Allagany County, Md., plans to ask STB to intervene in bridge dispute with CSX
The Allagany County, Md., Board of Commissioners will file a complaint against CSX Transportation with the Surface Transportation Board over a bridge closure in Cumberland, Md., saying the railroad has blocked any effort to address the issue, although the railroad says it is working “in good faith” toward a resolution. The Cumberland Times-News reports the Washington Street Bridge has been closed since being struck by CSX trains in 2017 and 2018, and has never been repaired. County commission president Jake Shade said the city and county have offered a plan for the bridge “to be replaced at current height with Allegany County and the city of Cumberland paying the entire cost,” but CSX, in a statement to Trains News Wire, indicated the bridge height is a significant issue. “We have partnered with the City to reconstruct the Cumberland Street Bridge and have completed repairs to the Fayette Street Bridge, which is now open for vehicular traffic. The Washington Street Bridge is significantly more challenging due to its substandard elevation over top of rail, the condition of the bridge and the surrounding historical neighborhood.” Referencing a December 2020 letter to U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, the statement added, “The Washington Street Bridge is a transportation obstruction at its existing elevation. CSX continues to be willing to work towards a resolution that benefits all affected stakeholders.”
Miami-Dade eases transit restrictions
As of Sunday, the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation has eased COVID-19 ridership restrictions on public transit, including Metrorail and Metromover cars. Up to 50 passengers are now allowed on a Metrorail car, and up to 35 per car on the Metromover people mover system. “Easing capacity limits on our buses and trains is an important step forward to improve service to our riders, as we work to safely move our economy forward,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said in a press release. “I urge all our residents and visitors to continue wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently, staying home if sick, and of course, to get vaccinated — our most important tool to finally put the pandemic behind us.” Miami-Dade had previously announced it would resume fare collection on June 1. Fare collection had been suspended last year because of COVID-19 safety concerns.
Work begins on expansion of Alstom manufacturing facilities in New York
Work has begun on a 135,000-square-foot addition to Alstom’s rail manufacturing facilities in Hornell, N.Y., the Hornell Evening Tribune reports. The City of Hornell Industrial Development Agency has applied for a $4.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Adminstration to offset some of the costs of the $47 million project, after previously obtaining a $689,000 loan to prepare the site for development. The new plant will include 105,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 18,000 square feet of warehouse space, and 12,000 square feet of offices. It is estimated to employ 258 people. The expansion was spurred by Alstom’s contract with Metra to build up to 500 multilevel cars [see “Metra board approves order for 200 new passenger cars …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 14, 2021].
Dan, don’t forget Plattsburg and Thunder Bay.
But it’s not unneeded. We need those railcars they could produce. Plenty of opportunity to use them on new routes. We just have to make it happen.
Lots of investment in Hornell and PQ is investing in the facility at La Poc. Alstom will soon find itself with a lot of unneeded capacity.