news

Reports: Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Replace Chicago RTA (UPDATED 6/2)

Illinois lawmakers on May 28 unveiled a bill that proposes to replace the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra commuter rail, and Pace suburban buses, with a new organization called the Northern Illinois Transit Authority, according to multiple news reports.

Arbitrator Rules on CPKC/TCRC Collective Agreements

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on May 30, 2025 received an arbitrator’s ruling establishing new collective bargaining agreements with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) – Train and Engine (T&E) division and

(Courtesy of the STB)

STB Dropping Final Offer Rate Review Rule

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) on May 30 issued a decision removing its Final Offer Rate Review (FORR) rule. This deregulatory action, it said, follows a unanimous decision by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the rule.

“It’s a tightknit group,” said UP Senior Manager Dave Victores of the railroaders at the Oakland, Calif., locomotive shop who have achieved a safety milestone. “They actively care and look out for each other.” (UP Photograph)

Class I Briefs: UP, BNSF

Union Pacific’s (UP) locomotive shop in Oakland, Calif., celebrates a safety milestone. Also, BNSF opens nominations for its 2025 Sustainability Awards program.

RAC Report: Work Stoppages ‘a Major Threat’

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) has released a report on work stoppages in Canada, highlighting “the impacts of labor uncertainty on Canada’s GDP, workers’ earnings, and trade, and the outsized impacts

Commentary

‘Train Daddy’ Returns to New York

Andy Byford is coming back to New York, where he has been tapped to oversee development in and around the city’s Penn Station. New Yorkers bestowed the moniker “Train Daddy” on Byford

Transit Briefs: PANYNJ, WMATA, Alstom

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) reports agency volumes for April 2025. Also, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) selects a developer for its life sciences-anchored mixed-use development at North Bethesda and launches a new, faster, and easier way to pay fares; and Alstom is selected to deliver additional Automated People Movers (APMs) to Denver International Airport.

People News: COMTO, Moffatt & Nichol

The Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) names 10 recipients of its Women Who Move the Nation Award. Also, Moffatt & Nichol appoints Nathan Ellis to its national rail team.

UP’s automated cross tie unloading equipment in action in North Little Rock, Ark. (UP Photograph)

Class I Briefs: UP, NS

Union Pacific (UP) Executive Vice President-Marketing and Sales Kenny Rocker issues a “Status of the Railroad” report to customers. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) uses “silvopasture” to help prevent wildfires at Brosnan Forest in South Carolina.

WMATA on May 23 brought Automatic Train Operation (ATO) to the Green and Yellow lines, following what it called “rigorous internal training and testing and concurrence from the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.” (WMATA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: WMATA, LACMTA, Metrolink, Trinity Metro

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) launches Automatic Train Operation (ATO) on the Green and Yellow lines. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) releases new details about its Sepulveda Transit Corridor project; Metrolink, Southern California’s regional passenger rail system, offers riders customized service alerts; and Trinity Metro’s Richard W. Andreski joins the Executive Committee of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors.

LRW Scholarship Applications Due June 6

The League of Railway Women (LRW) is still accepting applications for three scholarships—the Connie Sumara Memorial Scholarship, the Future of Railroading Scholarship, and the new Sue Black Memorial Scholarship—for the 2025-26 school year. Applications are due June 6, 2025.

(BNSF Photograph)

AAR: North American Rail Volume Rises Through Week 21

North American carload and intermodal traffic for the first 21 weeks of 2025 (ending May 24) was up 3.3% from the prior-year period, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest rail traffic report. While the United States and Canada both saw gains, Mexico experienced a loss.

NYC Transit Tech Lab Announces 2025 Project Partners

The New York City Transit Tech Lab, a joint initiative of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Partnership Fund for New York City, has selected 12 companies to collaborate with regional transit agencies for eight-week proof-of-concept tests of technologies designed to “optimize transit schedules, communications, inspections, and maintenance.” In addition to the MTA, the agencies include the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), NJ Transit and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT).