Brightline West acquires site for Las Vegas station

Brightline West is moving forward with land acquisition.

Denver RTD

House bill includes money RTD urgently needs for track upgrades

The U.S. House of Representatives voted July 1 to approve a massive infrastructure bill that includes, among other things, nearly $20 million for three critical transportation projects in the downtown Denver area.

MBTA

First leg of MBTA third-track project is now in motion

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal and Management Control Board has given the OK for $28 million in design work for a third-track project between the West Natick commuter rail station and Wellesley Farms.

Cost of big-ticket transit plan in Charlotte, N.C., just went up

Officials in Charlotte, N.C., continue to support a massive transit plan for the region, but the cost has gone up.

MBTA to perform challenging rail measurements over next four years

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has awarded Advanced Rail Management, Corp., (ARM) a four-year contract with two option years for optical rail measurement services.

Why are there more grade crossing accidents in Canada during the winter than the rest of the year?

Winter in Canada sees more rail/highway grade crossing accidents during the winter than during any other season of the year.

Texas Central celebrates two more legal victories, but anti-high-speed rail group vows to continue fight

The Texas Supreme Court will not hear a case on whether or not Texas Central is legally recognized as a railroad company under state law.

L.A.’s Airport Metro Connect project gets moving

Dirt finally moved on the site of the Airport Metro Connector (AMC) project in Los Angeles.

MTA Inspector General discovers employee time and attendance theft on LIRR

The MTA Office of the Inspector General has had it’s hands full lately.

CTA board approves Lester Barclay as chairman

The Chicago Transit Board [last week] approved Lester Barclay as its next chairman.

Brightline signal testing extended until Saturday, June 19, in West Palm Beach

Brightline signal testing is underway between Palm Beach County through West Palm Beach.

Rail Group On Air: Commuter Rail Coalition—The liability insurance crisis

Commuter Rail Coalition Vice Chair Mike Noland (South Shore Line) and Director of Government Affairs John Cline (Cline Strategic Consulting) discuss how the decidedly unsexy issue of excess liability insurance has become an existential threat to commuter railroads with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. They also share the innovative solution in need of bi-partisan support as it’s being shopped on Capitol Hill.

With Senate committee’s latest action, is there a chance a transportation bill is ironed out before August recess?

The Senate Commerce Committee has moved forward the Surface Transportation Investment Act, which dedicates $78 billion over five years for freight, rail safety programs, and trucking.

Maryland Board of Public Works grants $200 million for Purple Line work

RT&S has reported on the troubles of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Purple Line several times over the past year. Recent news indicates there may be a glimmer of hope.

Light-rail network not a sure thing in Hamilton, Ontario

Before officials take a final vote on a light-rail network in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, local MP Bob Bratina wants another vote of confidence.

High-speed rail is headed straight for a deathblow, but federal lawmakers could do something about it

Both the House and Senate agree that more federal funding needs to be devoted to high-speed rail in the next long-term infrastructure bill.

Nuria Fernandez confirmed administrator of the Federal Transit Administration

We now have a confirmed administrator of the Federal Transit Administration.

Key light-rail projects receive another dose of federal funding

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a total of $250 million in federal funding allocations to help communities across the country protect the jobs of workers involved in constructing transit projects, ensuring the continued advancement of those critical pieces of infrastructure, despite the impacts of COVID-19.

Bells & Whistles—A sinkhole and a sinking budget

Is the path to the passage of a major infrastructure bill already growing weeds? Sound Transit looks at later project completion dates to help temper affordability gap Unusual rail movement at grade

Kailash Lala joins HNTB’s Atlanta technology team

HNTB recently announced a new member of their Atlanta office team.

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