VTMI, Inc., selects Dewberry to support South Florida Freight and Passenger Rail Enhancement Project

Veolia Transportation Maintenance and Infrastructure (VTMI, Inc.) has chosen Dewberry to perform services under its design-build contract for new rail connections between the Florida East Coast (FEC) railway and the South Florida Rail Corridor (SFRC) in West Palm Beach and Miami, Fla.

Trio of senators call for Amtrak funding following derailments

Three East Coast senators are highlighting the need for increased funding of Amtrak following two derailments at New York Penn Station.

Industry-Railway Suppliers hosts Rep. Quigley for tour, public policy discussion

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) joined representatives from the Illinois rail industry for a public policy discussion and a tour of Industry-Railway Suppliers, Inc., (IRS) at its Elmhurst, Ill., headquarters on April 10.

Metra launches 2017 construction program

Chicago’s Metra and its railroad partners announced plans to begin $216 million worth of infrastructure investments in 2017.

Amtrak to review maintenance practices following Penn Station derailments

Amtrak has completed repairs to tracks at New York Penn Station following two derailments in the past month and the railroad’s CEO has pledged a review of its maintenance practices to ensure the situation is not repeated.

FRA opts for four single train tunnels to replace B&P Tunnel in ROD

Four new one-track tunnels should be bored to replace the existing Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel according to a Record of Decision (ROD) issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on March 31.

Sec. Chao: Regulations, not funding are holding up infrastructure advancement

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao says the administration’s forthcoming infrastructure proposal will cover more than infrastructure and reiterated the belief that regulatory red tape, not funding, is responsible for holding up projects.

APTA calls for full project funding of “vital” transit

The American Public Transportation Association called on the Trump Administration to fully fund the FAST Act for fiscal 2017 and 2018 and public transit must be part of the administration’s proposed $1 trillion infrastructure investment.

Canada 2017 federal budget commits to transit funding

Canada’s federal 2017 budget was released March 22 in a move the government called “the next step in the government’s long-term plan to create jobs and strengthen the middle class.”

IO, Metrolinx issue RFQ for Lakeshore East project

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Lakeshore East – East Corridor Expansion project.

LACMTA Board proceeds with environmental study to allow trains dual entry at Union Station

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors is moving forward with an environmental study that will look into building run through tracks at Union Station.

Parsons adds Strong as rail lead

David Strong has joined Parsons as vice president and rail systems lead for the New York and New Jersey region.

South Coast Rail will incorporate “Middleborough Route”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is planning to construct the South Coast Rail project in two phases, beginning with the Middleborough Route.

CTC allocates $60 million to California rail projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) allocated more than $217 million to 72 projects in the state including more than $60 million for state rail projects.

Passenger advocates skewer Trump’s proposed budget; USDOT not ruffled

Passenger rail advocates called out the Trump Administration’s proposed budget for perceived hypocrisy and undermining the voters who put him in office while the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) response was more moderate.

FRA publishes quarterly PTC status update

The Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a status update today on railroads’ progress implementing positive train control (PTC) systems in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts USDOT funds; TIGER, Amtrak long distance train funding gone

The Trump Administration released its proposed 2017 budget, which includes reducing funds to the U.S. Department of Transportation and eliminating Amtrak’s long distance train funding, as well as popular transportation grants.

Railway Age honors Prendergast as Railroader of the Year

Former New York MTA Chairman and CEO Tom Prendergast was honored as Railway Age’s 54th Railroader of the Year at a dinner of the Western Railway Club on March 14 at the historic Union League Club, Chicago.

STV names Bonstead VP; Mcintyre SVP

STV has named Tyler Bonstead, P.E., AICP, as vice president and Scott McIntyre, P.E., LEED AP, as senior vice president.

Amit Bose joins HNTB as mid-Atlantic district transit and rail director

Amit Bose joined HNTB Corporation as mid-Atlantic district transit and rail director, and associate vice president, based in the firm’s Arlington, Va., office. His responsibilities include delivering major transit and rail projects, supporting national transit and rail programs, and growing HNTB’s mid-Atlantic rail practice.

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