Railroad News

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last week announced a proposed rule that would require unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, to include remote identification technology so that law enforcement and federal security agencies can identify them while they are flying in their jurisdiction. 

The proposed rule calls for drones to have the ability to transmit identification and location information to other airspace users and people on the ground.

The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) late last week restored streetcar service to the Union Passenger Terminal Amtrak station in New Orleans.

Since October, NORTA’s streetcar has suffered service disruptions and suspension on four of five lines following the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel that was under construction near Canal Street. The collapse killed three and injured more than 19 people, local media reported.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has appointed Charles Zelle chair of the Metropolitan Council, which governs Metro Transit's rail and bus services in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Effective Jan. 6, Zelle will succeed Molly Cummings, who became interim chair in November after Nora Slawik's resignation.

The Port of Quincy has begun the first phase of a project to expand its intermodal terminal located on BNSF Railway Co.'s mainline in Quincy, Washington, port officials announced earlier this week.

Phase I entails adding gravel surfacing of 90,000 square feet for container storage on the terminal's east and north sides to accommodate an increase in ocean container freight that moves by truck from the Port of Quincy to the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.

Canadian Pacific earlier this week released its 2018 corporate sustainability report, which highlights the Class I's achievements in safety, operational excellence and social impact.

Titled "Sustainably Driven," the report was developed using a new framework for reporting the company's efforts to align business practices with sustainability goals and objectives, CP officials said in a press release.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo yesterday proposed a new plan for developing high-speed rail service on Amtrak's Empire Corridor in New York.

Cuomo will task a panel of engineers to reexamine past high-speed rail plans and recommend a new plan for how to build high-speed rail for the corridor, which connects the state through New York City, Albany and Buffalo.

As of mid-November, Class Is employed 133,225 people, down 1 percent from mid-October's level and down 10.58 percent from November 2018's count, according to Surface Transportation Board (STB) data.

All six workforce categories posted month-to-month employment decreases.
They were: executives, officials and staff assistants, down 0.31 percent to 7,629 employees; professional and administrative, down 0.83 percent to 10,910; maintenance of way and structures, down 0.28 percent to 31,242; maintenance of equipment and stores, down 1.72 percent to 23,370; transportation (other than train and engine), down 0.35 percent to 5,438; and transportation (train and engine), down 1.31 percent to 54,636.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) board last week elected Lateefah Simon president and Mark Foley vice president for 2020.

Simon has represented the San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties as BART District 7 director since 2017; Foley has represented Contra Costa county as District 2 director since 2018.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will make 20 additional New York City Transit (NYCT) subway stations fully accessible under Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards in its proposed $51.5 billion 2020-2024 capital plan.

With the addition of the new stations, a total of 70 subway stations will receive $5.2 billion in capital funds toward projects to make the stations ADA accessible, MTA officials said in a press release.

The Sound Transit board last week appointed Kent Keel chair and Dow Constantine, vice chair. 

The appointments take effect Jan. 1, following the retirement of outgoing Chair John Marchione from his position as mayor of Redmond, Washington. Marchione also served on Sound Transit’s board for 12 years, agency officials said in a press release.

Canadian Pacific announced Tuesday that more than CA$2.49 million was raised and 238,393 pounds of food were collected for local food banks and shelves during the 21st Annual CP Holiday Train's North American tour, which wrapped up earlier this month.

Although the 2019 numbers are preliminary, CP estimates the Holiday Train has raised more than CA$16.7 million and collected 4.7 million pounds of food since its inaugural journey in 1999.

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board last week announced it agreed to consider making a financial contribution to a second rail crossing over the Potomac River. 

Preliminary discussions between VRE and Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) have identified the possibility of debt issuance and pay-as-you-go contributions to help fund the $1.9 billion bridge, VRE officials said in a press release.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has extended its deadline for applications to the Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program for intercity passenger-rail service.

The deadline for applications has been extended by about a month to Feb. 5, 2020. Additionally, the program has received $1.9 million in additional funds as a result of the fiscal-year 2020 Appropriations Act, which was signed into law late last week.

MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) last week reopened the 168 Street subway station in New York City, after a nearly year-long effort to replace and upgrade elevators at the 100-year-old station. 

The project, completed on budget and ahead of schedule, also included improvements to lighting, communications equipment and an emergency staircase, NYCT officials said in a press release.