IANA Announces Academic Challenge Co-Honorees
The Intermodal Association of North America’s (IANA) 2021 Academic Challenge resulted in a tie; undergraduate teams from the University of Maryland and the University of North Texas shared the win.
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Transit Briefs: UTA, TransLink, SEPTA, CTDOT
Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) FrontRunner commuter rail service may expand from Provo to Payson. In addition, metro Vancouver’s TransLink has released the first full draft of Transport 2050, the region’s 30-year transportation strategy; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has selected Huitt-Zollars, Inc. for an 18-month study to create a regional rail network plan; and Connecticut will evaluate Aira, a service providing public transit assistance to individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Industrial Development Briefs
Intermodal service provider Tiger Cool Express will develop a logistics center at the former Union Pacific Cold Connect warehouse in Wallula, Wash. In addition, CSX has designated a third Tennessee property as a CSX Select Site; Bartlett, a Savage Company, will build a $325 million soybean crushing facility in Kansas, to be served by Watco; and the U.S. Economic Development Administration is awarding CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants for the construction of a new industrial rail spur in Arkansas and improvements to the Lubbock Rail Port in Texas.
For Shift5, $20MM in Series A Funding
OT (Operational Technology) cybersecurity company Shift5 has raised $20 million in Series A funding that will be used “to provide enhanced cybersecurity and operational intelligence for commercial transportation fleet operators and military platforms—aircraft, railways, military vehicles.” 645
Stringer: ‘Round the Clock is the New Rush Hour’
New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott M. Stringer has released a report, “Beyond Rush Hour: COVID-19 and The Future of Public Transit,” calling for adjustments to subway and bus schedules and a major change in how New York State’s gas tax is allocated, among other measures. The report contains ridership variations found by borough, time of day and transit mode “underscoring the need to better align public transit with today’s economy.”
CSX Earns Award for Emissions Reduction Program
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry have recognized CSX with a 2021 Climate Leadership Award.
TSB: CN, CP Not to Blame for Lytton Fire
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) reports that its investigation following the June 30, 2021 fire that destroyed the town of Lytton, B.C “has not revealed any evidence to link railway operations to the fire. Unless new information establishes that a TSB reportable event occurred, no further work will be performed and no TSB investigation report will be produced.” The wildfire remains under investigation by BCWS (British Columbia Wildfire Service) and the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).
Metra Unveils 2022 Operating, Capital Budgets
Chicago’s Metra has proposed a $900 million operating budget and $263 million capital budget for 2022; there is no fare increase.
Watch: First New Brightline Trainset Arrives in Florida
The first of five Brightline trainsets from Siemens Mobility arrived at the private-sector passenger rail operator’s Running Repair Facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Oct. 14.
Texas Investors Form HSR Station Development Company (UPDATED)
Now that approvals and permitting have been secured from the Federal Railroad Administration and State of Texas, “terminal development is the next step,” high-speed rail hopeful Texas Central said on Oct. 13, when its announced formation of the Texas High-Speed Rail Station Development Corporation (SDC). Meanwhile, two Texas Republican congressmen have sent a letter to the USDOT accusing Texas Central of attempting to engage in questionable business practices.