LACMTA renames its Transit Mall Station

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Blue Line Transit Mall Station in Long Beach has been renamed Downtown Long Beach Station to more clearly reflect the location.

Stacy and Witbeck awarded Detroit streetcar contract

M-1 Rail has selected Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., to serve as construction manager/general contractor for the construction of the 3.3-mile Woodward Avenue streetcar in Detroit, Mich. M-1 Rail is slated to break ground by early fall between Larned Street and Adams Street in downtown Detroit.

SFMTA begins tunnel boring for Central Subway

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) tunnel boring machine (TBM) Mom Chung has launched, commencing construction beneath downtown San Francisco of one of the Central Subway‘s two tunnels.

SEPTA plans Trolley Tunnel outage for construction work

Due to overhead wire, track and station improvement projects, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Trolley Routes 11, 13, 34 and 36 will not operate in the Center City tunnel the evening of August 2 through early morning August 12.

Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project reaches half way point

TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project has hit 50 percent completion. Construction on the 7.3-mile line began in May 2012 between downtown Portland and North Clackamas County, with bridge construction over the Willamette River in July 2011.

WMATA Board approves four-year agreement with union

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Board of Directors has approved a four-year collective bargaining agreement with Local 689 Union, which freezes employee wages for one year and provides for employee contributions to their pension funds.

APTA to recognize six public transportation systems for sustainability

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) will recognize nine public transportation systems for outstanding sustainability achievements.

SEPTA sets ridership record in FY13

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has set a new regional rail ridership record, with 36,023,000 trips taken by customers during Fiscal Year 2013, the 12-month period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013. Ridership on SEPTA’s 13 regional rail lines increased by 2.2 percent during the course of the year.

Axion ships crosstie order to Calgary Transit

Axion International Holdings, Inc., has shipped 500 composite crossties to Calgary Transit for use in crossings. Calgary Transit has been a customer of Axion’s for four years and has purchased ECOTRAX ties annually.

Wabtec bringing PTC systems to Coaster commuter trains

Wabtec Corporation signed a $9-million contract with Herzog Technologies Inc. to provide Positive Train Control (PTC) equipment and services for North County Transit District (NCTD) in Oceanside, Calif. The contract includes an option worth an additional $5 million.

Sound Transit releases Lynnwood light-rail environmental study

Sound Transit has released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the light-rail line between Northgate and Lynnwood.

Illinois HSR trackwork moves on to Bloomington-Normal area

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific are performing another phase of upgrades to Illinois’ high-speed route from Chicago-St. Louis for future 110-mph operation of Amtrak Lincoln Service trains.

XpressWest vows to proceed, despite federal loan denial

It was revealed last week that the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) previously suspended its review of XpressWest’s Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF) loan for a high-speed rail line between southern California and Las Vegas.

Construction kicks off for LYNX Blue Line extension

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, North Carolina Governor Patrick McCrory, Charlotte Mayor Patsy Kinsey and other local officials celebrated the start of construction on the LYNX Blue Line extension from downtown Charlotte to the University of North Carolina (UNC) Charlotte campus.

Metropolitan Council unveils cost estimates to resolve freight, light-rail issues

Construction of the Southwest Light Rail Transit (LRT) line in Minnesota (Green Line Extension) may require freight rail traffic currently running along the preferred LRT route to be kept with adjustments or relocated to St. Louis Park.

MWAA says Silver Line Phase 1 delayed

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), in conjunction with Dulles Transit Partners, said expected substantial completion of Phase 1 of the Metrorail Silver Line project will be delayed by approximately eight weeks.

Seattle’s light rail celebrates four years of service with strong ridership

Sound Transit‘s Link light rail celebrated its fourth birthday July 11 amid continued strong ridership growth and record-setting trends this summer. The line has carried more than 30 million riders since it opened to the public on July 18, 2009.

Stacy and Witbeck appoint new president

Stacy and Witbeck, Inc., named George Furnanz president, effective June 12, 2013. Furnanz will take over the responsibilities of company president from John Bollier, who had been president and chief executive officer. Bollier will continue to serve as chief executive officer.

Two new commuter stations open along Massachusetts’ Fairmount line

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and other officials recently celebrated the opening of the Four Corners and Newmarket commuter rail stations and the improvements made along the entire Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fairmount line.

East Side Access trackwork to speed LIRR and Amtrak trains

For 30 days this summer, crews working on the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s East Side Access megaproject will build heavy concrete slabs that will serve as the ceiling of a new underpass at the busy Harold Interlocking switching complex in Sunnyside, Queens.

LOAD MORE