The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) released its proposed $3-billion Operating Budget that funds critical planning for future growth. The agency also posted a $3.5-billion Capital Budget that funds critical state-of-good-repair to existing transportation facilities and new infrastructure that is needed to sustain and accelerate growth and enhance the overall customer experience.
Texas Central Partners, LLC, developers of a high-speed rail project between North Texas and Houston, has expanded its executive ranks, adding Holly Reed, Doug Jones and Lori Willox to its leadership team.
Sterling Construction Company, Inc. subsidiary, Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW), was selected by Denver’s Regional Rail Partners (RRP) as a major subcontractor for a joint venture between Balfour Beatty and Graham Contracting on two Regional Transport District (RTD) projects. These projects, which entail construction on multiple segments of the North Metro Rail Skyway Bridge, are the second and third jobs awarded to RLW by RRP during 2015.
The city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has selected TransEd Partners to design, build, operate, maintain and finance stage one of the Valley Line LRT following an 18-month procurement process.
VIA Rail Canada has acquired the Brockville Subdivision, consisting of 45 kilometers (28 miles) of single track between Smiths Falls and Brockville in Ontario.
Winter is Chicago can be quite brutal and to combat its annual battle against cold and snowy weather, Metra has installed covers and supercharged heaters to several of the most critical switches in its system and continues to repair and replace railcar doors that are prone to fail in winter conditions.
Constantine Vorgias, 85, of St. John, Ind., and former employee of E.J. & E Railroad and ESCO, passed away at home on November 9, 2015.
The Sound Transit Board of Directors have selected the route, stations and expanded operation and maintenance facility for the Tacoma Link Expansion. When built, the 2.4-mile extension will serve riders traveling from the Theater District to the Stadium and Hilltop neighborhoods.
The Tempe Streetcar has received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), which indicates that the three-mile project will have no significant environmental effect on the neighboring communities.
OnTrackNorthAmerica (OTNA), a non-profit action think tank, will partner with Dr. Pasi Lautala from Michigan Tech University and Dr. Mingzhou Jin, director of the Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Engineering lab at the University of Tennessee on better transportation planning and investment.
The Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) joint venture between Hatch and Mott MacDonald will be separated and integrated into the parent companies by early 2016.
The Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $1.29 million in funding for five rail infrastructure and related rail development projects under the Railroad Revolving Loan and Grant (RRLG) Program.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Board of Commissioners has been conducting a search for the agency’s first CEO since New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo endorsed the December 2014 recommendation of the Special Panel on the Future of the Port Authority that the bi-state agency appoint a single chief executive officer selected by and accountable to the Board of Commissioners.
Purchasing new snow fighting equipment, creating dedicated snow response teams and centralizing passenger communications are among the actions being taken by Keolis Commuter Services and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to prepare the commuter rail system for winter in order to keep trains operating safely and to minimize impacts to passengers.
November 21 marks one year of active service for the automated Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to OAK line between Oakland International Airport and Coliseum Station. Coincidentally, it is also expected to reach the one millionth passenger trip milestone at some point this weekend.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) presented its 2016 Final Proposed Budget and its 2016-19 Financial Plan, in which the agency says “a relentless emphasis on cutting costs will allow the MTA to invest $242 million in new service, maintenance and operations initiatives over the next four years, while limiting fare and toll increases to the rate of inflation.”
The Sound Transit CEO Search Committee has recommended Peter M. Rogoff, the federal government’s third-highest transportation official and former Federal Transit Administrator, as its top candidate to serve as Sound Transit’s new leader.
Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and The Northeast Maglev (TNEM) say that the Maryland Public Service Commission has approved BWRR’s application to acquire a passenger railroad franchise previously held by the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railroad Company. The railroad franchise was abandoned in 1935.
The CEO Search Committee of the Sound Transit Board has identified a candidate who it will interview in executive session on Nov. 18.
TriMet has selected Doug Kelsey as its chief operating officer, where he will lead the agency’s Transportation, Maintenance and Information Technology (IT) divisions, starting Nov. 30. He will also have a dotted-line responsibility for the Safety & Security Division.
He comes to TriMet from TransLink, where he served in many capacities, most recently as president and general manager of its subsidiary British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd. Kelsey replaces Robert Nelson, TriMet’s interim deputy general manager who has served in a similar capacity as chief operating officer since July 2013 and plans to retire.
“Doug brings to TriMet more than 16 years experience in the transit industry and he is a welcome and valuable addition to our team,” said General Manager Neil McFarlane. “He will lead our continuing efforts to improve the reliability and quality of our bus and rail service, as well as oversee the expansion of our system to meet the growing demand for transit.”
Kelsey will also provide critical transportation and urban planning leadership and analysis and will have executive management responsibility for the deployment of capital projects once they become operational.
