Author: jrood

Metro Gold Line contractor receives Notice To Proceed

California’s Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority issued a Full Notice to Proceed to Foothill Transit Constructors, A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture for the $486 million Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa light-rail alignment project. The Full Notice to Proceed affords the Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture the ability to implement all aspects of the design-build contract, including design and construction of the 11.5 miles of tracks, stations, crossings, bridges, utilities, maintenance facility and more. The total project budget is $735 million.

IDOT commits $2.2 million to BNSF viaduct replacement project

The Illinois Department of Transportation is committing $2.2 million to complete the engineering and design plans for replacing the BNSF viaduct over Illinois Route 29 in Chillicothe, Ill.

The project will replace the two existing viaducts with a single structure carrying three mainline tracks, a yard track, a service road and a pedestrian walkway.

Brian Thompson Joins Stantec

Brian Thompson joined Stantec as a senior railway engineer in Charlotte, N.C. Thompson has 21 years of experience in the design of mainline and industrial and rail yard tracks, transit design and environmental and civil engineering for the railroad industry.

RailComm to convert LS&I dispatching system to SaaS Model

Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad in Michigan has been using RailComm’s Domain Operations Controller train control system to dispatch their railroad since 2007. The DOC System at LS&I will soon be able to be accessed through web-enabled software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery.

Heilig joins Progress Rail

Progress Rail Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc., has hired Tim Heilig as senior vice president of customer solutions. In this role, Heilig will work with Progress Rail Services and its subsidiary, Electro-Motive Diesel, to enhance the companies’ many products and services. Additionally, he will be involved in helping develop new products.

LACMTA to update the public on the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, in cooperation with the city of Los Angeles, will hold three community meetings in April to update the public on the Alternatives Analysis study that is evaluating options to improve north-south travel opportunities in the East San Fernando Valley and provide connections to the regional transportation network. The AA study is a precursor to the draft environmental document.

CSX hiring in Tennessee, Maryland and Alabama

CSX Transportation says it is looking to fill 150 positions in Tennessee, mostly in and around Nashville; 140 jobs in Maryland, mainly in Baltimore and Cumberland and 90 positions in Alabama, primarily in Birmingham.

Port of Los Angeles receives $40.72 million for rail yard project

The Port of Los Angeles received $40.72 million to improve rail operations and access to West Basin rail yards as part of a larger funding allocation from the California Transportation Commission. The CTC distributed $271 million in new funding to 73 projects that will improve the state’s highways and rail systems and enhance the state’s economic recovery.

RT&S launches “Rail Brief” weekly engineering newsletter

The editors of Railway Track & Structures are pleased to bring you “Rail Brief,” a weekly e-mail newsletter that brings breaking news about rail engineering and maintenance-of-way to your inbox. Whether it occurs on or off the track, RT&S “Rail Brief” will cover advancing projects, developing technologies and other updates on rail infrastructure.

KCS improves fluidity with work on Laredo Subdivision

Last week, a Kansas City Southern production gang completed a 50-day effort to install 100,000 crossties and 4.5 track miles of new rail to replace the 112-pound rail in curves. The production gang also renewed crossings and surfaced the track between mileposts 22 and 147 (approximately West Killam to Robstown, Texas) on the Laredo Subdivision.

Iowa Interstate Railroad names two to executive management positions

Iowa Interstate Railroad promoted Dennis Miller from president & CEO to vice chairman of the board, effective March 31. Miller, who has been president since 2002, joined the company in 1985 and previously served as vice president of information systems, customer services and operations. His railroad service also includes 10 years with the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway and two years with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.

Unitrac awarded Amtrak contract

Unitrac Railroad Materials, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Healey Railroad Corporation, received a $1.1 million contract to supply special trackwork to Amtrak.

U.S. DOT calls for innovative research proposals from small businesses

The U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking innovative proposals from small businesses to address research needs facing the Department’s agencies. On April 2, U.S. DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration/John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center released the final Fiscal Year 2012 solicitation for its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The solicitation contains eight research topic descriptions and invites small businesses to submit research proposals no later than June 5, 2012. The solicitation will be available online at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/sbir.