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• Gross & Janes Co. has signed a three-year contract with Kansas City Southern to supply borate pre-treated crossties. The contract is set to take effect in early 2012. KCS is the first major railroad to purchase Gross & Janes’ new borate pre-treatment method crossties, which can reduce the cost and environmental impact of preservative-treated wood ties, according to a Gross & Janes press release. The ties represent a substantial portion of KCS’s overall tie needs over the next three years, the release states.

• Cubic Transportation Systems was awarded a $454 million contract by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to deliver, operate and maintain the agency’s next-generation open payments system that will accept bank cards and mobile phone payments. Cubic will operate and maintain the entire system, resulting in an overall 12-year partnership between the company and agency, Cubic officials said in a prepared statement. Cubic will transition the CTA from its current agency issued fare media to an open payment system in which customers can use their existing credit or debit cards as a ticket.

• Bombardier has named its TRAXX diesel electric multi-engine locomotive as the company’s top technology solution of the year. The company considered a field of innovations at its 2011 Bombardier Transportation Innovations Awards, according to a Bombardier press release. The new locomotive is based on four diesel-electric engine-generator sets replacing the typical large unit.

• Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co. In. has named Brent Boggs director of relay operations. He will lead business development within the relay rail and OTM markets with an emphasis on expanding procurement and distribution throughout North America, according to a company press release. Boggs has 13 years of experience in the relay rail, OTM and the trackwork department of Unitrac Railroad Materials Inc.