Safety

(MBTA Photograph)

MBTA Issues Proposed $9.6B CIP, Extends Keolis Contract

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) on April 25 released its proposed $9.6 billion FY 2025-29 Capital Investment Plan (CIP) and agreed to extend Keolis’ operations contract for its Commuter Rail network, which runs from Boston to Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

HART on April 24 announced the arrival of its final trainset from Hitachi Rail at Honolulu Harbor. (HART Photograph)

HART Takes Delivery of Final Trainset, $125MM in Federal Funding

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) on April 24 received $125 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under an amended Full Funding Grant Agreement, plus its final four-car trainset from Hitachi Rail for Skyline, the first urban rail transit GoA4 (Grade of Automation) system in operation in the United States.

“BNSF is committed to improving safety on our railroad and is proud to have reached an agreement to voluntarily participate with ATDA in C3RS,” BNSF President and CEO Katie Farmer said April 25. (BNSF Photograph)

BNSF: Second Class I to Participate in FRA C3RS

BNSF and the American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA) will partner with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to join a one-year pilot program of the FRA-sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). Their decision to

Donald M. Payne Jr. (Photo from the Congressional Office of Donald M. Payne Jr.)
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Donald M. Payne Jr., 1958-2024

U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. of New Jersey, who served as Senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Rail Subcommittee, died April 24. He was 65.

Beginning May 5, RTD-PD will move to a 24/7 staffing model. (Denver RTD photo)

Transit Briefs: Metra, Denver RTD, Amtrak OIG

Metra schedules 47 safety blitzes in 2024. Also, Denver Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) Transit Police will implement 24/7 patrols beginning May 5; and the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) identifies opportunities for Amtrak to better use its customer service data to improve the customer experience.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin Corbett (on behalf of the Northeast Corridor Commission) testifies before the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. on April 17. (Screenshot Courtesy of the T&I House Committee)

Subcommittee Digs Into Commuter Rail Industry

The House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, Rail Subcommittee held a hearing on April 17, “Getting to Work: Examining Challenges and Solutions in the Commuter Rail Industry,” hearing testimony from Northern Indiana

Patrick Warren, Rail Safety Director, NTSB (left); and Mike Budinski, Deputy Director of Research and Engineering, NTSB (right).
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People News: NTSB, STV

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) names Patrick Warren as Rail Safety Director and Mike Budinski as Deputy Director of Research and Engineering. Also, STV elevates Kristen Van Gilst to Chief of Staff; Judy Jones joins the firm as Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales; and Eugene (Gene) Kim joins the firm’s Transportation West group as Senior Vice President and California Area Manager.