Railroad News

Weekly rail traffic on U.S. railroads continued to strengthen, to 526,970 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending May 13, a gain of 5.7 percent from the same week in 2016.

Overall traffic totaled 255,361 carloads, up 7 percent, while intermodal volume was 271,609 containers and trailers, ahead 4.4% from a year ago, according to data from the Association of American Railroads.

Just a day after announcing an aggressive initiative to fix delays, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) issued a Request for Proposals as part of a program to dramatically renovate subway stations in Manhattan.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jeffrey Rosen as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on May 16. Rosen is the 18th deputy secretary in USDOT's 50-year history.

The Federal Rail Administration (FRA) and Federal Highway Administration have signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) document for the Willmar Rail Connector and Industrial Park Access Project (Willmar Wye).

The government of Canada proposed legislation aimed at providing air passengers more protection and choice and improving the nation's freight rail system through investment and safety measures.

Transport Canada says the legislation, called the Transportation Modernization Act, is the result of more than a year of consultation, feedback and guidance from citizens and stakeholders across Canada. The Transportation Modernization Act would amend the existing Railway Safety Act.

Union Pacific plans to spend $48.1 million in Utah this year to improve its infrastructure. The state spending plan is part of the Class 1's $3.1-billion 2017 capital program.

Metra, Chicago's suburban passenger rail provider, broke ground a station at Romeoville, which will be a new stop along the Heritage Corridor Line.

"Getting a Metra stop has been a village goal for a long time, so we're very excited to break ground today," Romeoville Mayor John Noak said. "Having another transportation link to the city will be a great benefit for residents as well as businesses."

Kansas City Southern Railway Co. is investing approximately $24.6 million in 2017 on construction and improvement projects on its Pittsburg, Heavener and Shreveport Subdivisions.

Rail, crosstie and crossing improvements are planned in 20 communities between Neosho, Mo. and Blanchard, La. The work is expected to begin May 30 and continue through late August.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said the Trump administration would share its vision for an infrastructure plan soon, specifying within the next several weeks during a speech.

Sec. Chao spoke May 15 at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce kickoff event for Infrastructure Week 2017.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she would not support any U.S. Department of Transportation nominee until funding for Caltrain's electrification project is released.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) approved a contract with Barletta Heavy Division, Inc., for the construction of improvements to the Wellington Maintenance Facility.

The cost of the Wellington Maintenance Facility project through FY18 is $98.28 million.

Infrastructure firm AECOM announced that Navin Sagar has been appointed vice president and national director transit systems of the firm's transit systems practice in North America.

Also, Jon Schmidt has been promoted to the transit systems deputy practice leader, working with Sagar. He has been with Aecom for 17 years.

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled a comprehensive plan to rapidly modernize the world's busiest subway system.

U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) joined representatives from Arkansas & Missouri Railroad (A&M) for a tour and policy discussion May 12.

A&M took the group from Ft. Smith to Rudy, Ark., in one of the railroad's excursion cars, stopping along the way to tour the Arkansas River Bridge. The bridge is on of three rail bridges that would be repaired through a planned project with the city of Ft. Smith, which applied for a Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grant. President Trump signed an omnibus appropriations bill that allocates $850 million for a second round of FASTLANE grants. A short portion of A&M, including the Arkansas River Bridge, is included in the Strategic Rail Corridor Network, which provides access to essential military bases and supports installations for the deployment of military equipment during emergencies and natural disasters.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce released a new study conducted by Morning Consult on the opening day of Infrastructure Week 2017 that shows voters believe infrastructure matters and they support more investment in it.

"Voters want the federal government to invest more in the nation's transportation infrastructure, believe those investments would create jobs and help American businesses and want Congress to move forward now with an infrastructure package," the U. S. Chamber of Commerce said in a press release.

The Morrison-Yamhill MAX improvements project reached a milestone over the weekend as the Portland streetcar resumed service.

The street is still closed to auto traffic and TriMet's MAX service will remain on an adjusted schedule as crews complete track and intersection improvements on SW Morrison and Yamhill streets at 11th and 1st avenues.

Canadian Pacific (CP) and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference Maintenance of Way Employees Division (TCRC-MWED) announced they have reached a tentative five-year agreement.

"We have been working collaboratively and proactively with the TCRC-MWED leadership on a deal that makes sense for both sides and provides stability over the long-term," said CP's President and CEO Keith Creel. "CP has worked hard, and will continue to work hard, to achieve long-term, innovative agreements with its unions that provide the framework for continued success for the company and its valued employees."

Trams carried passengers along Woodward Avenue in Detroit for the first time in 61 years on May 12 with the inauguration of the 3.29-mile Q Line from Larned Street to West Grand Boulevard.

The city of Calgary Administration released its recommendation for construction of Stage 1 of the Green Line Light Rail Project on May 11.

The first stage, estimated to cost CA$4.65 billion (US$3.39 billion), will be the longest LRT line the city has constructed in a single go. The recommendation includes building the 20-km (12.4-mile), 14-station core of the line from 16 Avenue N to 126 Avenue S.E. The line is slated to open in 2026 with planned extensions to be added once funding is secured.

CEMEX USAis expanding its Southern California network with plans for a rail-served distribution terminal in Los Angeles and a new aggregate loading system at its quarry in Victorville, Calif.

CEMEX USA says the state-of-the-art terminal will bring high-quality aggregates to metro Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The terminal is designed to accommodate the increase in construction projects across the region.