RTD FasTracks reassured of $120 million in grants from FTA

The Regional Transportation District in Denver Colo., received reassurance that it will be receiving funding grants for the RTD FasTracks program as originally proposed in the fiscal year 2011 federal budget. The grants, which are made at the Federal Transit Administration’s discretion, are from a pool of $1.6 billion approved by congress this year. The West, Gold and East lines are each slated to receive $40 million, for a total of $120 million.

FasTracks is RTD’s voter-approved transit program to expand rail and bus service throughout the RTD service area. Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff announced in a speech that he plans to move forward with grants for RTD’s FasTracks program along with other major transit projects across the nation.

"We are excited and pleased that the funding will assist with the RTD’s expansion program. And we are grateful for the support we receive from our Congressional Delegation in Washington," said Lee Kemp, Chairman, RTD Board of Directors.

 

Rail Conference, RLBC seek release from mediation

The Rail Labor Bargaining Coalition has asked to be released from federal mediation. The RLBC is comprised of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (both divisions of the Teamster Rail Conference), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen, the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (SEIU), the Sheet Metal Workers International Association and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers and Blacksmiths.

In a June 13 letter to the National Mediation Board, RLBC Chairman W. Dan Pickett requested that NMB terminate mediation and proffer arbitration to the parties, pursuant to Section 5 of the Railway Labor Act. Chairman Pickett noted that the Mediation Board’s best efforts have not been successful in bringing about an amicable settlement of this dispute through mediation.

The RLBC also pointed out that proposed changes to the United Transportation Union’s separate health insurance plan that have tentatively been agreed to, cannot be incorporated into the Railroad Employees’ National Health and Welfare Plan, which covers RLBC-represented and other railroad workers. Moreover, the industry’s position that significant economic elements of the tentative UTU agreement are inapplicable to RLBC-represented workers means that, "the parties’ differences are irreconcilable and further mediation is unwarranted."

The full RLBC letter to the NMB can be viewed on the BLET National Division website.

L.B. Foster forms Friction Management business unit

Following L.B. Foster’s acquisition of Portec Rail Products, Inc. in mid December, 2010, the company has formed "a new business team focused on enhancing its global leadership position in wheel/rail interface solutions," L.B. Foster said today. The new organization is named L.B. Foster Friction Management.

Under the direction of Vice President, Global Kostas Papazoglou, L.B. Foster Friction Management "will combine the talents of the personnel of former Portec Rail Products, Inc. businesses located in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Australia into a single, worldwide team," the company said.

To support this initiative, L.B. Foster made the following management appointments in addition to Papazoglou:

Dr. Donald Eadie is Vice President Technology and Innovation focusing on mobile friction management application systems and consumables. He has responsibility for the company’s Centres of Engineering Excellence located at the Vancouver, Sheffield, and China sites. He will also work with the Vice President Technology and Business Development to lead the global technology team.

Dr. Kevin Oldknow is Vice President Technology and Business Development. He will focus on trackside friction management delivery systems and will have responsibility for the company’s Centres of Engineering Excellence at the Pittsburgh, Montreal and Australia sites. He will also be responsible for developing and implementing strategy along with the execution of business development and marketing activities.

Brian Vidler is Director Friction Management Technical Sales with responsibility to drive the growth needed to achieve the team’s strategic objectives. He will direct various activities of the technical sales resources with North American Class I railroads as well as in international markets and transit agencies globally.

Five other appointments were made to provide local leadership, management and coordination of inside/outside sales, customer service, production planning, accounting and field service as well as work closely with the engineering and technical sales functions. These include Steven Fletcher, General Manager, Vancouver; John Musser, General Manager, Pittsburgh; Mr. Gerry Clark, General Manager, Montreal; Mr. Peter Jones, Managing Director, UK and Mr. Gary Elliot, Commercial Director, UK.

"This team will rely on its world class wheel/rail interface expertise as a leading edge to create innovative, value based solutions to a growing global rail customer base, supported by industry recognized problem solving capabilities and applications specification and design competencies," said Papazoglou. "It will drive these solutions with products, technologies, project management, and performance verification to promote profitable revenue growth for L.B. Foster."

CN to start construction of Calgary Logistics Park in summer 2011

Canadian National’s construction of its new Calgary Logistics Park, an investment of approximately $206 million (C$200 million), will start this summer with targeted completion by the end of 2012.

"CN is eager to break ground for the new logistics park, which will provide seamless transportation solutions to rail customers moving products and commodities into and out of Calgary, one of the fastest growing cities in North America and a key logistics hub for consumer and industrial goods markets in southern Alberta," said Claude Mongeau, president and chief executive officer of CN.

The 680-acre logistics park in Conrich, Alberta, located in Rocky View County, will feature:

* A state-of-the-art intermodal terminal for containerized goods moving between rail and truck, with ample room for customers to build on-site distribution centers that will eliminate costly handling and drayage cost to move product to other facilities;
* More than two million square feet of warehousing capacity, including a multi-commodity rail-to-truck transload and warehouse facility and
* Dimensional shipment and heavy container handling capacity.

CN also plans to have an automotive compound for regional vehicle distribution ready during 2013 and to add a liquid and dry-bulk transload and distribution facility to the logistics park at a later date. Operations will start in early 2013.

The new facility is situated on Twp Road 250/McKnight Boulevard and is just 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from Calgary International Airport.

"We are thrilled with the news of this new facility and with the collaborative partnership we have formed with CN," said Rolly Ashdown, Rocky View County Reeve. "The Logistics Park is a great addition to Rocky View County and the region, helping to support our goal of a healthy and diversified economy."

Mongeau said, "The Calgary Logistics Park is part of CN’s plan to build similar multi-modal facilities across our network at key distribution nodes to handle a variety of goods and commodities. Our goal is to reduce logistics costs for our customers through highly efficient materials handling, transportation and distribution processes. With this approach, CN can help its customers grow, enhance the economic development of the communities we serve, and position the railway CN for greater traffic growth."

BNSF and YSVR enhance operational coordination to serve growing Montana rail demand

BNSF Railway and Yellowstone Valley Railroad will amend their lease agreement this fall on the rail route between Snowden and Glendive, Mont.

BNSF will provide service for unit trains and YSVR will provide service for all other traffic along the line between Snowden and Crane. BNSF will serve all customers between Crane and Glendive and handle bridge traffic between Snowden and Glendive. BNSF will also assume the dispatching and maintenance of the entire Snowden to Glendive line.

"The tremendous growth of oil production in the Williston Basin and the Bakken Shale formation over the last several years has resulted in significant increases in traffic volumes in and out of this area," said Dean Wise, BNSF vice president, network strategy. "This amended agreement will allow BNSF and YSVR to respond to the changing demands of our customers, improve direct service and unit train handling efficiencies and continue to invest to serve this rapidly growing part of the Montana and North Dakota economies."

"This unique agreement will help to improve service for all customers in the area," said Bill Goldsberry, YSVR general manager. "We will be able to more effectively coordinate operations, enabling both railroads to focus on their strengths and continue to meet customer demand."

Port Everglades, FEC to partner in development of intermodal facility

Florida’s Broward County Board of County Commissioners has unanimously approved action authorizing the Port Everglades Department staff to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding with the Florida East Coast Railway company leading to the development of an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on Port property.

"Florida East Coast Railway is excited to partner with the state of Florida and Broward County to deliver an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at Port Everglades. This project has been identified by the local community as a need for future growth and the ICTF will ensure South Florida is a hub for international trade for future generations," said Jim R. Hertwig, president and CEO of Florida East Coast Railway, L.L.C.

The Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan, approved by the Board of County Commissioners on March 1, 2011, envisioned the development of a near-dock ICTF in the Southport area of the Port as a public/private partnership. Successful completion of an MOU will be the first step towards a broader agreement for construction and operation of the ICTF.

The ICTF in the Southport area of Port Everglades will facilitate the transfer of containerized cargo through the Port onto the FEC rail line via a connecting rail spur. The proposed ICTF is unique compared to similar facilities in other ports in that both domestic and international cargo would be handled on the site. These cargos are currently being handled on a 14-acre site on Andrews Avenue owned by the FEC. A combined near-dock facility at the Port should result in competitive transfer and shipping fees for port clients, thus increasing the Port’s competitive advantage compared to other ports. Positive environmental benefits are also envisioned by the reduction of truck traffic on local roadways.

The Florida Department of Transportation will break ground for the Eller Drive Overpass project in July 2011, which is a critical first step in moving the ICTF forward by allowing for an at-grade rail connection directly into Southport. This project is fully funded by the state and is estimated to cost $54 million.

 

Canada’s VIA Rail reaches out to the public about future plans

VIA Rail Canada held its first Annual Public Meeting June 14, at the Ottawa Train Station. Broadcast simultaneously on the Internet, the meeting provided an opportunity for the public to learn about VIA’s business operations, financial performance and projects for improvements.

It also gave the public a chance to speak directly with Paul G. Smith, chairman of the board, Marc Laliberté, president and CEO and Robert St-Jean, chief financial and administrative officer, during an open-question period. The chairman and executive officers also answered questions sent by e-mail from members of the public who could not attend in person.

Major investment program
Smith mentioned that with an unprecedented investment by the Canadian government of approximately $950 million (C$923 million), VIA is transforming the future of passenger rail.

"It is the biggest capital investment program in VIA’s history," Smith said. "It will give VIA the tools, the infrastructure and equipment, to ensure that passenger rail provides relevant, vital services connecting Canada and Canadians across the country in the years ahead."

Laliberté noted that infrastructure improvements in the Quebec-Windsor corridor will expand the capacity of passenger rail, allowing VIA to carry more people. He added, "this is essential for one of our top priorities, connecting more Canadians by offering more frequent train services, faster and better schedules and more reliable performance."

Performance
In an overview of VIA’s performance in 2010, St-Jean said that travel markets continued to struggle following the 2009 recession and despite that context, VIA revenues increased by 3.2 percent.

"This means that we are earning more revenues per passenger," St-Jean added. "And if we look at the first quarter of 2011, things look even more encouraging. Compared with the first quarter of 2010, passenger revenues are up 6.3 percent and passenger volumes increased 2.7 percent. So revenues continue to increase, due in large part to better revenue management and we’ve got ridership back on track for growth."

Transforming VIA
Laliberté also outlined VIA’s strategy to achieve two further goals: increase services in a value for taxpayers’ perspective and making passenger rail "not only the safest, but most operationally-efficient mode of public transportation in Canada."

Commenting on prospects for the future, Laliberté said, "2011 will be a pivotal year, as key investment projects move forward and reach completion. As we continue to focus on the immediate challenge, maintaining steady growth in the months ahead, I am confident that this pivotal year will mark an important step towards our vision for the future. "

GCRTA breaks ground on Buckeye-Woodhill station

As construction season approaches, The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority will break ground on the updating of its Buckeye-Woodhill Rapid Transit Station on the Blue and Green Lines. The GCRTA Board of Trustees Vice President, Mayor Dennis Clough of Westlake, will host the groundbreaking event, on Wednesday, June 15.

Over the next 15 months, Great Lakes Crushing will construct the $3.3 million contemporary-themed rapid station, served by both Blue and Green Line trains. Service will continue to and from the station during the majority of construction.

"This updated station will have an attractive, high-quality design that is passenger-friendly and will make the Buckeye-Woodhill Rapid Transit Station universally accessible," said Joe Calabrese, CEO and general manager, GCRTA.

In a modern twist of design, the eastbound and westbound platforms will be covered with transparent fiberglass panels, which offer a ‘halo’ effect during evening hours. This glowing effect will provide greater visibility for customers.

The station will also consist of a series of stairs that incorporate ramps to serve customers with disabilities. The customer platforms will be accessible from both Buckeye and Woodhill roads. The station will also offer 33 free parking spots for customer use.

 

International peer review positive on Amtrak HSR plan for Northeast Corridor

Leading European and Japanese high-speed rail operators reviewed the Amtrak next-generation high-speed rail vision plan and have expressed support for its phased approach to achieve 220 mph service on the Northeast Corridor. The operators also suggested that while Amtrak’s total assessment is sound and reasonable, the proposed service may generate more ridership, revenue and market share and may cost less to build than initially estimated.

"The positive feedback from our experienced colleagues around the world is encouraging and demonstrates that Amtrak’s high-speed rail plan is a proper response to meet the region’s need for increased transportation capacity and is a viable way forward," said Al Engel, Amtrak vice president, high-speed rail.

He added, "Amtrak’s initial projections of ridership, revenues and costs for this new system were appropriately conservative and we are pleased that many of the world leaders in high-speed rail have offered their ideas to help refine and improve our plans."

Amtrak submitted its vision plan for international peer review and invited comments on identifying opportunities to strengthen the business case, improve the operations plan and achieve construction efficiencies, among many other areas.

Responses were received from high-speed rail operators in Europe and Asia as well as several railcar equipment suppliers. Most respondents focused on the technical analysis report, in particular sections on conceptual engineering, operational planning, operating and maintenance costs, travel demand/market analysis, ridership and revenue forecasts.

Most reviewers agreed with the phased approach as outlined by Amtrak for a clear, structured and coordinated path to achieve 220 mph service on exclusive operational segments between Washington and Boston. The East Japan Railway Company, a major operator of the Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan, said that it is "extremely important to build capital from early project phases so that additional profits can be obtained and invested in future phases" as they did themselves for a previous extension of their service.

There also was the recurring theme by the reviewers that the Amtrak plan would likely generate more ridership and revenue than projected in the plan given current market conditions and expected increases in travel demand.

Many of the reviewers commented on the initial projected $117 billion cost of the plan. One long-time developer and high-speed operator noted that the capital costs discussed in the report were somewhat higher than their experience and another high-speed operator wrote that the cost for the train equipment may be less than what is proposed if the procurement is similar to their own. Others suggested facilities and structures could be redesigned to reduce their footprint thereby reducing total land acquisition costs.

More detailed studies in specific areas to analyze and verify assumptions made in the Amtrak vision plan reports are already underway. The peer review comments will be addressed in these and future study phases that will refine engineering needs, develop a business and finance plan, and embark on a major corridor environmental review and alternatives analysis.

 

FRA delays concrete tie safety standards implementation

The Federal Railroad Administration has pushed back the implementation date of its final rule on Track Safety Standards concerning concrete crossties from July 1, 2011 to October 1, 2011. The delay in the effective date is in response to two petitions for reconsideration of its final rule that mandates specific requirements for effective concrete crossties, for rail fastening systems connected to concrete crossties and for automated inspections of track constructed with concrete crossties.

 

BNSF Abo Canyon double track now open for business

BNSF employees had reason to celebrate Friday, June 3, as the first train traversed the completed double track through the Abo Canyon on the Southwest division.

This project addressed one of the last remaining segments of single-line track on BNSF’s busy Southern Transcon. The 2.5-year-long project, which included laying five miles of new track, blasting approximately 3.6 million tons of rock and building nine bridges totaling about 3,000 feet in length, was completed ahead of schedule.

"The new track, about 25 miles east of Belen, N.M., will help improve velocity through the canyon, eliminate bottlenecks and accommodate rail traffic growth on this section of BNSF’s transcontinental line, which connects Los Angeles to Chicago," said Sam Sexhus, vice president of engineering.

 

New Orleans streetcar project breaks ground, receives additional training Grant

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other city officials to break ground on the Union Passenger Terminal/Loyola Avenue streetcar project, which received $45 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program last year. The new streetcar extension is expected to begin service in June 2012.

"The New Orleans Streetcar project will create new jobs, economic opportunities and greater transit choices," Secretary LaHood said. "Not only will it stimulate development along Loyola Avenue, but it will also provide residents greater access to the central business district."

The new streetcar extension will run through New Orleans’ central business district along Loyola Avenue from the Union Passenger Terminal to Canal Street. The Union Passenger Terminal is a major Southern hub for Amtrak, with three trains serving the station.

In addition to the streetcar project, Secretary LaHood said that the New Orleans Regional Transit Administration will receive a $400,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to establish a streetcar maintenance training program to assist in hiring and training skilled streetcar maintenance workers.

RTA’s new training program is one of a dozen programs supported by FTA’s Innovative Workforce Development grants offering support for efforts that improve the state of the practice in workforce development and help address the needs of human capital in the transit industry.

Lautenberg, Holt speak out against rail security cuts

U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Rush Holt joined mass transit workers at the Trenton Transit Center on Monday to oppose a Republican effort to cut rail security funding by 65 percent.

"Just weeks after reports that hand written notes from Osama bin Laden were found in his compound targeting our rails, the Tea Party Republicans in the House slashed funding for rail security. The Republican cuts to homeland security funding are reckless and dangerous for New Jersey and I’m going to fight in the senate to defeat them," said Sen. Lautenberg, who is also the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on homeland security, which has jurisdiction over rail security funding.

Since 2004, terrorist cells have conducted deadly bombings on major passenger rail systems in Spain, the United Kingdom, India and Belarus, with more than 600 people killed and more than 3,200 wounded.

Under the House version of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month, security programs for intercity passenger rail, freight rail and mass transit would fall by 65 percent below the administration’s 2012 budget request. Rep. Holt co-sponsored an amendment that would have reversed many of the cuts, but his proposal failed on an almost entirely party-line vote.

Under current law, transit security is underfunded and has persisted despite ongoing threats to surface modes of transportation. Aviation receives 12 times as much security funding despite the fact that surface transit provides 18 times as many passenger trips.

 

 

ICC approves pedestrian bridge, crossing work in five Illinois counties

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a stipulated agreement between BNSF, LaSalle County Highway Department, Allen Township Road District and the Illinois Department of Transportation providing for the installation of flashing light signals and gates and improvement of the highway approaches, at the E 25th Road crossing near Ransom, LaSalle County. This is to be completed by June 2012.

The estimated cost to install the new automatic flashing light signals and gates is $533,560 and the cost to improve the highway approach gates is $205,487. The Commission approved funding 95 percent of the cost of the project from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and Allen Township will pay the remaining.

The ICC approved a stipulated agreement requiring Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad Company to replace existing crossbuck warning signs and antiquated automatic signals with new automatic flashing light signals and gates with constant warning circuitry at 12 grade crossings located in Cook, DuPage, Kane and DeKalb counties.

Total cost for the safety improvements is $2.4 million. The Commission authorized spending approximately $2.1 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund to help pay for the projects. The Illinois Department of Transportation will pay the remaining ten percent.

The ICC has also authorized the construction of a pedestrian overpass crossing of UP’s rail corridor in Lombard, including an estimated $1.9 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund to pay approximately 60 percent the total cost of the project. This is to be completed by December 2012.

The total cost of the pedestrian overpass project is estimated to be $3.3 million and will cross over three of UP’s mainline tracks. The remaining costs will be paid by the Village, using local and federal revenue sources.

 

TriMet sees double digit ridership gains in May on MAX, WES

More than 8.8 million rides were taken on TriMet buses, MAX and WES Commuter Rail in May, up 4.9 percent compared with May 2010.

New record high figures were reached for MAX and WES with double-digit increases. Weekday MAX trips went up 11.5 percent, while rush hour MAX trips increased 12.3 percent. Weekday Green line trips went up 18.3 percent and WES weekday/rush hour trips increased 30.2 percent.

 

 

 

CPR finds home for new Regina Intermodal Facility

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco joined Canadian Pacific Railway President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Green, as well as other dignitaries in officially unveiling the future home of CP’s Intermodal Facility at the Global Transportation Hub on June 10.

The new facility will be located on a 124-hectare (about 300 acres) site adjacent to CPR’s main line between Regina and Moose Jaw. Initial construction is expected to start this summer with completion scheduled for late 2012.

CPR joined Canadian Logistics Services in locating to the GTH, which encompasses about 2,000 acres of serviced land and will replace the existing terminal that opened in 1980.

"Canadian Pacific’s relocation of its intermodal facility to the GTH is an important stage for the GTH and it clearly demonstrates the railway’s ongoing commitment to Regina and why CP is such a valued corporate citizen," said Fiasco. "CP is clearly one of the anchor tenants of the GTH, which will attract other potential business to this important intermodal hub for Regina and Saskatchewan."

The new facility’s footprint allows for a said potential of up to 250,000 container handlings per year or about five times the number of container handlings at the 31-year old terminal.

"The new intermodal facility will further strengthen CP’s ability to meet the growing shipping needs of our customers and will make Regina a key intermodal location for the company, joining Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver as major intermodal centers in Canada," said Chief Executive Officer Fred Green.

 

CTA extends hours on Green, Orange and Brown lines

Beginning Sunday, June 12, the Chicago Transit Authority adjusted the hours of operation on the Green, Orange and Brown lines in an effort to provide earlier service to Midway Airport for travelers on weekends, provide more convenient transfers between rail lines and accommodate increases in ridership.

In addition, all eight rail lines have new schedules in effect. Most routes continue to have the same general frequency and span of service; however, arrival times may change up to a few minutes.

Green Line
On Saturday and Sunday mornings, service between Harlem and Cottage Grove/63rd and from Harlem to Ashland/63rd will begin approximately 30 minutes earlier. Service from Ashland/63rd to Harlem will begin at approximately 5:15 a.m.

Brown Line
On weekdays and Saturday mornings, the first train downtown will leave Kimball 30 minutes early and the first train from downtown to Belmont will leave 30 minutes early. The last train from Kimball to downtown and the last train from downtown to Kimball will leave 30 minutes earlier as well.

Orange Line
On Sunday mornings and evenings, the first train from downtown to Midway Airport will leave one hour earlier and the last train to Midway from downtown will leave an hour and a half earlier. The first train from Midway to downtown leaves one hour earlier and the last train to downtown from Midway leaves at approximately 1 a.m.

Stabler elected new TTCI president

The Transportation Technology Center, Inc. Board of Directors elected Lisa Stabler as TTCI’s new president, effective Oct. 7, 2011. Stabler will succeed Roy Allen, who will retire this October.

Stabler has been TTCI’s vice president of operations and training since arriving from BNSF, where she was assistant vice president of quality and reliability engineering. While at BNSF, she chaired the Advanced Technology Safety Initiative Program, the industry‐wide initiative that redefined the way that freight car maintenance is performed. She was also director of marketing, planning and administration at Delphi Corporation in Dayton, Ohio.

 

AECOM acquires India’s Spectral Services Consultants Pte. Ltd.

AECOM Technology Corp., has acquired Spectral Services Consultants Pte. Ltd., a building services consultancy based in Noida, India.

Spectral is a 500-employee, Indian market leader in the provision of mechanical, electrical and specialist consultancy services for national and global clients who are looking to minimize their environmental footprint.

"The addition of Spectral to the AECOM family advances our Asian strategy and demonstrates our commitment to investing in emerging geographies," said John M. Dionisio, AECOM president and chief executive officer.

AECOM expects the transaction to be completed in fiscal year 2011.

 

HNTB hires four

HNTB Corporation has added four rail professionals to the firm’s Northeast division. The need has been fueled by recent growth through several pursuits and project wins in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Connecticut. Each of these individuals will work with the division’s high-speed rail, intercity rail and transit teams focusing on further strengthening the rail practice in the northeast.

"The Northeast Division is honored to have these talented individuals join the firm," said Bob Sutton, senior vice president and HNTB’s Northeast division president.

Jeffrey Parker has joined HNTB’s Philadelphia office as an associate vice president and senior project manager. He brings more than 22 years of senior level experience at multimodal transportation agencies.

Al Trotta, PE, has joined HNTB’s Philadelphia office as a senior project manager. He brings more than 30 years of experience in engineering, 17 years working for the Long Island Rail Road and the Port Authority Transit Corporation.

Joseph Pizzurro, PE, has joined HNTB’s New York office as an associate vice president, director of rail, New York metropolitan area, where he will work with HNTB’s Northeast division high-speed rail, intercity rail and transit teams focusing on growing the rail and transit practice. Pizzurro brings more than 16 years of in-depth track, structural and civil engineering rail-related design and construction expertise.

Lester Eckrich, PE, has joined HNTB’s Wayne, N.J., office as senior project manager. He will work to further develop the division’s rail and facilities practice. Eckrich brings 29 years of experience working for NJ TRANSIT where he served in positions ranging from facilities engineer in the bus operations unit to chief engineer in the capital planning and programs division.

 

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