Industry leaders discuss PTC progress

Six industry leaders representing five Class 1 railroads and Amtrak participated in a panel discussion updating attendees of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Annual Conference on their progress toward PTC implementation.

Expo Line Phase 2 reaches halfway point, marks safety milestone

Skanska-Rados Joint Venture (SRJV) reached the half way point in construction of the Exposition Transit Corridor, a 6.6-mile extension from Culver City, Calif., to Santa Monica. SRJV has worked one million hours worked on the project without a lost time incident.

Raleigh’s Union Station to receive an additional $15 million

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has, for the first time, given written approval for the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to amend the Piedmont Improvement Program cooperative agreement to provide the city of Raleigh an additional $15 million for the Raleigh Union Station project.

UTA wins Hay Award at AREMA conference

The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) presented the 2013 Dr. William W. Hay Award for Excellence to Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for its FrontRunner South Commuter Rail Project.

Amtrak begins second phase of Michigan track improvements

The second of three Michigan track improvement phases for the 2013 construction season begins between Jackson and Battle Creek on September 30 as part of the Accelerated Rail Program being carried out by Amtrak for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Power failure stalls Metro-North’s New Haven Line, repairs could take weeks

A failure in a Con Edison feeder cable resulted in a lack of electricity to power overhead wires along MTA Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven Line on Sept. 25. The railroad was forced to run limited service using diesel locomotives until further notice between Stamford, Conn. and Grand Central Station in New York City.

RTD receives four proposals to build North Metro Rail Line

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) received proposals from four design/construction teams for the North Metro project that will ultimately extend passenger rail north from Denver Union Station through Commerce City, Adams County, Thornton and Northglenn.

SMART rail project segment accepted into “New Starts” program

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has accepted Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit’s (SMART) segment from San Rafael to Larkspur, Calif., into the Project Development phase of its “Small Starts” funding program.

Construction begins on casing for Hudson Yards rail project

A critical first step was taken towards preserving a right-of-way for new rail tunnels under the Hudson River designed to withstand future flooding with the start of construction of an 800-foot concrete casing at the Hudson Yards facility in the heart of Manhattan. Construction of the concrete casing is expected to be complete in October 2015.

MTA selects Blue Ribbon Panel for rail safety study

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has created a Blue Ribbon Panel of six railroad and transportation experts to examine the circumstances behind recent safety-related incidents at Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City Transit (NYCT).

Final EIS on MassDOT’s South Coast Rail proposal released

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) South Coast Rail proposal to establish passenger rail service between Boston and the cities of New Bedford and Fall River, Mass.

LACMTA begins restoration of historic train depot

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has begun restoration work on the historic Southern Pacific Lankershim/North Hollywood train depot as construction crews work to rehab the facility throughout the coming year.

NYCT details Greenpoint Tube repair progress

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) employees have completed eight weekends-worth of Sandy-related work to repair the Greenpoint Tubes.

Tunnel boring for TTC subway extension is 90 percent complete

Tunnel boring of four tunnels that are part of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) in Toronto, ON, Canada has reached 90 percent completion.

Federal funds released for Honolulu rail project

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released $236,277,358 for the Honolulu rail transit project. The funding will be used to continue building Hawaii’s first rail transit system.

Carmen Bianco named president of MTA New York City Transit

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Thomas Prendergast has appointed Carmen Bianco as president of MTA New York City Transit (NYCT).

Caltrain Modernization Program kicks off advanced signal system work

California’s Caltrain has begun work on an advanced signal system that will improve the performance and enhance the safety of the rail system, formally kicking off the first element of the Caltrain Modernization Program.

Sen. Casey pushes for long-term federal transportation policy

As Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority (SEPTA) demonstrates need for funding to keep its service operational throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) called on Congress to begin work on a long-term transportation bill that could increase funds and provide more certainty to SEPTA.

LIRR, construction unions reach cost saving agreement

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and local private-sector unions have reached a Project Labor Agreement designed to reduce the LIRR’s labor costs on seven major construction projects by nearly 11 percent, saving the railroad an estimated $6.5 million

Raleigh receives additional TIGER funds for Union Station complex

The city of Raleigh, N.C., has received a $5.5 million increase to a previously received grant for the first phase of construction of the Raleigh Union Station complex.

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