San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission

  • News

People News: MARS, SLSI, SJRRC

The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) welcomes new officers to its Executive Committee. Also, Jill Medeiros is promoted to Chief Administrative Officer for the Short Line Safety Institute (SLSI); and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) re-elects Lisa Craig-Hensley as Chair and Leo Zuber as Vice Chair.

(Logos courtesy of the respective organizations)
  • News

People News: SJRRC, MDOT, BLET

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) appoints Chris Orlando as CEO. Also, Kathryn B. “Katie” Thomson is Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), following the departure of Paul J. Wiedefeld; and Pete Semenek is retiring as National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET).

SJRRC’s Mortensen to Step Down

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) on April 30 announced that Executive Director Stacey Mortensen will step down from her role, effective Aug. 31, 2025, after more than 27 years of leadership.

CalSTA: $1.3B for 27 Rail and Transit Projects

The California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) recently announced that $1.3 billion from the Transit and Intercity Capital Rail Program (TIRCP) funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (cap-and-trade) will go to 27 projects following a statewide competitive grant application process for Cycle 7, according to a Streetsblog California report.

Transit Briefs: BART, MBTA, Hill International/SCVTA, CTA, ACE

The first of three legacy Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) cars are delivered to the Western Railway Museum (WRM). Also, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) expands access to reduced fares for income-eligible riders; the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) selects Hill International to continue Project Management & Staff Support (PMSS) services for its ongoing capital program; the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Red Line Extension (RLE) Project moves closer to groundbreaking; and Levi’s® Stadium renews its partnership with the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) regional/commuter rail service.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on June 14 held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its West Portal facility, the future location of the Santa Clara Station and Newhall Yard & Maintenance Facility, and the site where the Tunnel Boring Machine will be assembled and launched to bore the five-mile underground tunnel for the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project. (SCVTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: DART, Denver RTD, SCVTA, SEPTA, Valley Rail

Dallas (Tex.) Area Rapid Transit (DART) eyes fare structure changes. Also, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District CEO earns a Women in Business Award; California’s Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) celebrates the West Portal groundbreaking for its BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) advances a subway station accessibility project; and construction kicks off for the Valley Rail program in California.

Premium

Hydrogen Finds its Place in California

State government regulations are accelerating the shift from diesel to alternative traction in California. Kyle Gradinger, Division Chief of Rail and Mass Transportation at the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), explains the