BLET Ratifies Agreement with Amtrak
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members on Dec. 6 ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Amtrak.
Amtrak
VPRA Selects Construction Partners for Long Bridge-North, Franconia-Springfield Bypass Projects
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) on Dec. 6 reported selecting Skanska/Flatiron Joint Venture for the Long Bridge-North Package and Flatiron/Herzog Joint Venture for the Franconia-Springfield Bypass. “Selecting construction partners for the Long Bridge-North
MDOT Tightening Budget Belt
The state of Maryland’s six-year transportation spending plan includes some $3.3 billion in proposed cuts across modal administrations to address “declining revenue projections,” it reported Dec. 5.
DeBruhl to Retire as DRPT Executive Director
Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Executive Director Jennifer DeBruhl will retire at the end of June, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch report.
Watch: Amtrak Releases FY23 Preliminary Results
Amtrak on Nov. 30 reported continued “strong growth” in Fiscal Year 2023 with nationwide ridership up 24.6%, as it resumed service on all routes and advanced infrastructure projects that it said will support plans to double ridership by 2040.
Transit Briefs: Amtrak, HART, Kansas City Streetcar, MARTA
Will Amtrak stop at Warwick, R.I.? Also, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Board approves a new financing agreement for Skyline; the price tag for Kansas City Streetcar’s riverfront extension has gone up 75%; and Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) breaks ground on a new transit-oriented development project in DeKalb County, Ga.
State of Intercity Passenger Rail Discussed at Rail Subcommittee Hearing
Four witnesses on Nov. 29 discussed the state of intercity passenger rail at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Supply Side: ENSCO, RailPros, Wi-Tronix
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes railway track inspection and measurement technology provider ENSCO for excellence in recruiting, employing and retaining America’s veterans. Also, engineering and diversified safety services company RailPros opens a Chicago office; and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) staffers visit Amtrak’s Ivy City Maintenance Facility in Washington, D.C., to learn about Wi-Tronix’s onboard locomotive system implementation.
Transit Briefs: Claymont Transportation Center, NYMTA, DART
The $90 million Claymont Transportation Center will soon open to rail commuters. Also, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announces that significant station upgrades have been completed at the Flushing-Main Street 7 subway station; and Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) festive trains return to bring holiday cheer.
Commentary
Watch: Brightline on CBS Mornings
CBS Mornings correspondent Kris Van Cleave produced an excellent report on the prospects for high-speed rail in the United States, focusing on Brightline’s successful Miami-Orlando service, which offers 125-mph operations on a