22nd consecutive month of year-over-year ridership growth; and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) launches a strategic plan for development around MARC commuter rail stations.

(Port NOLA Photograph)

For Port NOLA, a $1MM FEMA Security Grant

The Port of New Orleans, La., (Port NOLA) will use a $1,040,583 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to make physical and technology upgrades that will improve the Harbor Police Department’s surveillance

(Image Courtesy of Alstom)

Alstom, Centech to Pursue Rail Transport ‘Innovations’

Mobility solutions provider Alstom on Oct. 16 reported formalizing a two-year partnership with Montreal-based technology incubator Centech to “accelerate the development of innovative and sustainable rail solutions by working with promising start-ups in

“Hey, Virginia and Rail Enthusiasts everywhere! We've officially broken ground on the Long Bridge Rail Project,” the U.S. Department of Transportation reported via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Oct. 15. (Image Courtesy of USDOT)
  • M/W

Long Bridge Construction Kicks Off

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 15 for the $2.3 billion Long Bridge Project, which is slated to boost passenger rail capacity over the Potomac River between Arlington, Va., and Washington, D.C.,