NJDOT

From Left to Right: Fran K. O'Connor, incoming NJDOT Commissioner; Kenneth Mobley, Group Director, HNTB; and Jim Bowers, winner of the ASLRRA 2024 Schlosser Distinguished Award.
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People News: NJDOT, HNTB, ASLRRA

Francis (Fran) K. O’Connor has been nominated to serve as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). Also, Kenneth Mobley joins HNTB as Group Director; and the American Short Line and Railroad Association (ASLRRA) selects James A. “Jim” Bowers as its 2024 Schlosser Distinguished Award winner.

On Sept. 6, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) reported via social media platform X: “I was joined by @GovMurphy to announce that @USDOTFHWA and @FTA_DOT has granted New Jersey the flexibility to use $425 million in federal funding to upgrade transit infrastructure, including an additional $7.9 million for improvements to the Long Branch Train Station.”

Transit Briefs: NJ Transit, Amtrak OIG

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approves $425 million in additional federal fiscal year funding for New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit projects. Also, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) reports that America’s Railroad “is positioning itself to comply with Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA] operations, policy and funding requirements.”

NJ Transit Authorizes Contract with Foley-Caterpillar for ALP-45 Maintenance Work

NJ Transit’s Board of Directors on Dec. 14 approved a contract with Piscataway, N.J.-based Foley-Caterpillar to perform key state-of-good-repair maintenance on the engines of its ALP-45 fleet, which will allow the dual-powered locomotives to “maintain their current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier III emissions standards and continue the environmental benefits they provide compared to the older locomotives they replaced.”

The Brightline West Cucamonga Station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will be home to the first high-speed passenger rail service in the Inland Empire connecting Rancho Cucamonga, the High Desert and Las Vegas. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Transit Briefs: SBCTA, Metrolink, SEPTA, NJ Transit

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) approves sale of Cucamonga Station property to Brightline West. Also, SBCTA and Metrolink announce ribbon cutting ceremony of Redlands Passenger Rail Project; Metrolink receives first American Public Transportation Association (APTA) certification for sustainability program; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) expands institutional pass program; NJ Transit wins International Data Corporation (IDC) Best in Future of Digital Innovation Award; and NJ Transit breaks ground on Hoboken Connect project.

BART Add Fare Machines inside stations, which also serve as parking payment machines, now accept credit and debit cards.

Transit Briefs: BART, Amtrak, SEPTA, HART, MTC, NJ Transit

Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Add Fare machines undergo major upgrades to improve customer experience. Also, Amtrak trains could be coming into the Miami Intermodal Center; the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) breaks ground on new accessibility project at Tasker-Morris Station; the Honolulu Authority for Rail Transportation (HART) and Hitachi Rail run small-scale exercise drills in partnership with the city’s first responders; the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) adopts a new Transit-Oriented Communities Policy to promote commercial development near transit stations; and NJ Transit rolls out two initiatives as part of its ongoing Safety Education Program.