LIRR union coalition set to strike

United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) General Chairperson Anthony Simon on July 15 issued a statement on the labor situation at New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) LIRR.

San Fernando Valley ban on light rail lifted

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation, which will allow the installation of light-rail transit along the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Orange Line. The bill, authored by Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian, provides the flexibility needed to address the growing demands of public transportation in the Greater San Fernando Valley.

DART readies new DFW Station

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport) are making final preparations on the last segment of the Orange Line, which arrives at the new DFW Airport Station on August 18. Soon, the country’s longest light-rail system will connect to the country’s fourth-busiest airport, providing more transportation options for travelers.

Sound Transit launches first Northgate Link TBM

The first of two tunnel boring machines (TBM) that will dig Sound Transit’s new twin light-rail tunnels from the Northgate neighborhood in Seattle to the University of Washington (UW) began mining July 9.

NJ Transit adopts FY15 operating and capital budgets

The New Jersey Transit Board of Directors approved a $2.019-billion operating budget that holds fares stable for the fifth consecutive fiscal year and a $1.203-billion capital program that supports continued investments in infrastructure and equipment to maintain the system in a state of good repair for Fiscal Year 2015.

All Aboard Florida unveils design for Fort Lauderdale station

Local Florida officials joined All Aboard Florida executives at the revealing of designs for the passenger service’s new Fort Lauderdale station, which was planned and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) in association with Zyscovich Architects.

Minneapolis, Met Council’s Southwest LRT tentative agreement removes shallow tunnel from plan

Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Council (Met Council) have reached a tentative agreement regarding the plan to build the Southwest Light Rail Project from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, Minn.

LACMTA makes recommendation for Purple Line extension contractor

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) recommended awarding a $1.636-billion contract to design and build a 3.9-mile extension of the Purple Line subway from Wilshire and Western to Wilshire and La Cienega to a joint venture composed of three construction companies.

North Carolina grade crossing undergoing facelift from town, NCDOT and CSX

The town of Cary, N.C., North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and CSX are teaming up to give a major intersection in Cary a facelift.

GO Transit marks West Toronto Diamond grade separation progress

GO Transit’s West Toronto Diamond (WTD) continues its progress and marked a milestone in May when the east tunnel opened to rail traffic.

LACMTA signs Regional Connector contract; awards contract for double track design

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has signed a contract with a joint venture for the construction of the Regional Connector, as well as awarded a design contract for a Metrolink double track project.

MWAA issues Notice of Recommended Award for Silver Line

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority on July 2 issued a Notice of Recommended Award to Hensel Phelps Construction Co. of Chantilly, Va., to design and build the rail yard and maintenance facility for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

VIA Rail celebrates 100 years of Ocean service

VIA Rail Canada celebrated the 110th anniversary of its Ocean service July 2, which serves 26 communities between Montréal and Halifax.

BART’s 2015 budget emphasizes safety

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has passed a Fiscal Year 15 operating and capital budget totaling $1.56 billion that it says prioritizes safety, passenger needs, system reinvestment and on-time performance took effect July 1, 2014.

FTA calls first year of TSO a success

Two years ago, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) was granted the authority to oversee the safety of all of America’s individual public transportation systems, writes Theresa McMillan, FTA deputy administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fast Lane blog.

Keolis begins operations of MBTA service

Keolis Commuter Services officially began operating the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) 14 passenger rail lines on July 1, 2014, with a pledge to increase on-time performance and improve safety, cleanliness and customer service.

Optimizing capital planning, asset management topic of Railway Age/RT&S free webinar

It is no secret that rail infrastructure is expensive to maintain and, for North American transit agencies, many of which are working with strained budgets, every dollar spent on a maintenance program must stretch as far as it can go.

HART begins column work along H-1 Waiawa Interchange

Column work has begun for the section of Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s (HART) elevated rail line that will cross over the H-1/H-2 Freeway merge between Waipahu and Pearl City.

FRA issues Record of Decision for Fresno to Bakersfield HSR section

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 114-mile Fresno to Bakersfield Section of the California high-speed train system. The ROD is the last step in the National Environmental Policy Act process and clears the way to break ground on the project.

CTC allocates more than $113 million to rail-related projects

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated $510 million to 83 transportation projects, including upwards of $113 million for rail-related projects.

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