FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory
Positive Train Control (PTC) is now in operation on all 57,536 required freight and passenger railroad route-miles, ahead of the federal deadline of Dec. 31, the Federal Railroad Administration reported Dec. 29.
The 41 railroads subject to the statutory mandate comprising all seven Class I’s, Amtrak, 28 commuter railroads, and five short lines/regionals that host intercity or commuter service plus industry associations, suppliers and other service providers, have worked for more than a decade to reach what FRA called “a landmark achievement” and what FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said was an “unprecedented undertaking” for the nearly 100 stakeholders.
FRA announces full implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC), two days before the Dec. 31, 2020 deadline.
File photo
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced today that positive train control (PTC) technology is in operation on all 57,536 required freight and passenger railroad route miles, prior to the statutory deadline of December 31, 2020, set by Congress. In addition, as required, FRA has certified that each host railroad’s PTC system complies with the technical requirements for PTC systems. Furthermore, railroads have reported that interoperability has been achieved between each applicable host and tenant railroad that operates on PTC-governed main lines.
• $679 million for 49 U.S.C. § 5311 grants to rural areas.
• $50 million for 49 U.S.C. § 5310 grants for seniors and persons with disabilities.
“A primary objective of the $14 billion of emergency transit funding is to ensure that public transit agencies receive sufficient funding under this bill, when combined with their CARES Act apportionments, to equal at least 75% of urbanized areas’ public transit operating costs,” the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) explained on its website. “The transit funds provided under the bill are available for operating expenses related to the response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The federal share is 100%.”
Amtrak’s $1 billion in relief includes $655 million for Northeast Corridor Grants and $345 million for National Network Grants. The bill also sets aside $284.7 million to assist states and commuter rail providers in making required payments to Amtrak.
ASLRRA Readies for 45G Milestone Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
“Creating long-term tax certainty will enable small business railroads to meet customer needs throughout the country, particularly in the energy, agriculture and manufacturing industries, immediately and far into the future,” ASLRRA President Chuck Baker said.
The Short Line Tax Credit (45G) is one step closer to permanency.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) reports that the $2.3 trillion omnibus appropriations/coronavirus relief/tax legislation introduced Dec. 20 in the House of Representatives includes 45G, which supports private investment in improving and building infrastructure up to a $3,500 cap per short line railroad mile.
Photo by Justin Franz.
By Railfan & Railroad Staff
WASHINGTON Industry groups are asking that railroaders and other transportation professionals be among the first essential workers to receive the coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks.
Earlier this month, the Association of American Railroads, the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association and other groups representing trucking and maritime transportation, came together to urge government leaders to let their employees be among the first to be vaccinated. Now that at least two of the vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use, those calls are growing louder.