Commuter Rail

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Commuter Rail

NJT: Customers Can Double Their Savings on Transportation Costs

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEWARK, N.J. — N.J. Transit customers can now nearly double their savings on annual transportation costs by participating in workplace programs that allow pre-tax wages to be set aside for transit. The recently enacted federal stimulus bill immediately increases the amount of pre-tax wages that can be set aside for transit purchases to $230 per month, up from the former $120 limit. “This provides immediate and significant benefits to our customers,” said N.J. Transit Board Member Ken Pringle. “I applaud President Obama and Congress on this provision of the stimulus bill which encourages more commuters to take advantage of transit
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Commuter Rail

N.J. Transit Looking for a Bailout

March 11, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEWARK, N. J. — Key N.J. Transit projects in southern New Jersey totaling $82 million are being accelerated as a result of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding. The funds will generate and preserve jobs in the near-term and create assets that will benefit residents for years to come, including a new intermodal transfer station linking the River LINE with the Atlantic City Rail Line, and signal upgrades on the River LINE that enables more frequent service as well as lays the groundwork for a positive train control system. “This investment plan complies with the strict federal requirements for
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Commuter Rail

NTSB to Open Chatsworth Docket

February 27, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will open the docket on the 2008 Metrolink rail accident in Chatsworth, Calif., at the start of a public hearing on March 3. During the two-day hearing, the Safety Board will hear testimony from witnesses called to supplement the facts discovered during the on-scene phase and subsequent follow-up investigation of the accident. On Sept. 12, 2008 at approximately 4:22 p.m., Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided.  As a result of this head-on accident, there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. The information being released is factual in nature
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Commuter Rail

Federal Budget: High-Speed Rail to Receive $5B

February 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — High-speed trains stand to receive $5 billion under President Obama’s spending plan. “This commitment will be essential as we develop surface transportation authorization legislation this year,” said James Oberstar, D-Minn. “This new authorization will require significant investments to help reduce congestion, eliminate freight chokepoints, mitigate the impacts of our surface transportation system on the environment, reduce roadway fatalities, enhance our mobility and safety through innovation and technology, and provide modal choice for all users. “I applaud the administration’s willingness to work with Congress to transform surface transportation programs to emphasize performance measurement, and put these programs on a
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Commuter Rail

N.J. Transit Signs Funding and Project Agreements

February 21, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
NEWARK, N. J. — Momentum continued to build toward construction of the Mass Transit Tunnel today with the N.J. Transit Board approving key agreements with partner agencies. The agreements — with Amtrak and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — establish frameworks to ensure coordination and efficiency during the multi-year construction phase and come just one month after the Federal Transit Administration issued a Record of Decision completing the environmental review process and clearing the project for federal funding and final design. The agreement with the Port Authority formalizes the agency’s $3 billion investment in the project.
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Commuter Rail

Oberstar: ‘Recovery’ Bill Will Benefit Rail Industry

February 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The so-called “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009″ will help with rail infrastructure and help put Americans back to work, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn, said. “This bill is urgently needed to put Americans back to work,” Oberstar said. “The infrastructure investments funded by this bill will create good, family-wage jobs — jobs that cannot be outsourced to another country, because the work must be done here in the U.S. on our roads, bridges, transit and rail systems, airports, waterways, wastewater treatment facilities, and Federal buildings. “
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Commuter Rail

NTSB to Discuss Metrolink Crash

February 10, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public hearing on the 2008 collision in Chatsworth, Calif., involving a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train. The two-day hearing will begin on March 3 at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington. At 4:22 p.m. on Sept. 12, 2008, Metrolink commuter train 111 and a Union Pacific freight train collided.  As a result of this head-on accident, there were 25 fatalities and numerous injuries. On the day of the accident, the Metrolink engineer, who was responsible for the operation of the
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Commuter Rail

Atlantic City Express Service Launches Inaugural Trains Connecting New York, Atlantic City

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Representatives from the Atlantic City Express Service (ACES) joint venture partners — Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa — joined New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine and other key New Jersey officials to launch weekend train service between New York’s Penn Station and Atlantic City. The launch of the ACES train is another major step in the evolution of Atlantic City into a world-class destination, providing residents of New Jersey and New York the opportunity to experience all the new attractions the city has to offer. “I welcome this
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Commuter Rail

Mica: 80 and Counting Respond to Call for U.S. High-Speed Rail

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire
WASHINGTON — Eighty companies and state departments of transportation have responded to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) request for expressions of interest to develop high-speed rail corridors, according to U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla. “This overwhelming response is remarkable given the current state of the economy,” said Mica, the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Last year, he led the effort to open high-speed rail development to private sector participation in 11 federally designated corridors in the United States.  The measure including this initiative was signed into law in October. As required by the Mica initiative,