ASLRRA President Chuck Baker

ASLRRA Honors Safety Professional, Safety Person of the Year; Names 2024 Environmental Award Winner

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has named Mission Mountain Railroad (MMR) Railcar Repairman Sam Pederson as its Safety Person of the Year and Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) Training Program Manager Albert Manning as its Safety Professional of the Year. Also, Sierra Northern Railway is named ASLRRA’s 2024 Environmental Award winner. All three awards were presented on March 25 at ASLRRA’s Annual Conference, held this year in Kansas City, Mo.

“Once this rule is finalized, it will support safer conditions for workers who perform critical tasks that keep transit operating efficiently and safely," said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool.

FTA Proposes Mandatory Minimum Standards to Protect Rail Transit Workers

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on March 22 announced that, for the first time, it is proposing mandatory minimum standards to protect those who perform track work for rail transit agencies nationwide.

Pictured: Operation Lifesaver Kentucky’s new specialty license plate, which was designed in collaboration with R.J. Corman Railroad Company. (Photograph Courtesy of R.J. Corman Railroad Company)

Attention Kentucky Drivers: Support Rail Safety With OLI License Plate

Kentucky drivers have another way to show their commitment to railroad safety: through the purchase of a specialty license plate featuring Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI). This is the first railroad safety-specific license plate in the U.S.

(Photograph Courtesy of Port of Oswego Authority)

Port of Oswego Lands $4.693MM for Rail Upgrades

New York’s Port of Oswego has received two grants totaling $4.693 million to boost rail capacity, improve rail safety, and support the state’s green energy and electric policies. The funding is part

UP has implemented new policies and enhanced training for craft professionals across its 23-state network. (Caption and Photograph Courtesy of UP)
Commentary

UP Invests in Safety, Launches New Training

Union Pacific (UP) continues making progress toward its goal to be the best in safety, investing in people, enhancing infrastructure, transforming culture and harnessing the transformative power of technology.

Department of Energy prototype Fortis eight-axle cask-carrying railcar design. (TTC Operated by ENSCO)

Fortis Construction Advancing

Fabrication of a new railcar to transport spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste is now under way.

BART on April 20 will hold a retirement ceremony and final dispatch of its legacy trains that have been in service for more than half a century. The event, “Riding into History: Final Run of the First Fleet,” will take place at Oakland’s MacArthur Station.

Transit Briefs: BART, Denver RTD, Metra, Sound Transit

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) will fully retire its legacy trains next month and is advancing a systemwide fare gates project. Also, Denver (Colo.) Regional Transportation District (RTD) launches an elevator pilot program and joins the White House’s “Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose” initiative; Chicago’s Metra plans a new layover yard near the McHenry County community; and Seattle’s Sound Transit will test new Link LRV (light rail vehicle) seat material.

MDOT on March 15 awarded CSX a $5 million grant for intermodal terminal improvements in Detroit. (Photograph Courtesy of MDOT via X, formerly known as Twitter)

CSX Lands $5MM for Detroit Intermodal Terminal Improvements

CSX will use a $5 million grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to support equipment upgrades, track work, and paving the dirt and gravel yard at its Detroit Livernois Intermodal Facility in southwest Detroit.

Norfolk Southern representatives at Georgia Southern University’s 2024 Parker College of Business Gala.

Class I Briefs: UP, NS

Union Pacific (UP) announces new intermodal service, honors employees for outstanding public safety commitment, and is named Railroad Carrier of the Year by MODE Global. Also, Norfolk Southern (NS) is honored with the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award by Georgia Southern University (GSU) and recognizes Billy Garris for 51 years of safe service.

Biden’s FY25 Budget Request: Increased Funding for Public Transit, Passenger Rail

President Joe Biden on March 11 released his Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget request, outlining his Administration’s priorities for the next year. It proposes increased funding for public transit and passenger rail,

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