Premium Pictured: Hanford Viaduct in Kings County (CHSRA Photograph)

CHSRA Releases Draft 2024 Business Plan

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on Feb. 9 issued its draft 2024 Business Plan for public review and comment. It covers major program progress in Northern California, the Central Valley and

The USDOT has awarded a $226.2 million INFRA grant and a $73.8 Mega grant to the Port of New Orleans to construct a new 1,200-acre container terminal on the Gulf Coast. (Port of New Orleans Image)

USDOT Awards $4.9B for Mega, INFRA Projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is distributing $4.9 billion to 37 nationwide projects through the FY 2023-24 Mega (National Infrastructure Project Assistance) and INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grant programs. Twelve rail-related projects will receive a total of $1.6 billion; the Pier B project at the Port of Long Beach and the Louisiana International Terminal project at the Port of New Orleans are among the winners.

“Connecting Las Vegas and Southern California will provide wide-spread public benefits to both states, creating thousands of jobs and jumpstarting a new level of economic competitiveness for the region,” Brightline Founder and Chairman Wes Edens said. “We appreciate the confidence placed in us by DOT and are ready to get to work.” (Rendering Courtesy of Brightline West)

Brightline West Lands $2.5B in Private Activity Bonds

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Jan. 23 reported approving a $2.5 billion private-activity bonds allocation to the Brightline West High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail project linking Las Vegas and Southern California.

DOE Releases RFI to Achieve Rail Sector Decarbonization (UPDATED, 1/17)

Recognizing that the rail sector generates 2% of U.S. transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Department of Energy (DOE) on Nov. 17 released a Request for Information (RFI) to understand applicable decarbonization strategies.

APTA to Congress: Fully Fund FY24 Public Transportation Investments

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is urging the House and Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Committee leaders “to resolve their differences and provide the critical investments needed to improve our nation’s public transit, passenger rail, and multimodal infrastructure.”

Norfolk Southern in 2023 moved its first carloads at partner Idaho Forest Group’s new sawmill in Lamar County, Miss. (NS Photograph)

For NS, $3.1B in 2023 Economic Development

Norfolk Southern (NS) teamed with 62 customers on industrial development projects totaling $3.1 billion in 2023, reflecting expansion or construction of new facilities along the 22-state rail network, the Class I reported Jan. 9.

“We are living in a time filled with unprecedented opportunity and unprecedented challenges in transportation,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during the Dec. 29 announcement of USDOT’s new Transforming Transportation Advisory Committee. “The deep expertise and diverse perspectives of this impressive group will provide advice to ensure the future of transportation is safe, efficient, sustainable, equitable and transformative.”

USDOT Launches ‘Transportation Innovation’ Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has formed a committee to advise on “plans and approaches for transportation innovation,” which it said comprises 27 members who were selected across sectors, geographies and areas of expertise.

Watch: CHSRA Releases 2023 Retrospective

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) on Dec. 27 celebrated “a year of progress” with a video retrospective of its top 10 milestones.

Port NOLA

Port NOLA Awarded $73.77MM U.S. DOT Grant for Terminal

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) will receive $73.77 million from the federal government to assist in building the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) project, which will provide an efficient gateway for the movement of cargo on

“Rural communities face some of the toughest transportation challenges, yet are often left out of major federal investments, a pattern that we are changing that under President Biden’s leadership,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Dec. 12. “The grants we’re announcing today will make transportation in rural communities better, safer and more reliable.”

USDOT Awards $25.5MM in Rail-Related Rural Grants

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on Dec. 12 reported funding 18 projects—two freight rail-related—as part of its FY 2023-24 Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program (Rural), which is distributing a total of

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