Railfanning.org News Wire – Page 287

Obama Appoints New STB Chairman

March 17, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board announced that Francis P. Mulvey has been designated Acting Chairman of the agency by President Barack Obama, succeeding former Board Chairman Charles D. Nottingham. The announcement follows the Board’s receipt of an official order signed by the President on March 12 and delivered to the Board the following day. “I am honored to receive this designation by President Obama, and I look forward to serving the Board and the public in this capacity,” Mulvey said. “I believe that my long record of public service, especially in the transportation area, qualifies me for the work

BNSF Crews to Replace Rail Along Southern Transcon Corridor

March 17, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. is replacing rail along its mainline track between Needles and Verdemont, Calif. Thirty-five BNSF employees will replace more than 14 track miles of rail at the approximate rate of one mile per day through early April. This maintenance of way project will cost about $7 million.”This section of track is part of our southern transcon corridor, BNSF’s premier route between the ports of Southern California and all points in the east, including Logistics Park – Chicago,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF vice president, Engineering. “Approximately 4 million loads moved along that line last year

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

BNSF’s 2008 Economic Development Efforts Lead to $4 Billion in Investments and 4,000 New Jobs

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co.’s 2008 economic development efforts were instrumental in the location of 127 new or expanded facilities in communities along BNSF. The development of these facilities resulted in about $4 billion in investments and the creation of more than 4,000 new jobs.For example BNSF’s economic development team assisted a local volunteer business group in Weston County, WY. To revitalize the area, the Weston County Development Board created a plan to build a regional industrial park, the Upton Regional Industrial Site. The 600-acre site is attracting new businesses to the area and will become home to

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

Union Pacific’s New Davidson Yard Track Advances Progress on Southwest Parkway

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — As rail cars rolled past local officials on a newly built track at Union Pacific Railroad’s Davidson Yard, Union Pacific Chairman and CEO Jim Young announced that the railroad has accomplished the first critical milestone in paving the way for construction of the Southwest Parkway. This new, temporary-use track is a vital part of the operation of Davidson Yard because it is the track that guides rail cars to the incline, or “hump,” where the cars are separated from each other and then guided by switches into destination-specific tracks. The new track was built to enable

Fortune Names Union Pacific Most Admired Railroad

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

OMAHA, Neb. — Fortune has named Union Pacific the railroad industry’s “Most Admired” company as part of the magazine’s “World’s Most Admired Companies” survey. Union Pacific ranked No. 1 among the railroads in each of Fortune’s nine key attributes of reputation: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, quality of management, financial soundness, long-term investment and global competitiveness.”Our goal is to operate a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible railroad that delivers value for customers and shareholders,” said Jim Young, Union Pacific president and CEO. “I am extremely proud of the tremendous focus, dedication and effort by all our

BNSF Crews to Replace 60,000 Ties in Kansas and Missouri

March 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

FORT WORTH, Texas — Beginning this month, BNSF Railway Co. will begin replacing more than 60,000 railroad ties and 11.5 track miles of rail between Fort Scott, Kan., and Springfield, Mo., at an estimated cost of $9 million.”Expanding and maintaining our infrastructure not only allows us to provide customers with efficient and reliable rail service but it also benefits the overall efficiency of America’s supply chain,” said Dave Freeman, BNSF vice president, Engineering. Approximately 150 BNSF employees will work until mid-April on the Fort Scott subdivision. Crews will utilize equipment such as cranes, welders and ballast tampers to replace rail