Commuter Rail – Page 60 – Railfanning.org

Man Killed at McPherson Square Metrorail Station Identified

March 15, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A man who was struck and killed March 13 by a Blue Line train at the McPherson Square Metrorail station has been identified as Kurtland Johnson, 42, of Washington, D.C. Eyewitnesses reported that Johnson intentionally stepped in front of the train. Johnson, a Metrobus operator since September 2008, was on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation into a bus accident that occurred on March 6. It is standard procedure for Metro to conduct internal investigations after accidents or incidents involving Metro vehicles. On March 6, Johnson was driving Metrobus 3719 on the N8 route to the

N.J. Transit to Invest Federal ‘Stimulus’ Funds Statewide

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — A little-known benefit for transit riders was promoted by N.J. Transit Executive Director Richard Sarles during his testimony before the Assembly Transportation Committee. The new federal stimulus law allows riders to double their savings on annual transportation costs by participating in workplace programs in which pre-tax wages are set aside to reimburse transit costs. Sarles also testified on an array of transit projects being accelerated with an estimated $424 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. Under the wage-withholding program for transit purchases, commuters can now have up to $230 per month withheld from their

Improved Train Flow, Enhanced Safety and Reduced Environmental Footprint Highlight Metra Union Pacific West Line Improvements

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Improved passenger and freight train flow, an enhanced safety design, and a reduced environmental footprint are among the benefits of the Metra Union Pacific west line improvement project. Work at the stations is scheduled to begin in March and conclude near the end of 2010. Metra service will not be disrupted while the project is under way. “These improvements will help create a more fluid railroad operation, decrease commuter and freight delays, and reduce motorist wait time at grade crossings,” said Phil Pagano, Metra executive director. “These upgrades address today’s west line rail traffic congestion issues and

N.J. Transit Outlines Stimulus-Funded Projects

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — Funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is accelerating seven transit projects in northern and central New Jersey that will build system capacity, extend accessibility and ensure service reliability for decades to come. Pending approval by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority on Friday, N.J. Transit will target a total of $342 million in ARRA funds at northern and central New Jersey projects, enabling N.J. Transit to get shovels in the ground in the coming months. These projects will complement an array of capital projects already underway throughout the region and will create and preserve

First ARC Contracts to be Advertised

March 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

NEWARK, N.J. — The ARC Mass Transit Tunnel is taking an important step toward boosting the New Jersey and regional economy this week with the advertisement of the project’s first contracts — including an underpass to be constructed beneath Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen. The Tonnelle Avenue underpass contract, which will be released for bids on Friday, will be the first location to go to construction in New Jersey. The underpass will be adjacent to where the $8.7 billion project goes underground, allowing the MTT’s two new rail tracks to begin their descent under the Palisades Mountain. That contract is

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

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

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

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

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.