UTU, BLET members ratify four contract agreements
Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and United Transportation Union recently ratified four new collective bargaining agreements.
Commuter/Regional
Track and signal testing begins for Sounder extension to Lakewood
Sound Transit in Seattle, Wash., has started rail and signal testing on more than eight miles of new track for its Sounder commuter rail extension to Lakewood.
Maintaining ballast below the ties
Optimal track conditions rely heavily on ballast maintenance.
Ballast doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. For those outside of the industry, the flashy signals, rail and crossties are what railroad lines are made of.
CREATE program update: keeping Chicago fluid
The CREATE program continues to improve movement through the nation’s rail nucleus.
The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program marked nine years of existence in June 2012.
Metra breaks ground on Cicero Station rehab project
Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick joined Metra Acting Chairman Larry Huggins and Executive Director/CEO Alex Clifford on August 7 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of Metra’s Cicero Station on the BNSF Line.
Caltrain receives $3.2 million for modernization
Caltrain will receive $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Transportation grant funds to install an advanced signal system needed to support modernized Caltrain service and the eventual addition of high-speed rail.
L.B. Foster supplies concrete ties to Bay Area SMART transit project
L.B. Foster Company has been awarded a contract to provide 89,175 of its CXT Concrete Ties for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) project.
Metro-North begins work on two Mount Vernon bridges
Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Metro-North Railroad is refurbishing two bridges in Mount Vernon, N.Y., this summer, one that carries cars over train tracks and one that carries train tracks over cars.
SunRail readies to receive 13 miles of cwr
The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to receive nearly 13 miles of rail beginning Monday, July 30 through Wednesday, August 1 for commuter SunRail trains to run on.
LIRR tie replacement on the Ronkonkoma Branch enters final phase
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Rail Road’s work to replace wooden ties on the Ronkonkoma Branch on weekdays between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma is entering its final phase starting Monday, July 23.
Metra awards Englewood Flyover contract
The Board of Directors of Chicago’s Metra approved a $93-million contract to construct the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program P1 project, know as the Englewood Flyover at its meeting on Monday.
MAP-21 grants FTA new authority for transit safety
U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff joined Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and top safety and transit officials to celebrate a legislative victory that will ensure that transit passengers in the United States who board a light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail or transit bus will travel on a system governed by robust federal safety oversight for the first time.
FRA and OSHA sign agreement to protect railroad workers from retaliation
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed an agreement to improve coordination between the two agencies in enforcing the whistleblower provision of the Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA).
Rail industry joins forces to target hiring 5,000 veterans in 2012
In collaboration with various sectors of the rail industry, the Association of American Railroads says that the nation’s major freight, intercity passenger, commuter railroads and rail supply companies expect to hire more than 5,000 veterans in 2012. The rail industry’s commitment is part of the White House Joining Forces initiative, a nationwide effort to recognize, honor and support America’s veterans and military families.
Illinois authorizes $800 million in rail and transit improvements
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a law to begin the next phase of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, which is designed to create jobs, strengthen the transportation system and support economic growth across Illinois.
Hennepin County, Minn., breaks ground on the Interchange project
Hennepin County, Minn., broke ground on its multi-million dollar Interchange project.
Caltrain modernization progresses with California HSR vote
The California Legislature’s vote to approve funding for the Caltrain Modernization Project as part of the California High-speed Rail Authority’s effort marks a milestone in bringing modern electric rail service to the San Francisco Bay area. The bill authorizes $600 million in high-speed rail funds to modernize Caltrain.
OneRail Coalition eager to work with Congress on further improvements
The OneRail Coalition, a diverse group of rail stakeholders, issued a statement congratulating both parties and the House and the Senate for working together to advance transportation reauthorization legislation, which saves and creates millions of jobs by maintaining federal transportation spending at current levels.
All surface transportation reauthorization bill needs is President’s signature
Both the House and Senate passed “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century,” or MAP-21, on Friday, June 29. President Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law shortly.
OneCity Transit Plan for Toronto outlined in letter to City Council
A new 30-year, $30-billion plan to enhance Toronto, ON, Canada, transit was unveiled yesterday.