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TriMet photo

Transit Briefs: TriMet, NCTCOG, PANYNJ, Oregon Senate, TransLink, GCRTA

TriMet expands Hop Fastpass® benefits to contactless bank cards and announces that construction of it’s A Better Red MAX Extension and Reliability and Improvements Project is nearing the end. Also, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) hires McKinsey & Company and InfraStrategies LLC to lead the strategic assessment of transit in Dallas-Fort Worth; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) opens a new $47.2 million accessible station house at the PATH Harrison Station; the Oregon Senate passes a bill criminalizing the use of illicit drugs on public transportation; TransLink tests a new multi-modal smartphone app; and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) is awarded $9.5 million for transit projects.

(Photograph Courtesy of TrinityRail)

PHMSA: $10.4MM for Hazmat Safety Activities

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Feb. 21 published multiple Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) to award $10.4 million in grants for hazardous materials safety.

This photograph from another Metrolinx project shows the tunneling method that will be used on the eastern underground portion of the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of Metrolinx)

Transit Briefs: Metrolinx, NYCT, San Diego MTS

Metrolinx awards a second tunneling contract for the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension. Also, all 472 MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subway stations will be upgraded to LED lighting; and San Diego (Calif.) Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) breaks ground on a new transit-oriented development project.

Photo Credit: MRS Logistica

MRS Logistics Orders 30 Locomotives From Wabtec

Brazil-based MRS Logistics has awarded Wabtec a contract worth around 500 million Reais ($101.5 million) for 30 new Evolution series diesel-electric locomotives. Delivery is scheduled to start later this year. Launched in

From Left to Right: Brenton A. MacDonald, Vice President and COO, SNR; Claire Brinkley, Vice President and Strategic Growth Director, STV; Anthony Pontone, civil/railway engineer, Hanson Professional Services Inc.; and Ryan Miller, Executive Director of Mechanical Operations, Wells Fargo Rail.
  • News

People News: SNR, STV, Hanson, Wells Fargo Rail

Sierra Northern Railway (SNR) elevates Brenton A. MacDonald to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Also, Claire Brinkley joins STV as Vice President and Strategic Growth Director for the firm’s transportation South/Central group; Anthony Pontone joins Hanson Professional Service Inc.’s Chicago regional office as a civil/railway engineer; and Ryan Miller joins Wells Fargo Rail as Executive Director of Mechanical Operations.

“This federal funding is vital to enhancing safety, accessibility and performance on MTA’s light rail,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said. “By having a more reliable light rail fleet with low-floor cars, MTA will deliver premiere customer service to the greater Baltimore region.” (MDOT MTA Photograph)

FTA Awards $631MM for Rail Vehicle Replacement

Three transit agencies in three states have been selected to share nearly $631 million in grants to replace a total of 300 aging passenger railcars and support American manufacturing, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reported Feb. 21.

AAR: North American Rail Volume Flat Through Week 7

Through the first seven weeks of 2024 (ending Feb. 17), total North American carload and intermodal traffic was down 0.2%—virtually flat—compared with the same point last year, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) Feb. 21 report. While Mexico saw a gain, Canada experienced a decline and U.S. traffic was virtually flat.

Commentary

FRA L-D Study Suggests Restored Routes

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which is looking toward adding more routes to the nation’s skeletal long-distance passenger train network, revealed the proposed new routes, many of which either ran before Amtrak

“We’re excited to grow our operations in Pocatello by adding railcar repair capabilities and developing a new multi-commodity transload terminal,” said Jason Ray, President of Savage’s Infrastructure Sector, on Feb. 20. (Savage Photograph)

Savage Expands Idaho Operations

Savage, the Utah-based global infrastructure and supply chain services company, is growing its intermodal rail terminal operations in Pocatello, Idaho, with the acquisition of the nearby Idaho Rail Shop business and property.

Commentary

Volume Catch-Up from Arctic Blast Complete

I’ll start with the good news, which concerns volume trends in the three reported weeks following the Arctic Blast, which struck the railroads in the third week of January. The quick operational

(Courtesy of TSB)

TSB Issues Preliminary 2023 Transportation Occurrence Stats

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published its summary of preliminary transportation occurrence statistics from 2023, showing accidents are below the five-year average for the four sectors. Incidents are down in 2023 for rail and marine, flat for pipeline, and up for air transportation.

“These needed rail infrastructure improvements will lift up rural Kansas and, in doing so, will maximize the economic potential of the entire state,” said Gov. Laura Kelly.

KDOT: Nearly $16.5MM for Short Line Rail Projects

Gov. Laura Kelly on Feb. 20 announced that nearly $16.5 million in investments from the Kansas Department of Transportation’s (KDOT) Rail Service Improvement Program (RSIP) will go toward short line rail expansion and rehabilitation projects to improve the state’s agriculture supply chain.