The Metro Blue Line Extension LRT Project in Minneapolis, Minn., is one step closer to becoming a reality after gaining approval for municipal consent. Robbinsdale was the fifth and final city, in addition to Hennepin County, to take action, voting unanimously in favor of the 13-mile line. The 45-day municipal consent period has now ended.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has begun procuring key services necessary for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, which will extend the subway project to East Harlem in Manhattan.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser are moving one step forward in the establishment of a new Metro Safety Commission, an independent oversight agency that will ultimately direct the safety and security of mass transit systems in the Washington Metropolitan Area, including the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has selected the current Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Therese McMillan as its new chief planning officer.
HNTB Corporation promoted Jeff Konrad, PE, to vice president of rail in Pennsylvania District. The firm also expanded its team of transportation professionals within its New York and Pennsylvania offices.
Purple Line Transit Partners, a consortium of Fluor Enterprises Inc., Meridiam Infrastructure Purple Line, LLC and Star America Purple Line, LLC, was selected as the preferred proponent to design-build, finance, operate and maintain the Purple Line project for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA).
The first in a series of public meetings to consider the future of the proposed Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Green Line Extension (GLX) will be held March 2. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the MBTA are currently conducting a re-evaluation of the extension and invite the public to share their ideas about the project.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has scheduled three public meetings on the King of Prussia Rail Project.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) expects to cut its projected fiscal 2017 operating deficit by 43 percent, the result, it says, of continued reductions in overtime spending and other costs and increases in revenue, such as real estate and advertising. T officials will detail the authority’s improving fiscal status during a meeting of its Fiscal Management and Control Board.
STV has promoted Joseph North to senior vice president. A rail operations specialist and project manager with 40 years of experience in light rail, commuter rail, bus and paratransit operations, North is responsible for supporting STV’s major projects and developing new business.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is soliciting applications for a new grant program authorized by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors has restored Sound Transit 2 funding for preliminary engineering on the Federal Way and Redmond Link extensions, giving staff the green light to move forward with further design on light-rail extensions from Kent/Des Moines to the Federal Way Transit Center and from Overlake to downtown Redmond.
In Kansas City, Mo., the KC Streetcar will begin public ridership May 6, 2016. Kansas City Mayor Sly James said the grand opening of the KC Streetcar is more than a celebration of the end of construction and opening of the line.
A study evaluating high-capacity transit options for Ann Arbor, Mich., and the University of Michigan found that a light-rail route would be the recommended mode of transport over other alternatives.
The economic benefits and number of passengers anticipated by the Coast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Ridership and Cost Estimate Study justify moving the Detroit to Grand Rapids, Mich., project forward, according to project manager Liz Treutel Callin, transportation policy associate for the Michigan Environmental Council.
The Railway Association of Canada has created a Parliamentary Rail Caucus to be chaired by Sherry Romanado, Liberal Member of Parliament for Longueuil-Charles-LeMoyne, Quebec, and co-chaired by Marilyn Gladu, Conservative Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, Ont.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will make $500 million available for transportation projects across the country under an eighth round of the successful Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) competitive grant program.
The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) has hired Ilia Kay as chief financial officer (CFO).
GE has been awarded a contract to power up the Tampa International Airport Automated People Mover (APM) in Florida. The company will provide power equipment and be responsible for system integration, engineering expertise and installation of the traction power substation, which will provide around-the-clock delivery of power to the APM.
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx released a Request for Proposals to companies shortlisted to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit project (LRT).
