Railroad News

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has completed a study into grade separation options at the state's worst ranked grade crossing and has recommended an overpass option.

Following 10 months of study, MnDOT released a feasibility study outlining recommendations for a new Highway 47 (Ferry Street) BNSF Railroad crossing in the city of Anoka.

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) celebrated the Second Avenue Subway line’s inaugural ride on New Year's Eve.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) and the Federal Transit Administration have released a draft state and federal document addressing the final six miles of the SCVTA BART Silicon Valley extension's second phase.

SCVTA says the release of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) is a major milestone in the project development process for the extension of BART services into downtown San Jose and the city of Santa Clara.

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) and the Federal Transit Administration have released a draft state and federal document addressing the final six miles of the SCVTA BART Silicon Valley extension's second phase.

SCVTA says the release of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Subsequent Environmental Impact Report (SEIS/SEIR) is a major milestone in the project development process for the extension of BART services into downtown San Jose and the city of Santa Clara.

Officials broke ground on a new rail park hailed as a potentially transformational project for central New Mexico.

Los Lunas Councilor Gino M. Romero, Bernalillo County Commission Chair Art De La Cruz and other community leaders took place in the ceremony Dec. 28 at the Central New Mexico Rail Park, which could transform New Mexico's transportation and logistics industry while creating thousands of jobs.

Officials broke ground on a new rail park hailed as a potentially transformational project for central New Mexico.

Los Lunas Councilor Gino M. Romero, Bernalillo County Commission Chair Art De La Cruz and other community leaders took place in the ceremony Dec. 28 at the Central New Mexico Rail Park, which could transform New Mexico's transportation and logistics industry while creating thousands of jobs.

Illinois will have the strictest penalties in the national beginning Jan. 1, 2017 for vehicular offenses associated with attempting to cross railroad tracks after grade-crossing systems have activated.

Metra will double the fines for drivers who disregard activated railroad gates and warning lights from $250 to $500 for a first offense and from $500 to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The fine increase is part of an amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code that becomes law on Jan. 1 and was signed by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner in July 2016.

Illinois will have the strictest penalties in the national beginning Jan. 1, 2017 for vehicular offenses associated with attempting to cross railroad tracks after grade-crossing systems have activated.

Metra will double the fines for drivers who disregard activated railroad gates and warning lights from $250 to $500 for a first offense and from $500 to $1,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The fine increase is part of an amendment to the Illinois Vehicle Code that becomes law on Jan. 1 and was signed by Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner in July 2016.

Jim Umpleby will take the helm of Caterpillar Inc. Jan. 1, 2017 and three newly appointed executives will support him.

Jim Umpleby will take the helm of Caterpillar Inc. Jan. 1, 2017 and three newly appointed executives will support him.

TriMet has hired Patrick Preusser as executive director of transportation where he will lead the transit agency's Transportation Division.

He will be responsible for the operational activities for bus, MAX light rail, WES commuter rail and LIFT paratransit service. The division includes about 1,750 employees who deliver more than 101 million rides a year.

TriMet has hired Patrick Preusser as executive director of transportation where he will lead the transit agency's Transportation Division.

He will be responsible for the operational activities for bus, MAX light rail, WES commuter rail and LIFT paratransit service. The division includes about 1,750 employees who deliver more than 101 million rides a year.

Recipients of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC)/RT&S Contractor Safety Awards were announced in a Dec. 27 email, with more than half of contestants earning perfect scores.

Recipients of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC)/RT&S Contractor Safety Awards were announced in a Dec. 27 email, with more than half of contestants earning perfect scores.

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) has appointed Gordon Trafton to its board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2017.  

Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) has appointed Gordon Trafton to its board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2017.  

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) marked a construction milestone on Dec. 23 with the final guideway segment put in place.

The segment was installed near Aloha Stadium and completes the nearly 11 miles of elevated rail guideway crews built between Kapolei through Waipahu, Pearl City and Aiea and into Halawa.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) marked a construction milestone on Dec. 23 with the final guideway segment put in place.

The segment was installed near Aloha Stadium and completes the nearly 11 miles of elevated rail guideway crews built between Kapolei through Waipahu, Pearl City and Aiea and into Halawa.

The Virginia Avenue Tunnel in Washington, D.C., hosted its first train on Dec. 23., marking the on-time completion of the first phase of the project.

The two-phase tunnel project is the final of 61 clearance projects included in the $850-million National Gateway Initiative, which will clear the way for double-stacked intermodal freight to be transported between Mid-Atlantic seaports and the Midwest on CSX's network.