The T celebrates 30 years of service
The Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) in Texas celebrated its 30th Anniversary on November 8.
Passenger
Evergreen Line’s TBM in route
The massive Evergreen Line tunnel boring machine (TBM) is on its way by rail and truck to Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada from the manufacturer in Ontario.
Gov. O’Malley, Maryland BPW approve Purple Line P3
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and members of the Board of Public Works (BPW) have approved the Maryland Transit Administration’s (MTA) plan to deliver the Purple Line through a Public Private Partnership (P3).
Amtrak names CFO
Amtrak has named Gerald Sokol, Jr., as its new chief financial officer (CFO), reporting directly to Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman, effective December 3.
Work to begin on tying Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension into existing Gold Line
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority in California has been making progress on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension, the 11.5-mile addition that will extend the Gold Line from its current terminus in eastern Pasadena to a new station in Azusa just north of Citrus College.
RTD staff recommends GBBH North Metro Rail proposal
The Denver, Colo., Regional Transportation District (RTD) staff has recommended its board of directors to move forward with a proposal from Graham, Balfour Beatty, Hamon Constructors (GBBH) to design and build the North Metro Rail Line to 124th Avenue. The proposal commits to completing construction of the line to 124th by January 2018.
NTSB closes seven WMATA safety recommendations
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has closed seven more of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) outstanding safety recommendations, bringing the total number of recommendations closed to 20 out of 29.
Engineering Chicago-St. Louis HSR
Coordinating a project of this scope, size and time-frame requires ultimate cooperation between all parties involved.
TriMet reorganizes Operations Division with goal to improve service to riders
In Portland, Ore., TriMet reorganized its Operations Division with a goal to improve service to riders with greater reliability.
Metra dedicates rebuilt Fox River Grove Station
In Illinois, Fox River Grove President Robert Nunamaker, Metra Board Member Jack Schaffer, interim Executive Director Don Orseno and other officials dedicated the newly rebuilt Metra Fox River Grove Station on the UP Northwest Line.
New UP bridge in service, part of SCVTA Mission Warren area improvements
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) celebrated a major project milestone for the Mission Warren Area Improvements Project in southern Fremont, Calif., when the first Union Pacific freight train traveled over one of the two recently completed bridges, spanning Mission Boulevard and Warren Avenue.
SEPTA’s Bridgeport Viaduct to reopen after four-month repair project
Full train service between 69th Street Transportation Center and Norristown Transportation Center (NTC) on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s (SEPTA) Norristown High Speed Line (NHSL) will resume on November 11, 2013, following a four-month repair project that closed SEPTA’s Bridgeport Viaduct,
BART labor contracts approved by two largest unions
Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) four-year labor contract agreements have been approved by its two largest unions. According to BART, the agreements lay the groundwork for continued reliable service for years to come.
Regional Advisory Council launches cooperative planning for Washington state’s Eastside Rail Corridor
Washington state’s Eastside Rail Corridor Regional Advisory Council (RAC) has given its unanimous approval of a report affirming cooperation on future uses of the corridor.
East Side Access, Cotton Belt Rail Line awarded honors by strategic infrastructure firm
CG/LA Infrastructure’s Project of the Year awards were doled out, including New York’s East Side Access and the Cotton Belt Line.
MBTA to extend silver line by 2015
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority plans to extend the Silver Line to South Station and the Seaport District with East Boston.
“Growth requires investment and connecting the people of Chelsea directly to the airport, Seaport District and South Station and will bring new opportunities for the residents of these communities,” said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. “If we want to expand opportunity in our commonwealth, this is what government must do and do well.”
The Silver Line Gateway Expansion will create a new branch of the MBTA Silver Line service that will connect South Station and the Seaport District with East Boston and Chelsea. This service is projected to carry 9,000 riders per day with an estimated travel time of 15 to 19 minutes from the Seaport to Chelsea, connecting thousands of residents north of downtown Boston with work and play opportunities in the rapidly growing Seaport District.
The Silver Line Gateway Expansion will also include the modernization of the Chelsea passenger rail station, which will be relocated to Everett Avenue as part of a new multimodal Silver Line/passenger rail station that will be fully accessible. In addition, Massachusetts Department of Transportation will begin reconstruction on the Washington Avenue Bridge.
The project is will cost an estimated $82.5 million, with the bulk of funding, $20 million, being dedicated to the new Chelsea passenger rail station. Service is expected to begin in late 2015.
LIRR unveils restored Queens Village Station
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) unveiled the newly renovated and enhanced Queens Village LIRR Station.
Sandy Resiliency Tour displays MTA efforts to protect and strengthen infrastructure
Officials on October 29 toured Lower Manhattan to see some of the emerging technologies the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is considering as part of the agency’s hardening and resiliency efforts to protect the system from future storms.
HART receives more than $63 million in GET surcharge revenue for project
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has been informed by the Hawaii tax department that it will receive more than $63.7 million in General Excise and Use Tax (GET) surcharge revenue this quarter.
PANYNJ authorizes $50 million to clean salt from rail tunnels
Lingering latent salt residue left by Superstorm Sandy’s extensive flooding inside the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corp. (PATH) rail tunnels will be removed, with corroded cables, track and other equipment replaced, under a $50-million project authorization approved by PATH’s Board of Commissioners.