Federal Highway Administration

FTA Seeks Public Comment on Grant Consolidation

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on July 12 announced that it is seeking public guidance on a new consolidated circular entitled, “Grant Programs for Urbanized Areas: Program Guidance and Application Instructions.” Comments are due Sept. 11, 2023.

Operation Lifesaver Inc. Executive Director Rachel Maleh.

OLI: $214,075 for Crossing Safety Public Awareness Campaigns

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, on April 25 announced $214,075 in competitive crossing safety awareness grants to OLI programs in 12 states. The FHWA provided $200,000 of the total funding.

PROTECT-funded projects will help “ensure our infrastructure is built to withstand more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather is critical for communities counting on a road or bridge to be open for first responders, and it is critical for a business that must get its essential goods to shelves,” FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

USDOT: Applications Open for $848MM PROTECT Grant Program

Up to $848 million in funding is now available to help make intercity passenger rail, public transportation, ports, pedestrian facilities and highways more resilient to climate change impacts, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) reported April 21.

Receiving grants are: Metrolink operator Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA; $12.5 million); Tri-Rail operator Southern Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA; $12.9 million); New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad ($4.4 million); NYSDOT and MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) ($14.9 million); and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA; $15 million).

USDOT Awards $59MM for Commuter Rail Grade Crossing Improvements

Five commuter rail agencies will receive a total of $59 million in grants for highway-rail grade crossing improvements in California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The awards are part of round two of the Commuter Authority Rail Safety Improvement (CARSI) Grants Program.

Jennifer DeBruhl, Virginia DRPT Director
  • News

People News: DRPT, RTD, COMTO, WAGO

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) appoints Jennifer DeBruhl Director. Also, the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC) names Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board Director Angie Rivera-Malpiede among the

Portal North—part of the massive Gateway Program, which will eventually double rail capacity between Newark, N.J., and New York—will replace the 110-year-old Portal Bridge, a mechanical-trouble-plagued swing bridge built by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1910 as part of its New York Improvements project.
  • M/W

Portal North Builder Gets Official ‘Go’ From NJT

New Jersey Transit has issued a “Notice to Proceed” to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture (STJV) for construction of Portal North Bridge, which is slated to take approximately five and a half years to complete.

New Jersey Transit is ordering 25 Multilevel III commuter cars from Alstom.

NJT Ordering 25 Multilevels, Names New Rail Ops Leader

New Jersey Transit will exercise an option with Alstom for 25 additional Multilevel III commuter railcars, following Board approval on Feb. 9. Also, James Sincaglia has assumed the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of Rail Operations at the agency, after serving in an acting capacity.

Karen Hedlund at a June 24 preliminary Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on her nomination to the STB, along with three other Biden nominees to other government posts.

Hedlund Joins STB

Democrat Karen J. Hedlund on Jan. 3 was sworn in as the newest member of the Surface Transportation Board (STB), succeeding Republican Ann D. Begeman.