Railroad News

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) last week presented its final proposed 2020 budget and four-year financial plan, which includes $253 million in higher farebox revenue than projected in the July plan due to increased ridership across the system.

The proposed budget includes no budget-driven service cuts and advances the agency’s Transformation Plan aimed at dramatically improving service and delivering significant reforms for taxpayers and commuters, MTA officials said in a press release.

Tomorrow, Metro Transit and BNSF Railway Co. will mark the 10th anniversary of Northstar commuter-rail service in Minneapolis.



On Nov. 16, 2009, Northstar launched service on a 40-mile line between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, Minnesota, on right of way owned by BNSF. Stations are located in Elk River, Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Fridley. Northstar Link buses serve rail riders traveling to and from St. Cloud.



The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has appointed Jeffrey Tumlin director of transportation, effective Dec. 16.

Tumlin most recently was a principal at Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associated, where he led a number of neighborhood plans aimed at accommodating thousands of new residents by mitigating traffic and promoting better transit services.

Canadian Pacific earlier this week unveiled five specially painted locomotives on Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the United States to honor the history and culture of the armed forces.

The five Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACUs will travel across the CP system.

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s board earlier this week adopted the 2019 Measure M2 Next 10 Delivery Plan, which sets project and program priorities for a 10-year period through 2026.

The plan aims to support a balanced transportation system in the Southern California county. The transportation improvements cited in the "Next 10" plan — from enhanced transit services to improved roads — were promised to voters as early as possible through the Measure M sales tax referendum now known as OC Go, authority officials said in a press release.

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's (MARTA) board yesterday approved a $646 million agreement with Stadler Rail for the purchase of 254 new rail cars, with an option for another 100 cars.

The procurement is the single largest for either organization, and represents a milestone in MARTA's capital improvement program aimed at more efficient performance and improved rider experience, agency officials said in a press release.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

Sound Transit earlier this week announced it has drafted a plan to connect bus service to the Link light-rail Red Line at the Northgate Station when it opens in 2021.

Drafted in collaboration with Community Transit and Smohomish County officials, the plan proposes a restructuring of current bus service to serve the Northgate station, providing connections to the University of Washington and downtown Seattle.

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Senior Associate Editor

Alaska Gov. Michael Dunleavy announced this week he's accepted the resignation of former Gov. Bill Sheffield and awarded him the title chairman emeritus of Alaska Railroad Corp.'s board in appreciation of his dedication to the railroad.

"Over the years, Gov. Sheffield has provided invaluable leadership and expertise to assist the board in weathering harsh economic realities and making the changes necessary to ensure the survival of the railroad as a tool for economic development in the state," said Dunleavy in a press release.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) a nearly $12.6 million grant for the Port Authority Transit Corp. (PATCO) Franklin Square Station reopening project, the authority announced earlier this week.

The $30 million project calls for rehabilitating the Franklin Square rail station in Philadelphia, which has been shuttered since 1979. The project involves improvements to the station’s civil, structural, mechanical and electrical systems, DRPA officials said in a press release.

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) recognized several railroads for outstanding safety performance in 2018 at the association's annual Southern Region meeting held Nov. 11-13 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Recipients of the ASLRRA President's Award are industry leaders that strive to value safety above all competing priorities each day, said ASLRRA President Chuck Baker in the association's Nov. 13 newsletter.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) this week unveiled its proposed 2020 operating and capital budgets for public review and comment.

The authority is proposing a $3.4 billion operating budget and a $3.6 billion capital budget, which includes $413 million for projects at the Port Authority-Trans Hudson Corp. (PATH) commuter railroad.