RailComm names Michael Dampier VP
Fairport, N.Y.-based RailComm on Thursday announced that Michael Dampier has joined the company as vice president of Sales and Marketing. Dampier will be based in Jacksonville, Fla.
public transportation
Pittsburgh LRT extension debut looms
Pittsburgh’s Port Authority of Allegheny County (pAT) says the city’s North Shore Connector Project is ready for its debut March 25, as light rail transit will run from downtown under the Allegheny River.
Commentary
Austin LRT plan criticized … by rail advocates
Customarily, in almost any urban area, you’d expect your strongest rail transit advocates to be rallying around an official rail plan as it heads toward a possible ballot initiative. But in Austin, Tex., today, that’s definitely not the case.
WMATA awards contract to Unitrac
Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc. said Wednesday it has received a three-year contract to supply special trackwork to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), valued at approximately $8 million over the three-year period.
APTA: Transit tax benefit disparity looms
Americans who ride public transportation will face increased commuting costs if Congress does not act to extend the transit commuter benefit by the end of the year, according to a statement issued
Austin adds streetcars to rail wish list
Texas’ capital city, awaiting regional rail service delayed by at least one year, is nonetheless evaluating possible streetcar alternatives. Austin’s City Council Thursday approved $1 million to complete a preliminary engineering study for a streetcar operation designed to connect some of the city’s key business districts.
Transit market buoys Wabtec 4Q08 profit
Crediting strength in its transit and transportation markets, Wilmerding, Pa.-based Wabtec Corp. Feb. 25 said it posted fourth-quarter net income of $31.1 million, or 64 cents per share, on sales of $405.2 million. That compares with net income of $28.7 million, or 58 cents per share, on sales of $365.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2007, or a 9% jump in fourth-quarter profit. Per-share results were short of analyst expectations of 65 cents per share on revenue of $391 million.
Hill International to manage LACMTA Gold Line work
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has chosen Hill International to manage the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, an LACMTA affiliate overseeing the design and construction of the $458 million, 11.4-mile extension of Gold Line light rail service from Pasadena to Azusa, Calif.
NJ Transit sets sights on more EMUs
After investing heavily in Bombardier multilevel cars to augment its fleet, New Jersey Transit now says it’s ready to acquire electric multiple-unit (EMU) equipment to supplement its existing fleet of Arrow III