“June rail traffic continued the trends we’ve seen throughout the first half of 2024, with coal shipments declining and pulling total carloads below 2023 levels,” AAR Chief Economist Rand Ghayad reported July 3. “However, this decline is balanced by growth in other sectors, including chemicals, motor vehicles and intermodal shipments.”
Kwadwo Atta is the new Southeast Transit Leader for HDR, an Omaha, Neb.-based design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services.
Cincinnati Eastern Railroad (CCET) has been added to the portfolio of Regional Rail, a Kennett Square, Pa.-based short line holding company backed by 3i. Class III CCET had leased approximately 69.45 miles of rail
Southern California’s Metrolink welcomes a new Chief People Officer. Also, North County Transit District (NCTD) in California appoints a Deputy General Counsel; Bentley Systems, an infrastructure engineering software company based in Exton, Pa., transitions its leadership; and infrastructure firm HNTB hires a Vehicles Project Director.
The initial operating segment of Honolulu’s 20-mile, 21-station autonomous (driverless) Skyline, the first urban rail transit GoA4 (Grade of Automation) system in operation in the United States, marked one year of revenue service on June 30.
![“Thanks to Secretary Pete [Buttigieg], USDOT, the Federal Railroad Administration and all our partners for making the S-Line passenger rail a reality!!” NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins said in a July 1 LinkedIn post. “Thanks to the hard work of our NCDOT team we broke ground on the first construction project in the Raleigh to Wake Forest segment, a $19M project to grade separate Durant Road 7 months after the grant announcement!!” (Photograph Courtesy of Joey Hopkins)](https://www.railwayage.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/slinelead-315x168.png)
State and federal officials on July 1 participated in a groundbreaking ceremony in North Carolina for the S-Line Project, part of the Raleigh to Richmond Innovating Rail Program to create a faster passenger rail route between the two cities, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office.
Pacific Harbor Line (PHL) last month hosted a “fact-finding” tour at the San Pedro Bay port complex in California for Robert E. Primus, the new Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chair, according to
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is establishing an in-house transit police department. Also, MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) completes two station accessibility projects; Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANY/NJ) PATH surpasses 5 million riders in May, the first time since the pandemic’s onset; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Board approves a wayfinding signage contract; and Seattle’s Sound Transit advances the Link Operations and Maintenance Facility South project.
Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) Founding Chairman Dr. Paul H. Banner died June 17, 2024; he was 102.
The Port of Long Beach, Calif., (POLB) has awarded Alameda, Calif.-based Stacy & Witbeck Inc. a $21.7 million contract for the Pier B Rail Yard East Expansion Project.
