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.
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.
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).
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission allocated $8 million in federal funding for Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (SCVTA) Mountain View Double Track Project.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its proposed 2015-2019 Capital Program, which details its plan to ensure safe and reliable service for a growing region by investing in the subway, bus, commuter railroad, bridge and tunnel network.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is considering federal funding for phase two of its Purple Line Extension in the form of a $1.1 billion grant from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program and a $307 million low-interest loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program. The LACMTA Board would have to give approval before the transit agency could apply for the funds.
The Federal Transit Authority (FTA) awarded 40 projects a total of $3.59 billion in federal disaster relief funds to help public transportation systems in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy to become more resilient, in order to withstand the impact of future natural disasters.
The Illinois high-speed rail project connecting Chicago to St. Louis reached a significant milestone in construction September 22, 2014, when the last segment of track and crossties were replaced.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) broke ground on its new 95th Street Terminal, one of the largest station projects in CTA history. The $240-million reconstruction project will replace the current facility, built in 1969, creating a “signature” transit hub that will serve CTA’s busiest rail line.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) have been awarded nearly $2 billion in storm resiliency funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). All of the grants are part of the FTA Emergency Relief Program & Disaster Relief Appropriations.
One year after launching a campaign focused on rail-customer safety, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has seen a nearly 17 percent drop in the number of reports of people trespassing on CTA railroad tracks.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LACMTA) long-planned $1.2 billion overhaul of the Blue Line will focus on the downtown Long Beach loop of the light-rail system, with a 30-day shutdown that began September 20, 2014.
Brian W. King, PE, has been named a vice president with Gannett Fleming. Based in the firm’s corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Penn., King serves as a manager of maintenance facilities in the Transit and Rail Section.
A combined $1.5 billion in Sandy resiliency grants to repair and fortify New Jersey’s transit system has been awarded to New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), is awarding $162,500 in grant funds for public awareness and safety education projects involving 11 transit agencies across the United States.
Beginning September 20, 2014 and continuing each weekend through November 23, 2014, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and third-party contractors will replace bridge timbers and make structural improvements to the Cobbs Creek and Darby Creek Viaducts along its Media/Elwyn regional line in Delaware.
Two pieces of rail-related legislation have progressed on opposite sides of the hill.
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) is expressing concerns over the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Bill (S.2777), scheduled to be marked up in the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday, September 17, 2014.
The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently completed the environmental study of the Kelso Martin’s Bluff Rail Project in Washington state, which would provide more frequent and reliable service for Amtrak Cascades passengers between Seattle and Portland.
United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx joined local, state and federal government officials, private donors and the Detroit community at a track signing ceremony where he formally announced $12.2-million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding for the M-1 Rail project. All of the streetcar project donors were recognized, including the two newest: Ford Motor Company and DTE Energy.