STV promotes Forde to vice president in Baltimore

STV has promoted Norman Forde to vice president, who is now responsible for leading STV’s downtown Baltimore, Md., office.

Maryland Transit Administration plans partial summer shutdown for track maintenance

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will shut down Baltimore Metro Subway service from the Milford Mill to Mondawmin stations for 21 days – July 23 to August 12 – for replacement of major components of Metro rail.

Minneapolis Blue Line extension gains municipal consent

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.

MTA begins procurement process for Second Ave. Subway to East Harlem

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, Virginia, Washington, D.C., enter MOU for WMATA Safety Commission

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).

LACMTA taps FTA’s McMillan as CPO

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 adds rail expertise to New York and Pennsylvania offices

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 selected for LRT project

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).

MBTA GLX undergoes re-evaluation

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.

SEPTA to host public meetings on King of Prussia Rail Project

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has scheduled three public meetings on the King of Prussia Rail Project.

MBTA updates expense cutting progress

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 names Joseph North to SVP

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.

USDOT accepting applications for new $800M FASTLANE grants

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.

Sound Transit advances engineering for two light-rail extensions

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.

May will see openings of KC Streetcar; Phase 2 of LACMTA Expo Line

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.

Light rail recommended mode to connect Ann Arbor, University of Michigan

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.

Study finds Detroit to Grand Rapids passenger rail feasible

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.

Canada’s railways announce new Parliamentary Rail Caucus

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.

Eighth round of TIGER funding makes $500 million available

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.

SamTrans names CFO

The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) has hired Ilia Kay as chief financial officer (CFO).

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