People News: UITP, CATS
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) elects OC Transpo’s Renée Amilcar as President for 2023-2025. Also, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) fires General Manager of Rail Operations Deltrin Harris.
North Carolina Department of Transportation
NCDOT Awards $2.1MM in FRRCSI Grants
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded five Class II railroads in the state $2.1 million in matching grant funds through the Freight Rail & Rail Crossing Safety Improvement (FRRCSI) Program
Transit Briefs: MBTA, NCDOT, NYMTA
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Commuter Rail operating partner Keolis launch the “Why Go Green with Purple Sweepstakes?” Also, North Carolina’s intercity passenger rail service breaks 2019 ridership record; and New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) temporarily loses the ability to post real-time subway, commuter rail and bus service alerts via Twitter, and may soon have to pay for that feature.
Transit Briefs: KC Streetcar, LACMTA, Metra, NCDOT, WMATA
Responding to increased ridership, KC Streetcar in Missouri extends weeknight service hours. Also, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) holds community open houses for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project; North Carolina’s intercity passenger rail service breaks annual ridership record; Chicago’s Metra highlights record-breaking year for competitive federal grant funding; and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) offers college students a new mobile fare collection option, U-Pass SmarTrip®.
Transit Briefs: LACMTA, NCDOT/Amtrak, OLI, VTA
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board approves a new fare policy. Also, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) completes the first phase of construction for a new Amtrak station in Charlotte; Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) awards more than $140,000 in grants to eight transit agencies in six states; and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) receives authority to pursue federal funding for up to 50% of the cost of Phase II of the BART Silicon Valley Extension Project.
Class I Briefs: CN, CSX
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), CSX and Union County, N.C., have launched a rail safety improvement project in Waxhaw. Also, CN hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Conneaut Creek Dredge Reclamation Facility in Ohio.
People News: AECOM, Keolis, KDOT
AECOM hires Major General James Trogdon as North Carolina Transportation Lead. Also, Keolis North America (Keolis) welcomes Stephan Oehler as Chief Financial Officer; and Cory Davis is named Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Multimodal Transportation and Innovation Director.
Transit Briefs: TransLink, CTA, MBTA, NJ Transit, City of Lexington
TransLink announces partnership with PCI Developments to study the benefits of providing subsidized transit at new King George Hub development. Also, the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Bryn Mawr Red Line Station wins People’s Choice Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announces that closure of the Green Line D Branch will begin Sept. 24 for infrastructure upgrades; NJ Transit unveils art project at New Brunswick Station; and the City of Lexington in North Carolina prepares to kick off the construction phase of its passenger service project.
Class I Briefs: CP, CSX
Canadian Pacific (CP) has donated $124,000 to support heart health in Alberta through its Clear Rounds for Heart initiative. Also, CSX and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) have earned an engineering excellence award from the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA).
New Short Line in North Carolina
Jaguar Transport Holdings on Aug. 1 began operating the Kinston Railroad (KNR), its ninth short line.