Railroad News

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) logged a record 3.85 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in fiscal-year 2017, a 6.7 percent increase, or 242,221 more TEUs, over last year, the authority recently announced.

In the last half of FY2017, the Port of Savannah moved 1.99 million TEUs for a growth rate of 11.6 percent over the same period in FY2016, according to a GPA press release.

Strobel Energy Group has signed a contract to design and construct an ethyl acetate facility in Nebraska that will be served by BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.

Strobel officials announced late last week that the company has signed an engineering, procurement and construction agreement with Prairie Catalytic LLC, a subsidiary of Greenyug LLC, to design and build the commercial scale bio-ethanol-to-ethyl acetate facility in Columbus, Nebraska.

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex) will use digital services to monitor locomotive performance under a new long-term service agreement between the railroad and GE Transportation.

The agreement — which brings digital services to freight rail in Mexico for the first time — provides data on the health status and performance of the railroad's 100 Evolution Series locomotives, according to a blog posted on GE Transportation's website.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved moving the Durham-Orange light-rail project into the engineering phase of the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program.

The news means the $2.47 billion project is eligible for $1 billion in federal funds, according to a press release issued by GoTriangle, which oversees transit in Wake, Durham and Orange counties in North Carolina.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Durham and Orange County light-rail project to enter the engineering phase, which maintains the project's eligibility for more than $1 billion in federal money.

FTA received the revised transit plans from the counties and determined the project to be justified under federal review criteria. As stakeholders for the project explain, advancing into the engineering phase of the federal Capital Investment Grant Program is a significant milestone for the project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Durham and Orange County light-rail project to enter the engineering phase, which maintains the project's eligibility for more than $1 billion in federal money.

FTA received the revised transit plans from the counties and determined the project to be justified under federal review criteria. As stakeholders for the project explain, advancing into the engineering phase of the federal Capital Investment Grant Program is a significant milestone for the project.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has approved the Durham and Orange County light-rail project to enter the engineering phase, which maintains the project's eligibility for more than $1 billion in federal money.

FTA received the revised transit plans from the counties and determined the project to be justified under federal review criteria. As stakeholders for the project explain, advancing into the engineering phase of the federal Capital Investment Grant Program is a significant milestone for the project.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) late last week launched a new workforce development program aimed at creating career opportunities in the transportation industry.

Known as Workforce Initiative Now-LA (WIN-LA), the program is designed to foster collaboration between Metro and institutions and organizations interested in helping job seekers, companies and local communities.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its FY2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which prioritizes funding for many transportation projects on July 27.

The bill provides more than $19.47 billion in discretionary appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation for FY2018, which is $978 million above the FY2017 enacted level. The legislation also preserves funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program; which received $550 million in the bill ($50 million above the FY2017 enacted level). The bill also provides $92.5 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grants program, of which $35.5 million is for initiation or restoration of passenger rail, $26 million for Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grants and $5 million for Restoration and Enhancement grants.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its FY2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which prioritizes funding for many transportation projects on July 27.

The bill provides more than $19.47 billion in discretionary appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation for FY2018, which is $978 million above the FY2017 enacted level. The legislation also preserves funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program; which received $550 million in the bill ($50 million above the FY2017 enacted level). The bill also provides $92.5 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grants program, of which $35.5 million is for initiation or restoration of passenger rail, $26 million for Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grants and $5 million for Restoration and Enhancement grants.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its FY2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which prioritizes funding for many transportation projects on July 27.

The bill provides more than $19.47 billion in discretionary appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation for FY2018, which is $978 million above the FY2017 enacted level. The legislation also preserves funding for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program; which received $550 million in the bill ($50 million above the FY2017 enacted level). The bill also provides $92.5 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grants program, of which $35.5 million is for initiation or restoration of passenger rail, $26 million for Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grants and $5 million for Restoration and Enhancement grants.

GO rail network stations across Ontario's Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) will receive station improvements. The rail network says that the improvements will ease congestion and provide faster, more frequent and more convenient service for commuters.

The province is moving forward with early improvements at several GTHA GO rail stations that will include secure bike parking and electric vehicle charging stations. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to design, build and finance the Early Stations' Improvement project. Additionally, the scope of work will include service information digital signage, electrical room upgrades and other station improvements. Teams that qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals anticipated for winter 2017.

GO rail network stations across Ontario's Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) will receive station improvements. The rail network says that the improvements will ease congestion and provide faster, more frequent and more convenient service for commuters.

The province is moving forward with early improvements at several GTHA GO rail stations that will include secure bike parking and electric vehicle charging stations. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to design, build and finance the Early Stations' Improvement project. Additionally, the scope of work will include service information digital signage, electrical room upgrades and other station improvements. Teams that qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals anticipated for winter 2017.

GO rail network stations across Ontario's Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) will receive station improvements. The rail network says that the improvements will ease congestion and provide faster, more frequent and more convenient service for commuters.

The province is moving forward with early improvements at several GTHA GO rail stations that will include secure bike parking and electric vehicle charging stations. Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for interested parties to design, build and finance the Early Stations' Improvement project. Additionally, the scope of work will include service information digital signage, electrical room upgrades and other station improvements. Teams that qualify will be invited to respond to a request for proposals anticipated for winter 2017.

Early voting reports from local unions indicate that West Coast longshore workers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington will approve a new bargaining agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), union officials announced late last week.

Tallies of the vote totals so far indicated that the contract extension will pass by 67 percent. The union's coast balloting committee will announced the official results on Aug. 4, according to a press release from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee late last week unanimously approved the $60 billion fiscal-year 2018 funding bill for transportation, housing and urban development, and related agencies.

The proposal would continue providing federal funding for Amtrak's long-distance routes, as well as for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. In particular, the bill slots $1.6 for the national intercity passenger railroad, with $358.4 million dedicated for the Northeast Corridor and the remaining $1.24 billion for Amtrak's nationwide network.

Travis Kelly, 35

Job description: Kelly supports Texas Central’s local and state government relations, media relations, and digital and stakeholder outreach. The company is building a privately financed 240-mile high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in international studies, Baylor University

Bombardier posted second-quarter revenue of $4.1 billion, down from $4.3 billion during the same period in 2016. The company's adjusted net income was $39 million versus an adjusted net loss of $83 million during the same period last year. The firm reported adjusted earnings per share of 2 cents versus a 6 cent adjusted loss per share in 2016. Bombardier Transportation — the company's rail segment — logged revenue of $1.98 billion compared with $1.96 billion. The news comes as the rail segment's "operational transformation and site specialization strategy" continues to gain traction, said Bombardier officials. The entire company is in the midst of executing a five-year plan to improve operating margins.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver has placed its second major contract for Protran Technology's Advance Warning and Collision Avoidance Systems. Protran's product portfolio includes the Protracker Train Device, which is mounted in the cab of a train or tied into the train's monitor. The train operator will receive audible and visual alerts of nearby personnel wearing the Protracker Personal Alert Device.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) on Tuesday unveiled a new website.

The site provides information on Canada's Class I, short line, intercity, commuter and tourist rail operators, as well as RAC's various services and initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released $14 million in funds from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program for the second phase of a rail improvement project in Springfield, Illinois.

The funds are from a TIGER grant to the city to construct new underpasses at Ash and Laurel streets as part of a project to improve rail and traffic safety, according to a press release issued by U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.).