Twin Cities’ Green Line opens for business
Metro Transit‘s METRO Green Line Light Rail Line, which links St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., improving access to jobs and other opportunities, is now open to passengers.
Passenger
AECOM design partnership awarded contract for Region of Waterloo light-rail project
GrandLinq, a public-private partnership (PPP) in which AECOM Technology Corporation participates, has been awarded a contract by the Region of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada.
Metro-North issues 100-day progress report
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad has issued its 100-Day Report on the Action Plan established by President Joseph Giulietti, which focused the railroad’s efforts on improving safety, restoring reliability and improving communications.
FRA, MDOT, Amtrak partner to further study to improve Civil War-era tunnel
Working to improve rail service, reliability and address a longstanding bottleneck along Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor (NEC), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Amtrak are advancing an engineering and environmental study to examine various
CTA awards two Red Line station contracts
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is taking the next steps in modernizing the Red Line by awarding two station construction contracts.
The CTA Board approved the award of two contracts for the Wilson and 95th/Dan Ryan stations, projects that will replace and expand existing stations and provide customers with a convenient, 21st Century transit experience.
House approves fiscal year 2015 THUD bill
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2015 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) funding bill on a vote of 229-192. The legislation includes funding for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and other related agencies.
ConnDOT, MTA to conduct operational review of Walk Bridge
Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will conduct an operational review of procedures at Walk Bridge in Norwalk, Conn.
Rep. Denham plans amendment to prohibit funding for California high-speed rail
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA-10) plans to introduce an amendment to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, H.R. 4745, preventing any appropriated funds from being used for high-speed rail in the state of California. In June of 2012, Rep. Denham offered the same amendment to the THUD appropriations bill for the year 2013, H.R. 5972.
Rail Summit rallies rail executives, decision makers in Chicago
The second annual Rail Summit, held in Chicago, Ill., proved to be another success, rallying some 300 rail executives and decision makers to discuss this year’s theme of economic opportunities resulting from the surge in energy and intermodal growth.
FRA launches safety investigation into recent Metra incidents
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is launching a 45-day focused deep dive safety assessment of Chicago’s Metra in response to three incidents that have taken place in the past two weeks.
HART begins guideway construction
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has started installing the guideway for the rail system, placing the 50-ton segments on top of the columns in West Oahu, Hawaii.
Gov. Malloy to hold “crisis summit” with Metro-North
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has called for a crisis summit to be held on Monday, June 9, with the state of Connecticut, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Metro-North to address the recent incidents that caused the failure of the New Haven Line’s “WALK Bridge” in Norwalk.
TriMet names executive director of maintenance operations
TriMet hired Sam Marra as executive director of maintenance operations, beginning July 8. In this role, Marra will oversee and provide leadership for TriMet’s bus and rail fleet maintenance, rail maintenance-of-way operations and the agency’s facilities management.
Connecticut officials tour New Haven Rail Yard
Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) Commissioner James Redeker and other state and local officials on June 5 led a tour of the New Haven Rail Yard, which is undergoing a $1.15-billion, multi-year upgrade and expansion.
SCVTA to close Dixon Landing for grade separation work
Starting June 16, Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas will be closed by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) to through traffic in both directions between Milmont Drive and just east of the railroad corridor in northern Milpitas for eight months for grade separation work.
BLET members at SEPTA authorize strike
A 98.84 percent majority of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) members working for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) have voted to authorize a strike when a mandatory 30-day cooling off period under the Railway Labor Act comes to an end in less than two weeks.
HDR hires transit sector director
HDR, Inc., has hired Tom Waldron as transit market sector director, based in HDR’s New York City office. His responsibilities include setting HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion in transit across North America and globally.
Denver’s RTD outlines commitment to safety for public, employees and contractors
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver always keeps safety as a first priority. With the summer construction season swinging into high gear, RTD has outlined its policy and procedures to ensure everyone’s safety.
Parsons selected as program management of Arlington Streetcar project
Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia have selected Parsons Transportation Group to help manage Arlington’s streetcar program, which includes the Columbia Pike streetcar segment that the two counties are jointly building.
Indiana kicks off $71-million rail upgrade
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence joined representatives from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration and Norfolk Southern on May 29 to kick off the $71.4-million Indiana Gateway project to improve rail lines between Porter, Ind., and the Illinois state line.