ODOT, WSDOT sign passenger rail agreement
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Washington State Department of Transportation signed an agreement that will improve the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor.
Passenger
DART’s second downtown light-rail line to be discussed
Texas’ Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) will hold a public meeting on Phase II of its Downtown Dallas Transit Improvements Study (D2) on Feb. 13.
HART completes archaeological inventory, construction could resume later in year
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has completed the fieldwork required for the Archaeological Inventory Survey (AIS),
Rail partners explore Washington state mudslide causes, solutions
Four rail partners involved in service and safety in the corridor between Seattle and Everett, Wash., are putting a new focus on understanding the root causes and potential solutions to mudslides that resulted in a record number of Amtrak Cascades and Sounder passenger-service disruptions this winter.
Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service sets new calendar year ridership record in 2012
For the ninth time in the past 10 years, the Amtrak Hiawatha Service passenger rail line set a ridership record.
FTA makes $2 billion available for public transit damaged by Sandy
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has made $2 billion available through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) new Emergency Relief Program
Upgrading Berkshires to NYC rail line could help local economy
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick joined Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey and other state and local officials in Stockbridge, Mass., to highlight the economic benefits of an expanded passenger rail in the region.
SNC-Lavin consortium signs Evergreen Line contract
SNC-Lavalin Inc. consortium, EGRT Construction, has signed a design, build and finance agreement with the province of British Columbia, Canada, for the Evergreen Line rapid transit project in Metro Vancouver.
Caltrain launches electrification environmental review
California’s Caltrain is kicking off environmental review of the electrification project with a series of public meetings to seek input on the scope of the review.
Grand Central turns 100
On Feb. 1, Grand Central Terminal in New York City celebrated its 100th anniversary.
NJ Transit posts best on-time performance in 2012
New Jersey Transit achieved record on-time performance (OTP) for trains during the 2012 calendar year.
MBTA continues Assembly Station Project progress
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Assembly Station Project is well underway. The new Orange Line station is under construction between Wellington and Sullivan Square Stations. Once complete, the station will serve as a gateway to development at Assembly Square.
Ridership up on Metro-North and LIRR
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Metro-North Railroad had its second highest ridership in 2012, providing 83 million rail rides, despite the lingering effects of Super Storm Sandy.
TEX Rail Environmental Assessment released for review
In Texas, the TEX Rail Environmental Assessment (EA) document is available for review, which presents an environmental analysis of changes to the project, since the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was completed.
CTA ridership hits 22-year high
Chicago Transportation Authority (CTA) ridership in 2012 grew to its highest annual total in the past 22 years, rising 2.4 percent to 545.6 million rides for the year.
New Orleans streetcar line opens
The Loyola Avenue-Union Passenger Terminal Streetcar Line in New Orleans, La., is now open. The new line extends transit service to the French Quarter, the Superdome and downtown jobs and is already attracting new business and residential development to the area.
Gov. Patrick highlights commitment to South Coast Rail
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick joined state and local leaders in New Bedford, Mass., to highlight the administration’s commitment to South Coast Rail as a key component of an investment plan to grow jobs and expand economic opportunity.
Wong-Harris to manage CHSRA’s Central Valley construction
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) Board of Directors selected PGH Wong Engineering, Inc., and Harris & Associates to provide additional oversight and management of contractors who will build the initial 30-mile stretch of high-speed rail from Madera to Fresno, Calif.
SMART approved for $12.5 million in regional funds
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved a $12.5-million award in regional transportation funding for Phase 1 of the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) project in California.
Three LACMTA subway stations renamed
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors approved the name changes of three subway stations.