News Digest: U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces Grant to Reduce Train Delays and Improve Reliability in Syracuse, NY.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced an $18.5 million grant to reduce passenger and freight train congestion on Amtrak’s Empire Corridor at the Syracuse, NY train station.  The grant to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) is for the final...

Federal Railroad Administration Launches Operation Deep Dive: Inspectors to conduct 60-day comprehensive safety assessment of Metro-North

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced the launch of a 60-day comprehensive safety assessment of Metro-North Commuter Railroad in response to the December 1st crash. Operation Deep Dive, beginning December 16, 2013,...

Federal Railroad Administration Issues Industry-wide Safety Advisory to Ensure Compliance with Speed Restrictions

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued an industry-wide Safety Advisory to help ensure railroads adhere to federal regulations regarding maximum authorized train speed limits. The advisory contains four recommendations...

Federal Railroad Administration Issues Emergency Order to Metro-North Railroad on Speed Restrictions and Locomotive Crew Staffing

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today issued an Emergency Order (EO 29) to Metro-North Commuter Railroad (MNCW) to take specific, immediate steps to ensure its train crews do not exceed speed limitations.  The EO...

News Digest: Federal Railroad Administration Declares an Emergency Weather Event

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has determined that a severe winter snow storm affecting western states and extending into the Plains and Upper Midwest now constitutes an “emergency event” as related to railroad operations. Therefore, the FRA has activated an Emergency...

News Digest: FRA Adjustment of Risk Threshold for Establishing Quiet Zones May Aid Communities and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Announces Rule to Help Passengers and Crewmembers in the Event of Emergency

FRA Adjustment of Risk Threshold for Establishing Quiet Zones May Aid Communities.  The Federal Railroad Administration’s annual adjustment of the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold (NSRT) may provide some relief for communities struggling to establish or maintain quiet zones while...

Federal Railroad Administration Celebrates Opening of New Railroad Bridge: Recovery Act Rail Project Completed Early and Under Budget

OSAGE CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo today participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new railroad bridge that will eliminate the last chokepoint along the line between Jefferson City and St. Louis. The $28...

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.4 Million TIGER 2013 Grant for New Hampshire Northcoast Rail Corridor Improvement Project

Rail Upgrades Will Repair and Refurbish 42 Miles of Track in New Hampshire

ROCHESTER, N.H. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced a $1.4 million grant to upgrade 42 miles of track along the Northcoast Rail Corridor. The project is one of 52...

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $8.9 Million TIGER 2013 Grant to Vermont for Western Corridor Rail Rehabilitation

Project Supports President Obama’s Call to ‘Fix it First’

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced the Vermont Agency of Transportation has been awarded an $8.9 million grant. The project is one of 52...

Railroad Safety Advisory Committee Holds Emergency Meeting: Group Considers Additional Rail Safety Measures for Hazardous Materials Transport

WASHINGTON – The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Railroad Safety Advisory Committee (RSAC) met today in an emergency session to begin consideration of additional regulatory or other safety measures following the derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, Canada earlier this summer...