CSX tweeted on Sept. 8: “Congrats to Carl Walker on being featured on the cover of African-American Career World Magazine’s summer/fall edition! Carl is a 23-year CSX employee and a former U.S. Navy officer. Learn about Carl’s inspirational story in the magazine’s special report, ‘Heroes of Import.’” (Image Courtesy of CSX via Twitter)

People News: CSX, PMA Consultants

African-American Career World Magazine (AACWM) features CSX’s Carl Walker in the summer/fall issue. Also, PMA Consultants appoints Kam Shadan as Executive Director of its new National Transit & Rail Practice.

New Special Directives issued by the FTA call for the MBTA to “address personnel, deficiencies and inadequate operating conditions, policies, procedures and training that compromised a culture of safety at the agency.”

FTA to MBTA: Additional Safety Changes Needed (UPDATED)

Following a Safety Management Inspection of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) rail transit system, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a report of findings on Aug. 31 and informed both the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the state agency charged with Authority oversight, that safety changes, in addition to those announced in June, are needed.

Anna May (second from right), a staff member from the office of Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and Missy Younger (third from right), a staff member from the office of Congressman Trent Kelly (RMiss.), joined Watco Assistant Vice President-Government Relations Ailsa von Dobeneck (second from left) for a tour of ASLRRA member and Watco company Mississippi Southern Railroad and a discussion of short line freight rail industry priorities.

Small-Road Briefs: Mississippi Southern Railroad, FRA

Mississippi congressional staffers tour Watco-owned Mississippi Southern Railroad (MSR). Also, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) could be opening the 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program soon and is continuing its Office Hours webinars to discuss Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program.

The proposed KRM project would provide a connection to Metra’s UP-N commuter rail line in Kenosha.

Proposed Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee Commuter Rail Project Receives State Support

On Aug. 16, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released a two-page profile of the long-stalled Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) Commuter Rail project highlighting the state of Wisconsin’s support of the proposed $460 million rail service.

(Screenshot of Video, Courtesy of OLI)

OLI Issues New Transit Safety Education Resources

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), has released new education materials covering commuter rail, light rail, rapid transit and streetcar safety for riders and the general public.

The Clipper BayPass will provide approximately 50,000 Bay Area residents free access to all rail, bus and ferry services in the nine-county region.

Transit Briefs: BART, Metrolinx, CTA, Brightline, CATS, Caltrain, Ottawa LRT

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) launches Clipper BayPass with unlimited transit access. Also, heritage façade restoration is now complete at Metrolinx’s Mount Pleasant Station; the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension

UTA’s FrontRunner Vineyard Station is now open. (UTA, via Twitter)

Passenger Rail Briefs: UTA, LIRR, MBTA, Metrolinx

The Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) FrontRunner Vineyard Station is now open. Also, the first section of MTA Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) Main Line (Third Track) Expansion Project is now in service;

The MBTA plans to shut down the Orange Line for 30 days to accelerate major track and maintenance work.

MBTA: Orange Line Shutting Down for M/W Blitz (UPDATED)

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced on Aug. 3 plans to shut down the Orange Line for 30 days to accelerate major track and maintenance work on the line—colloquially known in

The opening of the MBTA's GLX Medford Branch has been shifted from late summer 2022 to late Nov. 2022.

Transit Briefs: MBTA, Caltrain, Metrolinx, SacRT, Amtrak, LA Metro

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) says its Green Line Extension (GLX) Medford Branch will open in late Nov. 2022. Also, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) votes unanimously to accept

A second transit improvement bonus under ZFA will provide ADA access via a new elevator to the Queensboro Plaza subway station. (MTA)

Passenger Rail Briefs: NYMTA, Loop Trolley, SANDAG, WMATA

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces approved upcoming Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the Queensboro Plaza subway station. Also, Loop Trolley service restarts in St. Louis; the San

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