New Safety Administrator Announced at Federal Railroad Administration

Monday, January 31, 2005 () U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced the selection of Daniel C. Smith for the position of Associate Administrator for Safety at the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Mr. Smith will head the Federal Railroad Administration’s safety...

Loan to Help Rehabilitate Short Line Railroad In Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Friday, January 21, 2005 () A short line railroad located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in far western North Carolina is receiving a $7.5 million direct loan from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to rehabilitate its infrastructure and maintain its economic importance to the...

FRA to Require Stronger “Black Boxes” and More Data Collection to Help Train Accident Investigations

Thursday, June 30, 2005 (Washington, DC) Train “black box” data and information will be better safeguarded for use in accident investigations as a result of a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) final rule requiring improvements in the crash survivability of locomotive event...

New Grants to Fund Research to Reduce Track Caused Train Accidents

Thursday, June 23, 2005 (Washington, DC) The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced the award of two rail safety research grants to universities in Alabama and Illinois intended to improve safety in the railroad industry. Specifically, Tuskegee University received $96,192 to study...

Rail Safety Research Grant Funds Field Testing for Train Collision Prevention Technology

Thursday, June 23, 2005 (Washington, DC) A technology designed to prevent train collisions and other types of rail accidents moves another step forward today thanks to a $6.4 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The grant to the Railroad Research Foundation in Washington...

Joseph H. Boardman Begins Role as New Administrator for Federal Railroad Administration With Focus on Rail Safety and Intercity Passenger Rail Reform

Wednesday, June 01, 2005 (Washington, D.C.) Joseph H. Boardman will begin his new duties as the Administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced. Mr. Boardman was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the FRA...

Safety Grant Targets Leading Causes of Rail-Related Deaths; Aims to Reduce Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Collisions and Trespass Incidents

Tuesday, May 31, 2005 (Washington, DC ) A $1 million safety grant will be used for public education and outreach programs to reduce fatalities resulting from highway-rail grade crossing collisions, pedestrian accidents and railroad trespassing, which together account for 96 percent of all rail-...

Slater Commends Decision to Condition Conrail Acquisition on Safety

Thursday, July 23, 1998 (Washington, DC) Slater Commends Decision to Condition Conrail Acquisition on Safety

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today commended the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) decision to adopt his recommendation to condition approval of the...

FRA Announces Infrastructure Improvement Grant for Alaska Railroad, Extension of Rail Line to be Studied

Friday, May 27, 2005 (Washington, DC) The Federal Railroad Administration announced today a $24.8 million infrastructure grant for the Alaska Railroad to upgrade mainline tracks, replace bridges, prevent rock slides and install track at the new Fairbanks Intermodal Facility. The Alaska Railroad...

U.S. Department of Transportation to Triple Rail Inspection Capacity and Improve Grade Crossing Safety as Part of New National Rail Safety Plan

Wednesday, May 18, 2005 () The federal government will triple its capacity to inspect the nation’s rail lines thanks to three new advanced track inspection vehicles being launched over the next year and a half, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta announced today. The...