Denver Union Station reopens following revitalization efforts

Denver Union Station reopened on May 9 and is now a multimodal transportation hub that includes a new bus facility and rail connections and will significantly improve transportation options in downtown Denver and beyond.

Metro-North completes Bronx track project

Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s Metro-North Railroad completed a track reconstruction effort that began in July 2013 on the tracks through the central Bronx used by New Haven Line and Harlem Line trains. The authority says the work results in a safer, smoother ride and improved operating speeds.

Ouch: House Appropriations Committee cuts transportation FY 2015 budget by nearly $730 million

The House Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill. The committee proposal allocates $17.1 billion for the Department of Transportation, $727 million below FY 2014 funding levels.

Metra recognized for safety practices

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently recognized Chicago’s Metra for its commitment to employee safety in best safety practices from railroads around the industry at the annual Railroad Safety Leadership Forum in Atlanta.

NCTD pursuing TIGER grant for Camp Pendleton Transit Center planning

The North County Transit District (NCTD) in San Diego has applied for a $5-million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant.

Florida’s SunRail begins service

SunRail opened the first phase of its passenger rail line on April 30, which will significantly expand transit options and connect thousands of residents to jobs and other economic opportunities throughout central Florida.

Nowakowski to lead LIRR

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed Patrick Nowakowski as president of Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

MTA Board considers expanded PTC contract, LIRR bridge replacement plan

In a move to enhance the safety of Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) signaling systems sooner, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board committees approved the expansion of a contract with a joint venture of Bombardier Transportation/Siemens Rail Automation by an additional $11.3 million.

Sound Transit to administer track and signal upgrades for new Amtrak service

The Sound Transit Board has agreed to help implement improvements to Amtrak passenger rail service between Portland, Ore. and Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Metra plans grade-crossing work on Milwaukee Ave.

Chicago’s Metra will perform grade-crossing work on Milwaukee Avenue where it intersects with its Milwaukee North Line in Libertyville, Ill., from May 2-7.

Three named to top Metro-North operations posts; substation upgrade begins

Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad has named three to top leadership positions.

AAR: Only 20 percent of PTC network will be ready by 2015

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) issued a new report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) updating the industry’s progress on installing Positive Train Control (PTC) and said the industry will not meet the December 2015 deadline.

MTA awards two East Side Access contracts

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded two contracts for the East Side Access project, the transportation megaproject that is connecting Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) customers to Grand Central Terminal.

LIRR begins Long Beach Branch restoration project

The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is starting a $120-million construction program designed to protect the LIRR’s Long Beach Branch from the kind of devastating damage caused by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Illinois’ new six-year transportation program includes $1.85 billion for public transit

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn unveiled a six-year, $8.6-billion construction program that he says will improve roads and bridges throughout Illinois while making major investments in public transportation.

BNSF, Metra to begin tie and surface project along Illinois line

A major tie replacement and track resurfacing project will get underway during the last two weeks of April on Metra’s BNSF Line to Aurora, Ill. Metra said the project is part of an effort to maintain and improve the quality of service.

Hennepin County approves Target Field Station development agreements

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, Regional Rail Authority and Housing and Redevelopment Authority gave approval Tuesday, April 8, to final agreements with United Properties, the Minnesota Twins and Metro Transit for development around Target Field Station, a multimodal transportation station located just to the west of the ballpark in Minneapolis, Minn.

Operation Lifesaver partners with FRA, FTA and AAR on new national safety PSA

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), launched a new public service advertising (PSA) campaign called See Tracks? Think Train!, which aims to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks by highlighting behaviors that put people at risk.

FAMES report makes recommendations to avoid adjacent track fatalities

The Fatality Analysis of Maintenance-of-way Employees and Signalmen (FAMES) Committee published a series of recommendations to improve roadway worker projection when trackwork occurs where adjacent track is present. Between 1997 and 2012, 25 percent of roadway worker fatal accidents have occurred on adjacent track.

MTA, PANYNJ, MSDC develop $4.9 billion transportation resiliency program

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the Moynihan Station Development Corporation (MSDC) have developed a coordinated transportation resiliency program to help prepare the region for future emergencies, reduce the impact of future storms on vital transportation infrastructure and improve the long-term reliability and resiliency of the public transportation network.

LOAD MORE