Railroad News

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has fully restored Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) ability to receive automatic access to federal grant reimbursement, the agency announced yesterday.

The FTA's action comes after WMATA submitted 65 correction action plans to address recommendations in a 2014 financial management oversight report. The completion of those action plans marks the final step in fully restoring WMATA's ability to receive federal funds.

Union Pacific Railroad today reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue despite the Class I's business disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey.

UP announced third-quarter net income increased to $1.2 billion, or $1.50 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago.

Union Pacific Railroad today reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and revenue despite the Class I's business disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey.

UP announced third-quarter net income increased to $1.2 billion, or $1.50 per diluted share, compared with net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.36 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completed the $9.7-million replacement of the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury, N.Y., ahead of schedule, allowing traffic to return to normal on Oct. 23.

The original bridge's clearance was 11 feet 10 inches. LIRR says trucks traveling underneath the bridge would strike it between five and nine times per year for the past six years. Train delays in both directions would loom as LIRR crews worked to determine its safety and structural stability before restoring train service. The new bridge allows truck of up to 14 feet to pass underneath.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completed the $9.7-million replacement of the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury, N.Y., ahead of schedule, allowing traffic to return to normal on Oct. 23.

The original bridge's clearance was 11 feet 10 inches. LIRR says trucks traveling underneath the bridge would strike it between five and nine times per year for the past six years. Train delays in both directions would loom as LIRR crews worked to determine its safety and structural stability before restoring train service. The new bridge allows truck of up to 14 feet to pass underneath.

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completed the $9.7-million replacement of the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury, N.Y., ahead of schedule, allowing traffic to return to normal on Oct. 23.

The original bridge's clearance was 11 feet 10 inches. LIRR says trucks traveling underneath the bridge would strike it between five and nine times per year for the past six years. Train delays in both directions would loom as LIRR crews worked to determine its safety and structural stability before restoring train service. The new bridge allows truck of up to 14 feet to pass underneath.

A five-year, $663-million program to build seven bridges and underpasses to separate vehicle, pedestrian and freight rail traffic in Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia, Calif., is now complete.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and city officials marked the completion of the final two underpasses in the O.C. Bridges program. OCTA says that each overpass and underpass constructed improves travel times, cuts air pollution by eliminating the need for cars to idle at railroad gates and enhances safety in the community.

A five-year, $663-million program to build seven bridges and underpasses to separate vehicle, pedestrian and freight rail traffic in Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia, Calif., is now complete.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and city officials marked the completion of the final two underpasses in the O.C. Bridges program. OCTA says that each overpass and underpass constructed improves travel times, cuts air pollution by eliminating the need for cars to idle at railroad gates and enhances safety in the community.

A five-year, $663-million program to build seven bridges and underpasses to separate vehicle, pedestrian and freight rail traffic in Anaheim, Fullerton and Placentia, Calif., is now complete.

Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and city officials marked the completion of the final two underpasses in the O.C. Bridges program. OCTA says that each overpass and underpass constructed improves travel times, cuts air pollution by eliminating the need for cars to idle at railroad gates and enhances safety in the community.

A pilot program to advance the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will partner the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and local jurisdictions in developing rules that will allow broader testing.

USDOT says results from the initiative, known as the UAS Integration Pilot Program, will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in the economy.

A pilot program to advance the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will partner the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and local jurisdictions in developing rules that will allow broader testing.

USDOT says results from the initiative, known as the UAS Integration Pilot Program, will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in the economy.

A pilot program to advance the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will partner the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and local jurisdictions in developing rules that will allow broader testing.

USDOT says results from the initiative, known as the UAS Integration Pilot Program, will be used to accelerate the safe integration of UAS into the national airspace and to realize the benefits of unmanned technology in the economy.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation has finalized an environmental analysis of a proposal to replace or relocate irrigation pipelines in the Central Valley to accommodate guideways for the Merced to Fresno section of California's high-speed rail project.

The bureau's Environmental Assessment concluded that moving the irrigation laterals and other associated actions for the rail project will not have significant impacts to resources or people. The actual work of moving laterals would be completed during the non-irrigation season so water users would not be affected.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

North Railroad Railroad Co. & Affiliates has promoted Jebediah Stotter to president and chief executive officer, succeeding chairman Gary Shields, who has retired.

North Shore, based in North Umberland, Pa., is the Railway Age 2017 Short Line of the Year. The company is the parent of five other Pennsylvania-based shortlines.

The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCI's Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSF's Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience "greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems," TTCI said.

The League of Railway Industry Women (LRIW) has named Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI) Executive Director Business Services Kari L. Gonzales to its board of directors.

Ms. Gonzales has neen with TTCI for 15 years, starting as a student intern and joining the company full-time in 2002 after completing her bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. In 2012, she was selected as an inaugural candidate for TTCI's Railroad Exchange program, and she spent a year on location at BNSF's Dallas/Fort Worth facility as part of the Condition Based Maintenance team. The experience "greatly enhanced her understanding of the railroad business and operations and extended her expertise in wayside inspection systems," TTCI said.