RailAmerica acquires Atlas Railroad Construction Company






RailAmerica has reached
an agreement to acquire Atlas Railroad Construction Company and related assets
for $21.5 million in cash plus closing adjustments for working capital, which
are estimated to be approximately $2.5 million. The transaction is expected to
close July 1, 2010. Founded in 1954, Atlas is a railroad engineering,
construction, maintenance and repair company operating primarily in the U.S.
Midwest and Northeast. Atlas provides railroad construction services principally
to public-transit agencies, industrial customers, and short line and regional
railroads.

Metra, Union Pacific plan $112 million in West Line upgrades






Every weekday morning,
Peter Myung of Wheaton takes a Metra train to work, the Chicago Tribune reports.
But even when he arrives at the downtown Wheaton station on time, he’s at risk
of missing his train. That’s because the Metra platform is on the north side of
the adjacent Union Pacific tracks; the commuter parking lot where Myung parks
his car is on the south side. When a passing freight train blocks the nearby
West Street crossing, Myung and other commuters must wait for it to pass. But
starting next year, Myung will be able to take a shortcut across the tracks and
won’t risk missing his train.

Worcester, Mass., City Council backs expansion of CSXT freight yard






The Worcester, Mass., City
Council has overwhelmingly approved in concept CSX Transportation’s plan to expand
its freight yard between Shrewsbury and Franklin streets and make the city its
new rail freight hub for New England, the Telegram & Gazette reports. But
the project is anything but finalized; in fact, final city action on it may not
take place for at least another couple of months.

Earthquake upgrade work to start inside BART West Oakland Station






Starting early July 2010,
construction crews will start earthquake-strengthening work inside BART’s West
Oakland Station. Crews will construct scaffolding and enclosures around work
areas and at times will need to temporarily change pedestrian access inside the
station. This means it may take customers longer to make their way through the
station and around the work areas.

VTA to begin safety improvements at eight Caltrain crossings






On July 7, 2010, the Santa
Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will begin to improve eight
Caltrain crossings located in Sunnyvale, Mountain View and Palo Alto, Calif.
The improvements will make crossings safer for pedestrians, bicycles and
automobiles and will include the following safety features: modified railroad
crossing gates, newly-installed guardrails, fences, pedestrian and emergency
swing gates, sidewalks, crossing panels and warning tactile panels to assist
the visually impaired.

LA Metro receives award for Eastside Extension construction project






The Los Angeles Metro
Gold Line Eastside Extension Project was presented with the 2010 Outstanding
Project of the Year Award by the Underground Construction Association of
Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration at the North American Tunneling
Conference held June 20 in Portland, Ore.

Reynolds joins PB Cincinnati office






Timothy Reynolds has been
named a Senior Principal Technical Specialist in the Cincinnati office of
Parsons Brinckerhoff. In his new position, Reynolds will be responsible for
rail and transit services and operations planning and will support
environmental analysis and multimodal planning. He is currently serving in key
roles on the Cincinnati streetcar and Ohio 3-C Corridor Passenger Rail Plan
projects.

Railroad crossing not looking so good to some residents






BNSF has invested some time
and money on the Fairview Avenue crossing in Downers Grove, Ill.,, but some
residents claim there has not been an improvement, according to the Downers Grove Reporter.

Officials comment on Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010






U.S. Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood commended the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Committee for reporting out the Obama Administration’s transit safety bill, the
first transit-specific safety bill ever sent to Congress by any administration,
by a unanimous vote. The bill now goes to the Senate floor.

Drakontas demonstrates prototype wireless emergency messaging






Drakontas LLC, a company
that develops situation awareness and wireless communications tools for first
responders, law enforcement and homeland defense, formally demonstrated
its prototype wireless emergency messaging solution for transit passengers in
subway tunnels on June 29. The 30-minute demonstration showcased the messaging
platform capability inside a passenger train at PATCO’s 8th and Market Station
in Center City Philadelphia.

Nebraska railroad split since fatal bridge collapse






Even with its bridge over
the Elkhorn River washed out by floodwaters two weeks ago, Nebraska Central
Railroad trains south of the river are running almost as usual, reports the
Grand Island Independent. Even around Norfolk — just north of the ruined
bridge — trains are running. But the railroad can’t get goods from places
south of the bridge, such as Grand Island, to Norfolk.

Canadian Pacific Alberta mainline reopens after floods






Canadian Pacific said that
the section of the CP main line east of Medicine Hat, Alta., that has been
closed since June 18 is now open to traffic. This follows the reopening of the
southern line between Lethbridge, Alta., and Swift Current, Sask.

Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail AirportLink construction update






The temporary nighttime
lane closures of all eastbound and westbound lanes on NW 25 Street between NW
39 Avenue and NW 37 Avenue, originally scheduled to take place from June 16-July
1, have been rescheduled to take place starting July 12 through July 26. As
part of the Miami-Dade Transit’s Metrorail AirportLink Project, the above closures
will be implemented in order to conduct activities necessary for the
construction of the new Metrorail extension. All lanes will be closed at 9 p.m.
each night and will reopen at 5 a.m. the following morning. Detour signs will
be posted directing motorists to the below alternate routes.


BMWED’s Rick Inclima appointed to new U.S. DOT safety committee






Transportation Secretary
Ray LaHood has announced the appointment of Rick Inclima, director of safety
for the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division, to a two-year term
on the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS).

New Downtown Berkeley bike station opens July 13






The new and improved
Downtown Berkeley bike station opens July 13, with a ribbon-cutting celebration
at 11:00 a.m. plus other events and prizes throughout the day.

FRA seeks applications for $2.3 billion in high-speed rail grants







February 14, 2001

The Obama Administration took
the next step toward realizing its vision for high-speed rail in the United
States. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration
will begin accepting applications for $2.1 billion in grants to continue the
development of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors.

KCS elects Haverty executive chairman; Starling elected President and CEO






February 14, 2001

Kansas City Southern said
that the KCS board of directors elected Michael R. Haverty, currently chairman
and chief executive officer, to the position of executive chairman and elected
current president and chief operating officer, David L. Starling, to president
and chief executive officer, both effective August 1, 2010. Haverty will continue
to concentrate on the strategic direction of the company and oversee long-term
business decisions.

Unitrac obtains M-1003 Certification






February 14, 2001

Unitrac Railroad Materials,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Healey Railroad Corporation and a specialty
trackwork manufacturer and distributor of new and relay rail, has met the
requirements of the Association of American Railroads’ Quality Assurance
Program as specified in M-1003.

 

Aconex supports Denver RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion program






February 14, 2001

Aconex, a provider of
project collaboration solutions for the construction, infrastructure, energy
and resources industries, has been selected by the Regional Transportation
District Denver to provide its online collaboration solution to RTD’s $6-billion
dollar FasTracks transit expansion program. Aconex will be used to facilitate
the information and records management needs for design, construction, testing
and start-up of the public infrastructure project.

Burned before, railroads take risks






February 14, 2001

During the recession in the
early 2000s, U.S. freight railroads slashed spending and services. When
business revived, they were roundly criticized for bottlenecks and delays, The
Wall Street Journal reports. This time around, the railroads have continued to
spend heavily, plowing more than $20 billion into capital improvements to widen
tracks and tunnels, upgrade cars and engines and enhance their technology.

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