The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has authorized initiation of Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) operations for Positive Train Control (PTC) on North County Transit District (NCTD) Coaster trains, including revenue (passenger-carrying) trains, on the San Diego subdivision.
WSP USA, the company formerly called Parsons Brinckerhoff, has named two rail transit industry veterans to executive positions. Stephen Bonina, P.E., joins as Vice President and Eastern Region Fleet Manager for WSP’s TEC (Transit & Rail Technical Excellence Center), Newark, N.J. Kevin Cox, P.E., rejoins the company as a Vice President providing management and technical support for transit and rail projects throughout the U.S., also in Newark.
Passengers on six transit services in the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Area on July 17 began using Hop Fastpass™, a regional open-payments electronic fare collection (e-fare ) system implemented by INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc., Chesapeake, Va.
Progress has been made on Metrolinx’s plan to electrify the GO Transit regional/commuter rail network. Meanwhile, major delays and controversy mark Bombardier’s streetcar contract with the Toronto Transit Commission.
New Jersey Transit has adopted a Fiscal Year 2018 budget of $3.6 billion “that supports continued investments in infrastructure and equipment to maintain the system in a state of good repair and enhance the overall customer experience.”
U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) renewed their call for the Gateway Program to advance with funding commitments.
The White House on July 11 announced that President Donald Trump has nominated Ronald L. Batory, who recently retired as President and Chief Operating Officer of Conrail, as the next Federal Railroad Administrator.
It was an accessory to the jailing of three labor union presidents. It may encourage bad decision-making by rail managers. Its lottery-like jury awards seduce plaintiff attorneys. It can send an injured rail worker to the poor house. And it encourages adversarial relationships in the workplace.
AECOM is set to acquire Shimmick Construction. While the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, the companies expect to close in AECOM’s fiscal fourth quarter.
Sweeping management changes continue at WSP USA, the Montreal-based company that acquired Parsons Brinckerhoff and in May dropped the iconic PB name. Three key positions have been filled in the firm’s Northwest Pacific, West and Northern California areas.