Giulietti named Metro-North president
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Metro-North Railroad President Howard Permut will retire January 31, Joseph Giulietti has been named his successor.
Passenger
Request For Proposals issued for Azusa To Montclair section of Gold Line
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) to Azusa to Montclair Engineering and NEPA Support Services, which calls for qualified teams to provide engineering and environmental consulting.
Vaughn named RTD FasTracks North Metro Rail Line project manager
Regional Transportation District (RTD) manager Ashland Vaughn will lead the construction of the RTD FasTracks North Metro Rail Line as the new project manager beginning January 12.
Keolis to begin operating MBTA commuter rail in July
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has entered into an agreement for a new commuter rail contract with Keolis Commuter Services.
LACMTA Blue Line undergoes $1.2 billion overhaul
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Blue Line is undergoing a $1.2-billion overhaul replacing power stations, overhead power lines, tracks, rail cars and improvements to station platforms in a multiyear investment to bolster reliability, comfort and safety.
Oregon Passenger Rail Leadership Council recommends alternatives for further study
At its December 17 meeting, the Oregon Passenger Rail Leadership Council made a recommendation to the Federal Railroad Administration on which rail route alternatives should receive more detailed study in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
HART says 2014 will be big year for rail construction
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART) is welcoming the new year with construction ramping up along the alignment.
CTA Blue Line station to undergo $23 million in renovations
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board approved a $2-million plan to rehabilitate and improve the accessibility of the Blue Line’s Illinois Medical District station by making all three station entrances accessible to customers with disabilities and additional upgrades, using $23 million of city tax-increment financing funds made available through Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s “Chicago Neighborhoods Now” program.
MTA brings FASTRACK to the G line in Brooklyn
Beginning January 6, for the first time, Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK to the G Subway Line in Brooklyn. G Line service will be suspended between Bedford-Nostrand Avenues and Church Avenue for four consecutive weeknights until early morning, January 10.
BART Board approves labor contract, employees to vote next
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Board of Directors voted eight to one to approve the 2013-2017 Collective Bargaining Agreements reached with BART’s two largest unions, ATU, Local 1555 and SEIU, Local 1021, at a special meeting on January 2, 2014.
Houston METRO marks a decade of service
Houston METRO celebrated 10 years of successful light-rail service on the Main Street Line January 1, 2014.
FTA issues safety advisory for right-of-way workers
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a safety advisory guidance document concerning the protection of right-of-way (ROW) workers, as well as a request for information from transit agencies and State Safety Oversight (SSO) agencies that will be used to review the nation’s rail transit right-of-way worker safeguards.
NYCT upgrading vacuum train to keep subways clean
After years of sucking up tons of track debris from the underground portions of the subway system, one of Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit’s (NYCT) two vacuum trains is receiving an extensive late-life overhaul and upgrade aimed at improving efficiency, increasing reliability and easing maintenance tasks.
Axion receives order for composite crossties
Axion International Holdings, Inc., producer of ECOTRAX® composite rail ties and STRUXURE® building products, received a purchase order worth $925,000 from “a major domestic transit line located in the South Central region.”
Presidential Emergency Board issues recommendations regarding LIRR employees and labor unions.
Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) 244 issued its recommendations December 21 for settling a dispute between the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and its employees represented by the United Transportation Union Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (UTU-SMART) and several other labor unions.
WMATA weekend rebuilding work begins on the Red Line
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Red Line will undergo construction upgrades December 27-29, beginning Friday evening and concluding late Sunday. Track maintenance and signage installation will occur between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square.
NYSDOT receives federal grant to improve freight, passenger train movement
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) received an $18.5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reduce passenger and freight train congestion along Amtrak’s Empire Corridor at the Syracuse, N.Y., train station.
USDOT doles out $3 billion to strengthen resiliency of transit agencies affected by Hurricane Sandy
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making approximately $3 billion available to strengthen the resiliency of public transportation systems affected by Hurricane Sandy. The funds will be awarded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on a competitive basis for projects that protect critical transit infrastructure from being damaged or destroyed by future natural disasters.
Houston METRO opens North Line LRT extension
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joined elected officials and representatives from Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) to celebrate the opening of Houston’s North Line light-rail extension, on Dec. 21.
NYCT gives Mayor Bloomberg ceremonial ride on 7 Subway Extension
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials and other local leaders took a ceremonial first ride on the extension of the 7 Subway line, terminating at the new subway station located at 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan.