Senate confirms Fernandez to head FTA
The U.S. Senate has confirmed appointment of Nuria Fernandez as administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, becoming the first confirmed administrator in more than a decade and the first Senate-confirmed woman of color to lead the agency. “I am humbled and extremely grateful for the confidence bestowed upon me by the U.S. Senate, the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Buttigieg,” Fernandez said in an FTA press release. “I am committed to supporting our nation’s public transportation systems and the millions of Americans who depend on the transit services they provide.” Fernandez, who had been appointed as a deputy administrator in January, was nominated for the top job in April [see “Digest: Biden to nominate Fernandez …,” Trains News Wire, April 13, 2021]. Her experience includes a period as acting administrator of the FTA during the Clinton Administration.
Downeaster adds stop in Falmouth, Maine, during golf tournament
Amtrak’s Downeaster will add a stop in Falmouth, Maine, June 24-27 to serve spectators attending a professional golf tournament. The stop at the Falmouth Country Club golf course during the Live + Work in Maine Open tournament, part of the Korn Ferry Tour, will put spectators just a 10-minute walk from the tournament entrance. The tournament will be providing free shuttle bus service. There is no on-site public parking for the tournament. “We are proud to partner with the Live + Work in Maine Open to make accessing the tournament easy and stress-free for golf fans,” Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Rail Authority, which sponsors the Downeaster, said in a press release. More information on service to the tournament is available here; the Downeaster schedule is available here.
South Carolina short line to serve major new facility for winemaker
The Lancaster & Chester Railroad will serve a new production facility to be built by E & J Gallo Winery in South Carolina’s Chester County, providing a transportation link to CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern that was a requirement in selection the location of the $423 million facility. The first East Coast location for California-based E & J Gallo will be built on a 650-acre site, and will include production, bottling, canning, and distributions for domestic and international products that are among Gallo’s 130 brands. The Lancaster & Chester, a 62-mile railroad, is one of five short lines operated by holding company Gulf & Ohio Railways. “We are delighted to have such a high-quality new customer and we look forward to providing them with superior service. It’s a wonderful gift for us since the 125th anniversary of this railroad is this week,” Gulf & Ohio Chairman Pete Claussen said in a press release.
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