Transit Briefs: MORPC, Alstom

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Ohio mayors work to advance Amtrak expansion plans. Also, Alstom’s automated people mover (APM) at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport carries first passengers across new extension.

Commentary

UP Uses Technology to Improve Safety and Quality of Life

Union Pacific (UP) employees have been Building America for more than 160 years. Central to that mission are train conductors, whose jobs require long days and nights away from home riding trains. Through the decades, technology has continuously transformed rail operations, and now a new pilot at UP will apply technology to the conductor’s role to improve safety and quality of life.

FRA Issues Notice of Solicitation, Funding Opportunity for Corridor ID Program

The Federal Railroad Administration on Dec. 20 issued a Notice of Solicitation and Funding Opportunity to solicit project proposals for intercity passenger rail corridors for the Corridor Identification and Development (ID) Program.

Amtrak Airo™ will debut in 2026 on the railroad's Cascade service.

First Look: Amtrak Airo™ (Updated Dec. 19)

Amtrak has released visuals of its upcoming new long-distance and corridor service single-level, semi-permanently-coupled push/pull trainsets—the Siemens Mobility-built Amtrak Airo™—which will replace aging Amtrak-owned Amfleet I equipment.

(Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Acting Director Named for STB Office of Passenger Rail

The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has selected Neil Moyer as acting Director of its Office of Passenger Rail, which is responsible for investigating and analyzing issues regarding Amtrak on-time performance (OTP).

Commentary

WHITE PAPER: Crossing Safety and Trespassing Prevention: Unfinished Business

My principal responsibilities during my working life were focused directly on railroad safety, including work at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from initial employment as a research assistant (legal clerk), attorney working

“This Partnership Program NOFO offers exciting opportunities to expand federal support for intercity passenger and high-speed rail services to all parts of our nation,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said on Dec. 7.

USDOT Releases $2.3B NOFO for Partnership Program

Almost $2.3 billion in funding is available in Fiscal Year 2022 “to expand and modernize intercity passenger rail nationwide” through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program (Partnership Program), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) reported Dec. 7.

Amtrak Looks to Remove Pennsylvania ‘Distant Signals’

With Positive Train Control (PTC) operational, Amtrak is seeking Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) approval to remove automatic wayside signals serving as distant signals to existing interlockings on the Mid-Atlantic Division’s Philadelphia-to-Harrisburg, Pa. line (a Northeast Corridor branch), according to a notice in the Federal Register’s Dec. 7 edition.

MassDOT has submitted an application for more than $108 million in federal funding for rail corridor improvements between Springfield and Worcester to restore Inland Route intercity passenger rail service. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak/CSX/MassDOT, DART, NJT

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), in partnership with Amtrak and with support from CSX, is seeking federal funding for corridor improvements to restore Inland Route intercity passenger rail service. Also, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is extending the Discount GoPass Tap Card pilot program; and New Jersey Transit (NJT) is re-launching its Adopt-A-Station program.

ASLRRA President Chuck Baker
Commentary

Come January, Some Congressional Changes: Once Again, Our Work is Cut Out for Us

ASLRRA PERSPECTIVE, RAILWAY AGE DECEMBER 2022 ISSUE: Apart from the Georgia Senate runoff and a few uncalled races, the midterm election is finally over.

LOAD MORE