WMATA to propose ‘reality check’ budget for FY18
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials say they plan to present a stringent budget recommendation to the board’s Finance Committee at its Nov. 3 meeting.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) officials say they plan to present a stringent budget recommendation to the board’s Finance Committee at its Nov. 3 meeting.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Build America Bureau is urging applicants to submit proposals for as much as $850 million in Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants.
Metra, a commuter rail service for the Chicago suburbs, has completed renovations to its 111th Street/Pullman Station, located in the city’s historic Pullman neighborhood.
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has committed $244 million in funding to 71 projects set to enhance the state’s passenger rail service, bridges and highways and further develop the area’s active transportation offerings.
New York-based private equity firm Greenbriar Equity Group LLC has acquired Frauscher Sensor Technology, a global supplier of train tracking solutions for the railway signaling industry.
Representatives from American TieTek LLC, LT Resources, Inc., and other rail industry stakeholders met with U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX-1) on Oct. 12 to give him a tour of American TieTek’s manufacturing facility and discuss LT Resources’ products as well as recent industry concerns.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff (WSP) has appointed Drew Galloway as vice president, transit and rail planning.
The Surface Transportation Board (STB) today announced its adoption of final rules to revise its arbitration methods in compliance with the requirements outlined in the Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2015, P.L. 114-110 (2015) (Act).
Gross & Janes Co. has appointed Bill Behan as the company’s new president, with Mike Pourney acting as CEO and overseeing strategic planning.
HNTB Corporation has appointed Sanja Zlatanic as chair, national tunnel practice.
CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) has announced that John Hensley will be its new Transportation Group executive.
The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has announced the appointment of Duane Kenagy, P.E., as the Port of Long Beach’s interim CEO.
WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff (WSP), a global engineering and professional services organization, has announced four new appointments within the company.
Michael Baker International (MBI) has appointed Don Sepulveda, P.E., as vice president and rail and transit practice lead in the West Region.
Hill International, an American construction consulting firm, has received a contract extension from Sound Transit for design-build project management services during the upcoming phase of the E360 Segment of the Seattle, Washington-based East Link Light Rail extension project.
Two students are enrolled at Washington State University’s Vancouver Campus this fall with scholarship aid from the Vancouver-based Omega Industries, Inc.
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Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) reintroduced the National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Act, H.R. 3607, that will ensure federal support for the national freight mobility network and critical freight infrastructure and transportation improvements throughout the United States.
"America’s freight transportation system is a national asset and critical to our productivity and global competitiveness," said Rep. Smith. "Over the next 20 years, it is estimated that the volume of domestic freight will double while international freight will triple. This bill ensures our freight and transportation infrastructure remains competitive and strengthens economic growth."
This legislation creates the Freight Mobility Infrastructure Improvement Program within the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide long-term financing for critical infrastructure improvement goals. Through it, states, ports and regional transportation authorities would work in collaboration with non-governmental stakeholders and freight transportation industry entities to identify high-priority projects and apply for funds. The Secretary of Transportation would then competitively award grants based upon a project’s impact on freight mobility improvement, cost effectiveness and regional/national economic impact.
"Our multimodal freight transportation system is a national asset that we have failed to appreciate and support. Nowhere is this need more pressing than in the freight system that provides for our nation’s commerce," said Port of Tacoma Commissioner Don Meyer.
Funds for this program would be generated by a freight-specific user fee and deposited into a newly-created National Freight Mobility Infrastructure Fund exclusively dedicated to supporting freight mobility projects. The fee would be imposed at a rate of one percent on the fair market value of multi-modal ground transportation costs, with a few exceptions for federal, state and local government transportation and transport within a local geographic area.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously voted Thursday, December 8, 2011, to award the first major contract for BART Silicon Valley, to Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog a Joint Venture.This first contract includes completing the design and construction of the line, track, systems and stations for the 10-mile Berryessa Extension Project, the first phase of the 16-mile BART Extension into Santa Clara County.
"Today’s vote by the VTA Board keeps faith with the voters and taxpayers of Silicon Valley, who cast visionary votes in 2000 and 2008 that made the dream of BART service to Silicon Valley a reality," said Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino.
The decision marks a key project milestone and will immediately generate local jobs. Nearly 5,500 jobs will be created during the construction of the line, track, systems and stations elements of the Berryessa Extension. An additional 4,000 indirect jobs are created due to activities related to this contract and 3,800 more jobs are created to support construction of the station campus areas, access roadways, parking structures and transit centers.
"The extension of BART into the South Bay is the priority project in VTA’s Measure A Transportation Improvement Program. Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog a Joint Venture, was able to propose constructing the Berryessa Extension at $77 million less than the engineer’s estimate while also accelerating the construction schedule, making it possible to deliver BART sooner than 2018," stated Margaret Abe Koga, chair, VTA Board of Directors.
Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog a Joint Venture brings more than 150 years experience to the project management team.
VTA is seeking a $900 million federal grant for the Berryessa Extension Project from the Federal New Starts funding program and anticipates receipt of it early next year. The grant will complete the funding plan and enable major construction to begin by mid-2012. BART Silicon Valley’s Communications and Outreach team will conduct public meetings prior to commencement of major construction activities. VTA continues project development activities for the second six-mile phase of the project that includes a 5.1 mile-long subway tunnel through downtown San Jose and ends in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. Construction on the second phase of the project will commence as additional funding is secured.
Canadian Pacific Logistics Solutions developed a new wind energy supply chain connecting manufacturers in Quebec, Canada, and Florida with a new clean energy transload facility in upper New York state.
"CPLS has demonstrated competence and expertise in the movement of these super-sized dimensional wind energy components," said Stephen Whitney, vice president market development. "Our end-to-end logistics solution creates value and drives service to new levels for these specialized customers."
The new supply chain connects wind tower sections produced in Trois Rivière, Québec, Canada, and machine heads produced in Pensacola, Fla., move in dedicated unit trains or multiple car blocks using specialized railcars to a dedicated transload facility in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The components will then travel by truck to the wind project site in Pennsylvania. CPLS coordinates the entire logistics process, including permitting, scheduling, transloading, trucking and freight rail movements.