WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., applauded Vice President Joe Biden’s announcement that out of the $1.3 billion that Amtrak will receive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $10.5 million will be spent on reconstruction of the Sanford Auto Train terminal.
This funding will be spent immediately, with construction beginning in April and [...]

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Valley Metro Rail officials and local leaders announced $36 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail Project.
“This light rail project has been an engine for growth in the Phoenix area,” LaHood said. “And these recovery funds will ensure [...]

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — While many people balk at taking out the trash, it’s a job that the New York & Atlantic Railway does gladly — hauling 1.7 million pounds of residential and municipal waste each day, destined to Dixie in sealed containers riding aboard extra-long flat cars.
Monday through Saturday, a NY&A train crew goes over [...]

CHICAGO — The Amtrak Lake Shore Limited will offer sleeping car service between Chicago and Boston “to better suit our passengers needs,” starting with the eastbound departure of Trains 48/448 on April 2 from Chicago and the westbound departure of Trains 49/449 from New York and Boston on April 4, Amtrak said.
The eastbound Train 48/448 [...]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Intermodal (CSXI) has received the 2008 Carrier of the Year award from Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corporation.
“This award is given on the basis of excellence in quality, service and support,” said Wesley Brunson, president of EGA. “We are pleased to present CSX Intermodal with the Carrier of the Year award in [...]

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific recently announced the recipients of the railroad’s 13th annual Pinnacle Award for chemical transportation safety.
The award annually recognizes companies that have successful prevention and corrective plans as well as a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for shipments of regulated hazardous materials.
“The Pinnacle Award gives Union Pacific the chance to [...]

SAN CARLOS, Calif. — Caltrain began a three-week rail grinding project March 18 “that will result in measurably reduced noise impacts for neighbors next to the right of way and a safer, smoother ride for passengers,” the railroad said.
A rail-mounted, industrial-sized grinder will be used to smooth out defects and restore the shape of the [...]

DALLAS — Gary Thomas, President and Executive Director of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), has received the Outstanding Public Transportation General Manager Award from the Texas Transit Association (TTA).
The award, which honors a public transportation manager who has made outstanding contributions to the industry, was presented to Thomas during the 2009 Texas Transit Conference [...]

Despite falling gas prices and an economic recession, increasing numbers of Americans took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2008, the highest level of ridership in 52 years and a modern ridership record, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
This represents a 4 percent increase over the number [...]

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority Board approved a $56.6 million contract for renewal of approximately 36,000 feet of track in the Blue Line Dearborn subway. Funding for the work is being provided by “stimulus funds.”
The work will remove the existing slow zones and help prevent the creation of new slow zones in the Dearborn [...]