B&P Tunnel proposal revised following community input
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has revised the proposal to replace the Civil War-era Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel based on feedback provided to the FRA by Baltimore residents.
Passenger
Metra lays out 2016 construction program
Metra has laid out plans to begin infrastructure improvements to its stations, track, bridges and road crossings this year to ensure safe and reliable service and maintain a state of good repair systemwide. Construction work is expected to begin this week and continue through the fall, weather permitting.
NJ Transit Board names Crosbie as executive director
In a unanimous vote, the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors appointed William Crosbie as the new executive director, effective on or about April 25, 2016.
Metro staff recommends light-rail for Southwest Corridor Plan
Staff of Metro, the Portland metropolitan planning organization, recommended light rail as the best kind of high-capacity transit to connect Portland and Bridgeport Village, Ore., for the Southwest Corridor Plan.
RTD Board approve Genova as GM/CEO
The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) Board of Directors approved the contract for David Genova as the general manager and chief executive officer of RTD. Genova was chosen following an 11-month international search that included 37 public meetings.
ConnDOT continues bidding process for Hartford line; launches Walk Bridge site
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a service provider on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield intercity rail line, now branded as the CTrail Hartford Line. The RFP is open only to those service providers approved and “short-listed” after a Request for Qualifications issued by ConnDOT in 2014.
Former Amtrak chief executive appointed to board of Network Rail Consulting
Network Rail Consulting has appointed Thomas Downs as a non-executive director of Network Rail Consulting Ltd and chair of its North American business, Network Rail Consulting Inc.
New York state budget includes $27B for MTA
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced an agreement on the 2016-17 state budget, including a whopping $27 billion for Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Sound Transit Northgate extension TBM completes one tunnel bore
The tunnel boring machine (TBM) mining the tunnel that will serve northbound Sound Transit light-rail trains to Northgate beginning in 2021 holed through the wall of its retrieval shaft at the University of Washington light-rail station March 30, completing one of two 3.5-mile tunnels for the Northgate Link Extension.
OC Streetcar moves closer to design, construction
Plans for the first modern streetcar in Orange County, Calif., took several steps forward when the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) Board of Directors approved a series of actions to help facilitate the design and construction of the project.
Sound Transit seeks public input on ST3 Draft Plan
Sound Transit has launched a month-long effort to hear from residents on the Sound Transit 3 (ST3) Draft Plan and launched a series of seven public meetings around the region starting April 19.
SEPTA releases $1.4 billion FY 2017 Operating Budget
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Budget and Fiscal Years 2018-2021 Financial Projections and plans to hold a series of public hearings on the spending plan throughout the five-county service region April 25-29.
Contract awarded for environmental consultant for LIRR expansion project
A consulting firm has been hired to assist in the environmental review and formal community engagement process for the Long Island Rail Road Main (LIRR) Line Expansion Project, which calls for adding a third track along a critical 9.8-mile section of LIRR’s mainline between Floral Park and Hicksville Stations.
FRA awards California $1.5 million to separate tracks and road at crossing in Oxnard
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a $1.5 million grant to California to fund the design of a bridge which will carry vehicular traffic on Rice Avenue over railroad tracks in Oxnard. Currently, the Union Pacific tracks, which Metrolink, Amtrak and freight trains utilize, intersect with Rice Avenue.
FASTRACK Returns to the 1 Line in Upper Manhattan
Beginning on March 28, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit’s (NYCT) FASTRACK program returned to the 1 line in Upper Manhattan for two weeks. For four consecutive weeknights from until early April 1, and for four weeknights from April 4 to April 8, 1 service will be suspended between 96 St and Dyckman St from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
LACMTA Board approves release of draft expenditure plan, outlining more than $120 billion in projects
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board of Directors has approved the release of a draft expenditure plan for public review and input that could become part of a possible November ballot measure to fund a wide variety of transit and highway projects, local roadway improvements and pedestrian and bike paths to be built over the next four decades.
Sound Transit releases proposal for 58 miles of light-rail extensions
A public involvement period will begin March 29 on an extensive Sound Transit Board proposal for responding to the region’s chronic transportation challenges.
Gateway Program partners lay out project plans
Partners in the Gateway Program have outlined steps to move it forward including the allocation of $70 million for preliminary engineering, a federal pledge to streamline environmental reviews and finalization of development corporation structure.
Metra adds more than $64M to its 2016 capital program
The Metra Board of Directors has approved a $64.5 million addition to the agency’s 2016 capital program which now totals $251 million in projected spending.
Keolis plans to replace 30k crossties on MBTA Framingham-Worcester Line
Trackwork will begin on the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Framingham-Worcester Line this month, with a goal of replacing 25,000-30,000 crossties while work to end the line’s heat-related speed restrictions wraps up.