The Port of Monroe recently gained a loan worth $3 million for improvements dedicated to updating larger vessels with more shipping capacity, and McKeil Marine, which operates barges and tugs between the United States and Canada, has added a bulker ship to its fleet. Algoma Central Corporation also confirmed its commitment to update its fleet through a conditional contract. Read More »

The White House and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently held a ceremony to honor 11 people throughout the U.S. who are considered “White House Transportation Champions of Change”; Anthony Foxx, who is the U.S. transportation secretary, and the White House chose these people because of their achievements in innovation and outstanding leadership. Read More »

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) said Tuesday it is seeking to further advance rail safety following its investigation into the CSX train derailment in West Virginia in February. The FRA said the derailment was due to a broken rail caused by a vertical split head rail defect, which was overlooked in two separate inspections before the accident. Read More »

A new institute affiliated with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently announced that it will host its first live webinar to increase public awareness of options for transportation investment. The webinar will be about an innovative public-private partnership that will replace or repair hundreds of bridges that are structurally inadequate. Read More »

The Association of American Railroads has released its latest report for U.S. rail traffic figures during the week that ended with Oct. 10.The total carloads and intermodal units for that week amounted to 56,233, a decrease of 2.8 percent compared to the same period in 2014. Total carloads amounted to 281,073, a decline of 5.8 percent compared to the same period in 2014. Read More »

The newly renovated interchange at Veterans Parkway/Seventh Road and U.S. 31 in Plymouth, Indiana, represents more than a meaningful collaboration between the Indiana Department of Transportation and Marshall County. The interchange also represents one of the final objectives of Indiana's Major Moves initiative, a $2.6 billion plan to improve and expand the highway infrastructure in Indiana. Read More »

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) said its crews have started to conduct pre-winter inspections to prepare for snow and ice this coming winter in the Fort Wayne area. The officials expect all INDOT trucks in Fort Wayne will complete their inspections by the end of October. In addition to the inspections, plow drivers must participate in required ice and snow training every year. Read More »

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Daphne Jefferson wants more women to join the trucking industry. Jefferson said while she was speaking the recent Women in Trucking conference in Dallas, said met countless women involved in the trucking industry’s multiple facets, including drivers, fleet owners, marketing professionals and logistics experts. Read More »

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week will introduce a long-term, bipartisan surface transportation bill, according to committee member Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY).“It is a three-year authorization for transportation programs, with a built-in trigger for another three years once additional funding is secured,” Zeldin told TI News Daily on Monday. Read More »

Officials plan to open the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge's new toll plaza, which took 16 months to complete, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. "The journey to this celebration began seven years ago when we commissioned the initial study to identify the project scope and cost," International Bridge Administration Chief Financial Officer Peter Petainen said. Read More »

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) recently proposed new rules for sidewalk closures in work zones. A revised Director’s Rule for Pedestrian Mobility in and Around Work Zones (SDOT DR 10-2015) places a stricter city review of requests to close sidewalks due to construction. The goal is to make Seattle’s sidewalks safer and easier for pedestrians. Read More »

Alaska officials cut the ribbon to open the new Aleknagik Wood River Bridge to motorists on Oct. 13. The bridge increases transportation safety by connecting Dillingham to Aleknagik and helping link local residents to businesses, schools and the airport. The local community is spread along both sides of Aleknagik Lake. Residents had to use snow machines and boats to commute. Read More »

All eastbound Interstate 96 traffic in Michigan's Livingston County is now in its new configuration following recent lane closures. This weekend's lane closures at eastbound I-96 and U.S. 23 were needed so crews could change the eastbound traffic back onto the new lanes of the freeway. Westbound lane closures began Monday night in an effort to complete the traffic switch. Read More »

The U.S. Department of Transportation said its Beyond Traffic document about the challenges and trends facing the U.S. transportation infrastructure industry during the next 30 years has already resulted in innovations, thanks to the White House Champions of Change in Transportation. The White House Champions of Change in Transportation are striving to solve the challenges before they worsen. Read More »

The Indiana Department of Transportation recently announced that it will hold a public hearing about a proposed bridge to take the Norfolk Southern Railroad over U.S. 6 in Brimfield, Indiana. The proposed bridge would be an estimated 100 feet west of the current bridge. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Albion Municipal Building, 211 E. Park Drive, in Albion, Indiana. Read More »

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) said Friday that maintenance crews have finished all chip seal projects for the year 2015. The crews have maintained over 1,200 miles of state roads using a surface treatment designed to preserve the pavement. Throughout 2015, INDOT workers used over 17,000 tons of liquid asphalt and 86,000 tons of crushed stone for the new seal coat. Read More »

Southwest Airlines said Thursday it has developed new services for some of its daily international flights from Houston, Texas, including flights to six new destinations. Travelers going to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and other destinations can have access to a new five-gate concourse as well as new concessions and Federal Inspection Station for Customs and Border Protection. Read More »

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, released air traffic data for the month of July 2015 on Friday. The report shows that U.S. airlines’ systemwide, which includes international and domestic flights, had a scheduled service load factor that increase to 84.2 percent in July 2015. The service load factor is the measurement used for airline capacity. Read More »

The Michigan Department of Transportation recently announced that the westbound lane of Interstate 96 at Williamston Road in Ingham County, Exit 117, is now open for motorists.The goal of the Michigan Department of Transportation is to provide motorists with the highest quality of integrated transportation services to benefit the economy and to improve the quality of life. Read More »

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said they are opposed to a federal mandate that would enable big trucks to transport large loads on U.S. highways. The mandate allows trucks to carry double 33-foot trailers. The senators said they will join representatives from the Teamsters and the trucking industry at a news conference Wednesday. Read More »