DART re-elects Strauss chair
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) board of directors re-elected Robert Strauss as their chair for the coming year.
Passenger
HDR wins Sound Transit East Link contract
Sound Transit has awarded HDR its construction management services contract for East Link’s light rail Bellevue Segment. Voters approved the measure to construct and operate a light-rail transit system in the Puget Sound region.
HDR wins Sound Transit East Link contract
Sound Transit has awarded HDR its construction management services contract for East Link’s light rail Bellevue Segment. Voters approved the measure to construct and operate a light-rail transit system in the Puget Sound region.
Bentley Systems names Be Inspired finalists
Bentley Systems, Inc., a company dedicated to providing software solutions for sustaining infrastructure, has announced the project finalists in the 2014 Be Inspired Awards competition.
MTA NYCT to close three station platforms for three months
Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit (MTA-NYCT) will close three Manhattan-bound platforms at 104 St-Oxford Avenue and 88 St-Boyd Avenue stations on the A line for three months as part of an ongoing $39-million renewal project at five stations along the Liberty Avenue Line.
Caltrain cleared to proceed with design/build plans
California Gov. Edmund Brown, Jr., signed legislation that allows the Caltrain electrification project to proceed as a design/build project.
TSB issues final report on VIA Rail crossing accident; notes safety procedure revisions
In its investigation report, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) determined that the May 2013 collision between a VIA Rail Canada passenger train and a tractor-trailer at a private level crossing in Québec City occurred when the train was proceeding through the crossing while the manual gate protecting the crossing was up.
RTD celebrates two decades of light-rail service
October 7, 2014, marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Central Rail Line, Regional Transportation District of Denver’s (RTD) first light-rail line.
Atlanta Streetcar deems first test a success
On October 1, Atlanta Streetcar 1001 made its first trip around the system’s 2.7-mile route under its own power.
Hensel Phelps wins design and build contract
Hensel Phelps Construction Co. has been awarded the contract to design and build the rail yard and maintenance facility for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Silver Line).
ConnDOT plans to replace Walk Bridge
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) plans to close a $188-million funding gap for the design and replacement of the 118-year-old Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Conn., which malfunctioned in two separate incidents within a two week period over the summer, and is used by Metro-North New Haven Line trains.
Engineering report details work needed to fix Amtrak New York tunnels
An engineering report, detailing damage to the Amtrak-owned Hudson River and East River tunnels from Superstorm Sandy, recommends a phased process to take individual tubes out of service for extended periods to perform the work required to maintain reliability of train movements in and out of New York City.
Houston METRO delays opening of two light rail lines to 2015
The opening date for Houston METRO‘s new East End (Green) and Southeast (Purple) Lines have been revised. Issues affecting completion of the additional 10 miles of rail include problems on non-METRO construction projects in the central business district and the performance of equipment used to regulate METRO’s light-rail traffic.
Metro-North; city of Mount Vernon partnering on trio of bridge replacements
Metro-North Railroad and the city of Mount Vernon, N.Y., have agreed to work together to replace up to three bridges that carry vehicular traffic over Metro-North’s New Haven Line. The bridges are located at Tenth Avenue, Sixth Avenue and North 14th Avenue.
CHSRA appoints director of planning and integration
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has appointed Melissa DuMond as director of planning and integration. She will be responsible for advancing CHSRA’s implementation of the high-speed rail program by coordinating station area development, overseeing the advancement of integrated service with other rail providers and management of general corridor planning activities.
New regional rail station coming to Allston, Mass.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick today joined Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Secretary Richard Davey, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and state and local officials to announce that the I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike Allston Interchange Improvements project will include a new commuter rail stop, with pedestrian and bike access, that will allow for increased development and growth opportunities in the area.
Groundbreaking ceremony held for LACMTA Regional Connector
Los Angeles Country Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Regional Connector, a two-mile light-rail transit segment connecting three existing transit lines in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
TEX Rail construction could begin in 2016 with ROD receipt
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) received a Record of Decision (ROD) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the TEX Rail project. The ROD sets the stage for construction on the project to possibly begin in 2016.
Metrolinx acquires CN line for regional rail service
In Toronto, ON, Canada, Metrolinx purchased a segment of Canadian National rail line principally used by GO Transit passenger trains in the Georgetown-Kitchener, ON, area west of Toronto for CA$76 million (US$68 million).
SCVTA receives funds for Mountain View Double Track Project
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission allocated $8 million in federal funding for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) Mountain View Double Track Project.