Federal Transit Administration

Starting Nov. 19, the Central Subway will open with dedicated shuttle service on weekends. (SFMTA via Twitter)

Service on SFMTA’s New T Third Line Extension to Begin November

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) on Sept. 20 announced that, beginning Nov. 19, a soft launch of the Central Subway Project, an extension of the T Third Line, will open with dedicated shuttle service on weekends between 4th and Brannan Station to Chinatown/Rose Park Station, stopping along the way at Yerba Buena and Union Square where passengers can make transfers to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) service and the Market Street subway.

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.

CSX tweeted on Sept. 8: “Congrats to Carl Walker on being featured on the cover of African-American Career World Magazine’s summer/fall edition! Carl is a 23-year CSX employee and a former U.S. Navy officer. Learn about Carl’s inspirational story in the magazine’s special report, ‘Heroes of Import.’” (Image Courtesy of CSX via Twitter)
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People News: CSX, PMA Consultants

African-American Career World Magazine (AACWM) features CSX’s Carl Walker in the summer/fall issue. Also, PMA Consultants appoints Kam Shadan as Executive Director of its new National Transit & Rail Practice.

New Special Directives issued by the FTA call for the MBTA to “address personnel, deficiencies and inadequate operating conditions, policies, procedures and training that compromised a culture of safety at the agency.”

FTA to MBTA: Additional Safety Changes Needed (UPDATED)

Following a Safety Management Inspection of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) rail transit system, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a report of findings on Aug. 31 and informed both the MBTA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the state agency charged with Authority oversight, that safety changes, in addition to those announced in June, are needed.

Anna May (second from right), a staff member from the office of Congressman Michael Guest (R-Miss.), and Missy Younger (third from right), a staff member from the office of Congressman Trent Kelly (RMiss.), joined Watco Assistant Vice President-Government Relations Ailsa von Dobeneck (second from left) for a tour of ASLRRA member and Watco company Mississippi Southern Railroad and a discussion of short line freight rail industry priorities.

Small-Road Briefs: Mississippi Southern Railroad, FRA

Mississippi congressional staffers tour Watco-owned Mississippi Southern Railroad (MSR). Also, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) could be opening the 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program soon and is continuing its Office Hours webinars to discuss Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program.

(Screenshot of Video, Courtesy of OLI)

OLI Issues New Transit Safety Education Resources

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), has released new education materials covering commuter rail, light rail, rapid transit and streetcar safety for riders and the general public.

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