Agreement makes way for 2nd Pittsburgh – NYC train
A new agreement between Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and freight railroad Norfolk Southern (NS) will allow daily roundtrip Pittsburgh to New York City Amtrak trains to increase from one to two. The state will invest over $200 million in infrastructure safety improvements along the NS-owned corridor between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. PennDOT and NS have spent four months upgrading track and infrastructure. The Amtrak Pennsylvanian service currently makes one daily roundtrip between New York City and Pittsburgh via Harrisburg. [masstransitmag.com]
Louisiana pursuing in-state passenger rail expansion
Louisiana is rich in passenger train lore, but Amtrak’s City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited trains make few stops in Louisiana before heading to Chicago and Los Angeles. So Louisiana lawmakers and Gov. John Bel Edwards are making a bid to expand in-state rail with a Baton Rouge to New Orleans line and another rolling across the I-20 corridor with Shreveport, Monroe and even Delhi as hubs. A state senate bill, signed by Edwards, requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to initiate studies to expand passenger rail service. [theadvertiser.com]
USDOT targets $600M toward crossing improvements
The U.S. Department of Transportation has issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for more than $573 million in available grants in fiscal-year 2022 for the new Railroad Crossing Elimination Program. The new program is designed to help improve safety, eliminate lengthy delays at grade crossings and ultimately lower costs. About $600 million will be allocated for the program annually from FY2022 to FY2026. The program will fund projects that will eliminate crossings or at least involve upgrades or improvements to make them safe. [progressiverailroading.com]
SoCal agency insourcing operations and maintenance
Southern California’s North County Transit District (NCTD) has completed insourcing of its rail equipment maintenance and train operations functions. The transition to bring operations and maintenance in house impacts the Coaster rail and Sprinter hybrid rail service. Coaster operates between Oceanside and downtown San Diego; Sprinter runs between Escondido and Oceanside. NCTD maintains the San Diego portion of the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo Rail (LOSSAN) Corridor supporting commuter, freight and Amtrak services. [masstransitmag.com]
LA Metro approves new Transit Ambassador Program’
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved contracts to staff the new pilot transit ambassador program, which aims to make the system a more welcoming and safer environment. When the transit ambassador program launches in late summer or fall, ambassadors will be on buses and trains and in stations to greet riders, help them navigate the system, pay fares, download LA. Metro apps and address issues. [masstransitmag.com]
