Sunday, May 17, 2015

No way out: For drivers caught in gridlock, little relief down the road | Miami Herald Miami Herald

Veteran Miami-Dade urban planner Subrata Basu, a longtime advocate of smart growth, retired and went to Belize for three years with the Peace Corps, then got a heck of a shock when he settled back home last August.
The traffic! As if it hadn’t been bad enough when he left for Central America, it now seemed 10 times worse. Basu, 70, began working at a non-profit in North Miami Beach for a small stipend, but the 90-minute rush-hour drive each way from his home in South Miami was brutal. So he quit.







Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/traffic/article21224841.html#storylink=cpy


No way out: For drivers caught in gridlock, little relief down the road | Miami Herald Miami Herald

Friday, May 15, 2015

NTSB raises possibility Amtrak train may have been hit by object before derailing | Fox News

The National Transportation Safety Board Friday raised the possibility the Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia, killing eight and sending more than 200 to hospitals, could have been hit by an object before it ran off the tracks.
Spokesman Robert Sumwalt said a conductor aboard the train reported hearing a conversation in which the engineer of a nearby local regional train told her engineer that his engine had been hit by an object and she thought she heard her engineer say the same thing had happened to him.


NTSB raises possibility Amtrak train may have been hit by object before derailing | Fox News

One person dies after pickup truck goes under a tractor-trailer | Local News - KMBC Home

Northbound lanes of Highway 291 were closed midday Thursday



One person dies after pickup truck goes under a tractor-trailer | Local News - KMBC Home

Crash revives push for automated trains | TheHill

This week’s deadly Amtrak is sparking fresh calls for automated trains on the nation’s rails, even as industry groups press for an extension of this year’s deadline to implement the technology. 

Railroads have until December to install “positive train control” under a law passed in the aftermath of 2008 commuter rail crash in California.  But just six weeks before Tuesday’s wreck, which killed eight people, a GOP-backed measure pushing the deadline to the end of 2020 cleared a key Senate panel. 



Crash revives push for automated trains | TheHill

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Payout to Amtrak victims will be limited. Here's why. - May. 14, 2015

No matter how deadly this week's Amtrak crash proves to be, the railroad's legal exposure is capped at $200 million.



At least 200 people were injured and eight have been killed.



Payout to Amtrak victims will be limited. Here's why. - May. 14, 2015

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Union Pacific Railroad Recognized for Superior Service by Hyundai GLOVIS

Union Pacific #News Release:


Union Pacific Railroad Recognized for Superior Service by Hyundai GLOVIS

OMAHA, NEB., MAY 13, 2015
Union Pacific Railroad was honored with the "Club Elite" award by Hyundai GLOVIS, a logistics supplier for Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America. The recognition designates Union Pacific as a top service provider exhibiting dedication to superior transportation solutions for finished vehicles.
"Union Pacific is thrilled to receive this recognition from Hyundai GLOVIS again this year," said Linda Brandl, Union Pacific's vice president-Automotive. "Fostering an environment of continuous improvement and innovation, we are committed to providing our valued customers with exceptional logistics solutions and service."
Award recipients are selected based upon transit performance, damage prevention and customer service metrics.
Union Pacific's Automotive team provides transportation and logistics solutions for shipping automotive parts, finished vehicles and aftermarket vehicles. Union Pacific directly serves five vehicle assembly plants, distributes imported vehicles from the West Coast and Gulf of Mexico, and operates or accesses more than 40 vehicle distribution centers for all major automotive manufacturers. Union Pacific offers unparalleled access to and from Mexico, as manufacturers continue to locate facilities across the border.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2005-2014, Union Pacific invested more than $31 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.

How to make U.S. trains better - May. 13, 2015

It really isn't that hard. If we want better passenger trains in the United States, we need to spend more money.



Congress gives Amtrak about $1.5 billion a year to cover the funding gap between ticket sales and expenses, which typically run around $4 billion annually.



How to make U.S. trains better - May. 13, 2015