Progressive Railroading

Norfolk Southern Railway, North Carolina Railroad Co. (NCRR) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Rail Division are teaming up to upgrade 43 public grade crossings between Selma and Morehead City. The $7.6 million project will take about three years to complete. The state will provide about 56 percent of project costs through federal crossing safety funds.

Structure replacement and rehabilitation work for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Park Avenue Viaduct project has been completed 60 months early and $195 million under budget. The 133-year-old Park Avenue Viaduct is the elevated steel structure that carries four MTA Metro-North Railroad tracks 1.8 miles along Park Avenue between East 110th Steet and the Harlem River Lift Bridge.

Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway met the Surface Transportation Board's July 27 deadline to submit supplemental information to support the Class Is' revised merger application. The STB accepted UP-NS' revised merger application on May 28, with a caveat that the railroads submit further information for the board to review. The railroads submitted the first portion of required supplemental information on July 7.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will implement TekTracking's Track Inspection, Maintenance, Planning & Scheduling (Track CSMA) and Signal Inspection & Testing Efficiency (Signal CSMA) platforms to support the continued modernization of its track and signal maintenance operations.

Amtrak and the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority (SRPRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize their partnership as both parties work to bring passenger-rail service back to Reading, Pottstown and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. “Amtrak is proud to partner with the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority to advance the potential restoration of passenger rail between Reading and Philadelphia,” said Amtrak Vice President of Planning and State Partnerships Nicole Bucich.

BNSF Logistics LLC, a third-party logistics services provider, has appointed Tim Humbert chief commercial officer, effective August 3. Humbert has more than 25 years of executive leadership experience spanning transportation, logistics, supply chain management, commercial strategy, and intermodal operations, BNSF Logistics officials said in a press release. His leadership experience includes executive roles with Stoughton Trailers, International Motors and C.H. Robinson.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) held a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for TIME-1, the largest component of TIME FOR CT, a multiyear initiative to rebuild, improve and expand Connecticut's rail network. The three-phase, $1.6 billion TIME-1 project will modernize critical sections of the New Haven Line to enable faster, more frequent and reliable rail service between New Haven and New York City, CTDOT officials said in a press release.

Four Rivers Transportation Inc. recently named Robert Buchanan general manager of the Evansville Western Railway (EVWR), according to the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. The short line launched operations on Dec. 31, 2005. Buchanan most recently served the Paducah & Louisville Railway Inc. (PAL) as assistant vice president and chief engineer.

Railroad Development Corp. (RDC) has added James Kornas to its leadership team as executive vice president of business development. RDC is a privately held railroad investment and management company headquartered in Pittsburgh. Kornas brings two decades of rail-industry experience and leadership to the role.

In observation of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, Amtrak has released an update on its progress in advancing accessibility options throughout its network. “Accessibility is fundamental to how we serve our customers today and how we plan for the future,” said David Handera, Amtrak VP, accessibility, stations and facilities.