DRPT

Pictured, Left to Right: David Ivan, BNSF Logistics, LLC; Jerry Guaracino, Caltrain; Anna Harvey, STV; and Allan Fye, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. (Ivan photograph from LinkedIn; all other photographs from the respective organizations.)
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People News: BNSF Logistics, Caltrain, STV, Virginia DRPT

BNSF Logistics, LLC elevates David Ivan to President and CEO. Also, Jerry Guaracino joins California’s Caltrain as Chief Safety Officer; infrastructure professional services firm STV hires Anna Harvey to lead transportation operations in Northern California; and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) names Allan Fye as Chief Deputy Director.

Pictured from left to right: Mariia Zimmerman, Virginia DRPT; Dianne Barnett, NS; Mike Brennan, Trinity Metro; Brady Jacoba, Ports of Indiana; and Peter Zuk, HNTB. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)
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People News: Virginia DRPT, LRW/NS, NYMTA, Trinity Metro, Ports of Indiana, HNTB

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) appoints Mariia Zimmerman as Director. Also, the League of Railway Women (LRW) recognizes Norfolk Southern’s (NS) Dianne Barnett as 2025 Railway Woman of the Year; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Ports of Indiana, Trinity Metro in Texas, and HNTB Corporation hire executive leaders.

(Image Courtesy of Virginia DRPT)
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Virginia DRPT: Grant Applications Welcome

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) on Dec. 1 will begin accepting rail, transit, and commuter assistance grant applications for the 2026 Fiscal Year.

Pictured (left to right): RBNM’s Jennifer Frederickson and Meg Pursel; Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Tiffany Robinson; and TriMet’s Shana Peck. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)

People News: RBMN, Virginia DRPT, TriMet

Class II Reading & Northern (RBNM), Railway Age’s four-time Regional of the Year recipient, promotes two employees in its passenger department. Also, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) hires a new Director; and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) names its 2024 Rail Operator of the Year.

Transit Briefs: Amtrak Virginia, Amtrak/NJ Transit, SEPTA, WMATA

Amtrak Virginia begins service to the Newport News Transportation Center. Also, Amtrak and NJ Transit announce a series of actions that both companies will take following a spike of service disruptions in New Jersey and New York Penn Station during May and June; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) enhances safety measures for the new school year; and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors approves a new four-year contract with Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689.

DRPT photo

Virginia DRPT Releases Draft Six-Year Improvement Program

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has released its draft Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2030 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates nearly $6.2 billion for public transportation and freight and passenger rail over the next six fiscal years.

Cathcart, which operates Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad (pictured), is investing more than $10 million to expand its Kansas City, Mo., railcar repair facility. Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad was a Railway Age 2021 Short Line of the Year Honorable Mention. (Photograph Courtesy of Belpre Industrial Parkersburg Railroad)

Industrial Development Briefs: Cathcart, Buffalo, Virginia CTB

Cathcart Rail (Cathcart) is expanding its railcar repair facility in Kansas City, Mo. Also, Buffalo Rail & Infrastructure Corporation (Buffalo) acquires Canfor Pulp Products’ pulp mill assets, including 300-plus acres of heavy industrial land, in Taylor, B.C.; and the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves increasing the Rail Industrial Access fund.

Virginia DPRT Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl will retire at the end of June.
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DeBruhl to Retire as DRPT Executive Director

Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl will retire at the end of June, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report.

The Virginia CTB has approved new policies that change the way VRE is funded and reform from the governance and funding of WMATA.

Transit Briefs: TTC, NYMTA, VRE/WMATA, ATP, Brightline

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) proposes new investments in customer service, community safety and security initiatives. Also, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Construction & Development (C&D) achieves insurance costs and risk assessment savings of nearly $400 million; Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approves new Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) policies; Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) approves $190 million spending plan for fiscal year 2024; and Brightline announces Orlando transportation partners.