PSNY track work to affect NJT, LIRR
Track work at Penn Station New York (PSNY) this summer will have effects on two public transportation lines—NJ Transit (NJT) and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).
NJ Transit
Commentary
Part 2 of 6: Politicians Wrangle as Costs Climb
The original Access to the Region’s Core (ARC) Project started with a semblance of consensus but ended its 15-year life in controversy. Its replacement, Gateway, was proposed in February 2011, and has been surrounded by controversy for the entire eight years of its life, so far. The politicians and planners who are pushing the program consider it inevitable, just as they considered the now-defunct ARC Project inevitable almost until the day it was killed in 2010.
NJT looks to Lookman Fazal as CIO
New Jersey Transit has appointed Lookman Fazal as Chief Information & Digital Officer.
Schaefer new NJT Chief Engineer, Capital Planning
Richard Schaefer, P.E., has joined New Jersey Transit as Chief Engineer in the Capital Planning and Program department.
NJT packs ’em in with $800MM in contracting plans
For New Jersey Transit, the days of subsisting on a starvation capital diet imposed by former Gov. Chris Christie appear over. On March 26, the agency hosted an open house for prime contractors, small businesses and DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises), the first such event in 10 years. On the table: More than $800 million in contracting opportunities for capital projects that will be available in the upcoming year.
FTA stymies Gateway tunnels with “medium-low” rating
The $13 billion Hudson River tunnel project, aimed at building two new rail tunnels between New York and New Jersey, is again facing funding problems after federal authorities announced a rating that means the project remains “ineligible for critical grant funding.”
NJ Transit to restore AC and “Dinky” trains, but not until late May
New Jersey Transit announced Feb. 27 that it will restore service on the Atlantic City Rail Line (ACRL) and the “Dinky”—a short shuttle line between Princeton Junction on Amtrak‘s Northeast Corridor (NEC) and a point close to downtown Princeton—but riders will still have to wait 85 more days to get their trains back.
PATCO celebrates 50th anniversary
It’s not much like the high-speed rail lines in Europe, Japan, and China, but locals still refer to it as the “PATCO Speedline” and have done so for the past 50 years. It travels its 14.2-mile route in 27 minutes, which averages slightly less than 32 miles per hour—not bad for local rail transit.
It’s official: Bombardier signs with NJ Transit for Multilevel III contract
Bombardier Transportation made it official, announcing it has signed a contract for 113 Multilevel III commuter rail cars with New Jersey Transit worth as much as $669 million.
Kenny takes NJT Rail Ops throttle
New Jersey Transit has named veteran passenger railroad executive Raymond P. Kenny as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Rail Operations, effective immediately.