Re-opening date set for Denver Union Station
Denver’s Union Station, newly restored, will officially open July 12, 2014, according to announcement made Thursday, March 20, by Visit Denver, the state capital’s convention and visitors bureau.
Commuter Regional
More Kitchener-Toronto GO service eyed
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says GO Transit train service between Kitchener, Ont., and Toronto will be bolstered significantly by the end of 2016.
Amtrak FY 2015 budget: “Something has to change”
For its Fiscal Year 2015, which begins Oct. 1, 2014, Amtrak is requesting $1.62 billion in federal capital and operating support, an increase of approximately 16% from FY 2014 federal appropriations. But more important, said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, fundamental changes are needed in how the U.S. government financially supports intercity passenger rail.
LA Union Station rehab work proceeds
Los Angeles’ Union Station main entrance closed for repair work on Monday, March 17, 2014, part of a larger effort by Metro to restore the historic station to a state of good repair.
Siemens given notice to proceed on passenger locomotives
The Illinois Department of Transportation, on behalf of the states of Illinois, California, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington, on March 18, 2014 formally granted the Siemens Rail Systems Division an official Notice to Proceed on 32 “Charger” diesel-electric passenger locomotives. The NTP follows IDOT’s December 2013 announcement of its intention to move forward on the order with Siemens.
Ontario premier affirms transit fund
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has pledged that the province’s upcoming fiscal budget will include a dedicated transit fund, though sources for such a fund remain unclear, given that Wynne has said no taxes will be raised for such a purpose.
FRA slams lax Metro-North safety concerns
Stressing to the hilt its longstanding public emphasis on safety as a pinnacle industry goal, the Federal Railroad Administration slammed Metro-North Railroad Thursday, March 13, 2014 for a “deficient safety culture” that favored on-time performance to operational safety procedures.
RTD sets North Metro Rail groundbreaking
Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) will break ground on its north Metro Rail Line, the first Denver-area regional passenger rail line, on Thursday, March 20, 2014.
APTA calls for $100 billion in transit investment
At its
2014 Legislative Conference, the American Public Transportation Association
(APTA) released its recommendations for authorization of the transportation
bill that is set to expire at the end of September. The APTA plan calls on
Congress to authorize a $100.4 billion federal transit program over six
years, which would grow the current $10.7 billion annual program to $22.2
billion by 2020.
Metra billboard wins local Addy Award
Metra has won a local Silver Addy Award from the American Advertising Federation, honoring the agency’s digital billboard touting the Chicagoland regional rail system as the area’s “Real Expressway.”