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Transit Briefs: SacRT, APTA, BART, MARTA

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) achieves a major milestone with two new low-floor trains completing 1,000 miles of testing. Also, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announces a call for nominations for its 2024 awards program; Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) Link21 Program holds an informational roadshow to share its train technology analysis for the project’s second train crossing; construction begins on BART’s Lake Merritt Transit Oriented Development (TOD) project; and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) advances its Indian Creek TOD project following rezoning approval.

People News: MDOT MTA, HNTB

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) names Martha Gross as Executive Director of Transit Development and Delivery. Also, Victor Rivas joins HNTB as Transportation Asset Management Senior Project Management.

“Receiving the EMAP accreditation for the second time reaffirms our dedication to maintaining the highest emergency preparedness and response standards,” said Mary Carlson Bis, Amtrak AVP of Response and Resilience and one of Railway Age’s 2022 Women in Rail honorees. (Amtrak Photograph)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, MARTA, City of Peoria, Ill.

Amtrak achieves emergency management accreditation. Also, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) this summer is beginning a $230 million renovation of Five Points Station; and the City of Peoria, Ill., advances the Peoria-Chicago passenger rail corridor project.

Miner Enterprises’ TF-880 draft gear. (Miner Photograph)

For Miner, a ‘Milestone’

Miner Enterprises on May 29 reported selling more than 1.7 million TF-880™ draft gears since receiving Association of American Railroads’ M-1003 quality certification almost 40 years ago, and that these friction elastomer

Duos, CPKC Enter Into Three-Year Agreement

Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Duos), through its operating subsidiary Duos Technologies, Inc., announced May 30 that it has entered into a three-year agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) allowing the Class I to use Duos developed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions for mechanical inspections and cross-border velocity and efficiency.

Crichlow Appointed NYCT Interim President

New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chair and CEO Janno Lieber on May 29 appointed Demetrius Crichlow as Interim President of MTA New York City Transit (NYCT), effective June 14.

CTA is expected to install up to 971 Video Recording Systems from Railhead Corp. on its 5000 Series and 3200 Series rapid transit cars, with initial installations beginning this year. (CTA Photograph)

Railhead Lands CTA Video Contract

Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has awarded Railhead Corp. a contract to design and install a complete Video Recording System for the agency’s Bombardier Transportation-built 5000 Series and Morrison–Knudsen-built 3200 Series rapid transit cars.

The Jake Awards are named for the late Lowell S. "Jake" Jacobson, President and General Manger of the Copper Basin Railway. (Photograph Courtesy of ASLRRA)

ASLRRA Honors 385 Railroads With Jake Awards

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) on May 29 reported its annual Jake Safety Award recipients, recognizing a “record” 385 member railroads for their above-industry-average safety performance in 2023;

AAR: Carloads Down, Intermodal Up for Week 21

U.S. rail traffic for the week ending May 25, 2024 (Week 21) was up 1.2% from the prior-year period, as intermodal gains offset carload losses, according to the Association of American Railroads’ (AAR) latest report.

Pictured, left to right: Railway Association of Canada Board Chair Janet Drysdale (CN Photograph); HNTB’s Jeff Watson (HNTB Photograph); and HNTB’s Dominic Spaethling (HNTB Photograph).

People News: RAC, HNTB/WTS

Railway Association of Canada (RAC) appoints Janet Drysdale of CN as Board Chair, succeeding Jeffrey J. Ellis of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Also, HNTB’s Jeff Watson earns the WTS Man of the Year Award, and WTS Utah names HNTB the Employer of the Year.

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Commentary

RUN Conference Calls for More Amtrak L-D

When Amtrak began operations in 1971, two-thirds of the long-distance and corridor-length trains that had previously run in the United States were discontinued. Amtrak’s original long-distance network consisted of only 14 routes.

The BNSF Ottumwa, Iowa, maintenance-of-way team recently achieved nine years injury-free. (BNSF Photograph)

Class I Briefs: BNSF, CSX, UP

A BNSF maintenance-of-way team in Iowa marks a safety milestone. Also, CSX joins Blue Star Families to ring the Nasdaq opening bell; and a Union Pacific (UP) Dispatching Director earns the “military-friendly” Patriot Award.

Transit Briefs: Project Connect, OC Transpo, Sound Transit, VTA

Austin’s Project Connect enters the development phase. Also, debit card payments are now available on OC Transpo; Sound Transit’s Federal Way Link Extension (FWLE) project earns an Envision Platinum Sustainability Award; and the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) receives regional funding to move transit-oriented development (TOD) projects forward.

Commentary

Does South Dakota Really Need Amtrak?

In his May 16, 2024 Railway Age commentary, South Dakotan Dan Bilka is proud to say “People Live Here” when referencing his home state. And as such, according to his reasoning, South Dakota should