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Aug
09

With NAFTA renegotiations looming, railroads hope more freight crisscrosses the southern U.S. border

In May, Ferromex was named a Socially Responsible Enterprise by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy.Photo – Ferromex

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Managing Editor

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Aug
09

Rising Stars: Danielle Ross, Spectrum Inc.

Danielle Ross, 35

Job description: Ross sets Spectrum’s direction and oversees operations. She assesses staffing needs, anticipates and plans for growth, and creates short- and long-term strategies for the marketing and manufacturing of the company's products.

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish literature from Ohio State University

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Aug
08

Cutting red tape: Nonpartisan group floats ideas to fast-track permitting process

The Hudson River rail tunnels were badly damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.Photo – Chuck Gomez/Amtrak

By This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Associate Editor

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Aug
08

Seattle slots funds for housing near new light-rail station

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 8/8/2017 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The city is providing $15 million to build affordable homes near the future Roosevelt light-rail station.Photo – Sound Transit

The Seattle Office of Housing yesterday announced $15 million in funding to build affordable homes near Sound Transit's future Roosevelt light-rail station.

The office has joined Sound Transit in issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for the project. The RFP is for one of several transit-oriented development (TOD) plans that Sound Transit is advancing this year, Sound Transit officials said in a press release.

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Aug
08

West Coast port workers approve contract extension

Rail News Home Intermodal 8/8/2017 Rail News: Intermodal
The agreement will run through July 2022.Photo – ILWU

Longshore workers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington officially ratified a three-year contract extension with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced late last week.

The union's coast balloting committee reviewed voting results from all longshore local unions and confirmed that 67 percent of members have approved the extension, ILWU officials said in a press release.

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Aug
08

STB determines cost of capital for 2016

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/8/2017 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has determined the railroad industry's after-tax cost of capital for 2016 was 8.88 percent. For 2015, the cost of capital was 9.61 percent, according to an STB press release.The cost-of-capital figure represents the board's estimate of the average rate of return to persuade investors to provide capital to the freight-rail industry.The STB uses the annual calculation in evaluating the adequacy of a railroad's revenue each year. The board also uses the figure when determining the reasonableness of a challenged rail rate, considering a proposal to abandon a rail line or valuing a particular railroad operation.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Aug
08

Senate confirms Sumwalt as NTSB chair

The U.S. Senate late last week confirmed Robert Sumwalt's nomination to a two-year term as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Sumwalt, who succeeds Christopher Hart, has served on the board since 2006. Prior to joining the board, he was manager of aviation for the SCANA Corp.

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Aug
08

NYC Mayor de Blasio calls for tax on wealthy to fix subways

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday proposed a new tax on the city's highest earners to fix the region's deteriorating subway and bus system.

The proposal would increase the income tax rate from 3.867 percent to 4.41 percent on taxable incomes above $500,000 for individuals and above $1 million for couples.

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Aug
08

Federal agencies drop proposed rule for sleep apnea

Rail News Home Federal Legislation & Regulation 8/8/2017 Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have withdrawn a proposal that would have addressed rail workers and commercial drivers who may be affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a notice published in today's Federal Register.In March 2016, the agencies announced an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to collect information on the topic of moderate-to-severe OSA among people who occupy certain jobs in rail and highway transportation.The agencies also requested information on potential costs and benefits from regulations that would have addressed the safety risks associated with rail and highway workers in "safety sensitive" positions who have OSA. Three listening sessions were held in May 2016 and a comment period was extended by 30 days. More than 700 comments were received from individuals, medical professionals, labor groups and transportation industry representatives.In their decision published today, the agencies noted that OSA remains an ongoing concern because it can cause unintended sleep episodes that result in loss of attention, concentration, situational awareness and memory that can reduce an individual's capacity to respond to safety hazards.However, the agencies determined that current safety programs and FRA's rulemaking that addresses risk management are the best way to address OSA, according to the decision.In December 2016, the FRA issued a safety advisory calling on passenger and commuter railroads to improve safety by screening train operators for sleep apnea. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced in April 2016 that it would expand its sleep apnea testing program to the MTA Metro-North Railroad conductors, MTA Long Island Rail Road train crew members and other MTA employees.

Contact Progressive Railroading editorial staff.

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Aug
08

Amtrak, MBTA ink new pact for Attleboro Line

[Editor's note: This story was updated after its original posting.]

Amtrak and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) have reached a new agreement for the operation, maintenance and use of the 37.9-mile Attleboro Line between Boston and the Rhode Island state border.

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Aug
08

BNSF posts Q2 revenue, earnings increases on higher volumes

BNSF Railway Co. reported revenue jumped 14.5 percent to $5.3 billion on higher volumes and increased average revenue per car during the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago.

BNSF's pretax net earnings rose 24 percent to $1.5 billion in Q2 2017 compared with the same period in 2016, according to the second-quarter earnings report of BNSF's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

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Aug
08

BNSF posts Q2 revenue, earnings increases on higher volumes

BNSF Railway Co. reported revenue jumped 14.5 percent to $5.3 billion on higher volumes and increased average revenue per car during the second quarter compared with the same period a year ago.

BNSF's pretax net earnings rose 24 percent to $1.5 billion in Q2 2017 compared with the same period in 2016, according to the second-quarter earnings report of BNSF's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

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Aug
08

FRA, FMCSA withdraw potential rule affecting sleep apnea mitigation

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have regulated actions addressing sleep apnea for workers in safety sensitive positions.

 

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Aug
08

FRA, FMCSA withdraw potential rule affecting sleep apnea mitigation

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have withdrawn a proposed rule that would have regulated actions addressing sleep apnea for workers in safety sensitive positions.

The FMCSA posted a notice on its website Aug. 4 and the official notice was published in the Federal Register Aug. 8.

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Aug
08

NYC mayor’s plan to tax wealthy to pay for subway fix

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined a proposed tax plan he says could raise as much as $800 million for the city's transit system by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents.

The mayor says the tax adjustment would be levied on fewer than one percent of the city's wealthiest tax filers and would allow the city to reduce transit fares by 50 percent for the low-income residents.

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Aug
08

NYC mayor’s plan to tax wealthy to pay for subway fix

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined a proposed tax plan he says could raise as much as $800 million for the city's transit system by raising taxes on the wealthiest residents.

The mayor says the tax adjustment would be levied on fewer than one percent of the city's wealthiest tax filers and would allow the city to reduce transit fares by 50 percent for the low-income residents.

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Aug
08

Amtrak, MBTA enter new service agreement for Attleboro Line

Amtrak will continue to provide maintenance-of-way and dispatching services to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Attleboro Line through 2021.

The agreement, which governs the operation and maintenance of use of the 37.9-mile line, ends a dispute over applicability of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, Section 212, which created the Northeast Corridor Commission and mandated the development of the Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy. The policy was jointly developed by all the owners and operators of rail services from Boston to Washington, D.C., and is meant to provide a consistent methodology for calculating and assessing costs for all users of the Northeast Corridor.

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Aug
08

Amtrak, MBTA enter new service agreement for Attleboro Line

Amtrak will continue to provide maintenance-of-way and dispatching services to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Attleboro Line through 2021.

The agreement, which governs the operation and maintenance of use of the 37.9-mile line, ends a dispute over applicability of the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) of 2008, Section 212, which created the Northeast Corridor Commission and mandated the development of the Commuter and Intercity Rail Cost Allocation Policy. The policy was jointly developed by all the owners and operators of rail services from Boston to Washington, D.C., and is meant to provide a consistent methodology for calculating and assessing costs for all users of the Northeast Corridor.

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Aug
08

KC Streetcar plans new Southern Extension Project

KC Streetcar has plans to expand. With increased ridership and the need to provide additional service and track, the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) says that it is working on a Streetcar Southern Extension Project.

In coordination with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), KCSA issued a notice to being planning work for the Southern Extension Project. A team led by HDR Engineering will provide the planning and engineering services with support from Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Trekk Design Group, Hg Consult, Parson + Associates, VSM Engineering and Architectural & Historical Research.

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Aug
08

KC Streetcar plans new Southern Extension Project

KC Streetcar has plans to expand. With increased ridership and the need to provide additional service and track, the KC Streetcar Authority (KCSA) says that it is working on a Streetcar Southern Extension Project.

In coordination with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) and the city of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), KCSA issued a notice to being planning work for the Southern Extension Project. A team led by HDR Engineering will provide the planning and engineering services with support from Burns & McDonnell, HNTB, Trekk Design Group, Hg Consult, Parson + Associates, VSM Engineering and Architectural & Historical Research.

Continue reading